• Welcome to the Bideford & District Community Archive

    Welcome to the Bideford & District Community Archive

    ...The Gazette Newspaper 1856 onwards.

    Read More
  • Welcome to the Bideford & District Community Archive

    Welcome to the Bideford & District Community Archive

    ...The Gazette Newspaper 1856 onwards.

    Read More
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  • 1 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 2 School crossing patrol begins

  • 3 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 4 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 5 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 6 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 7 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 8 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 9 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 10 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 11 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 12 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 13 Decontrol of meat

  • 14 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 15 Torrington children build igloo
  • 16 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 17 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 18 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 19 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

  • 20 Bideford loses training ship

  • 21 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 22 Picking the pops

  • 23 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 24

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 25

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 26 Recognise this resort?

  • 27 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 28 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 29 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 30 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 31 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 32 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 33

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 34 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 35 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 36 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 37 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 38 Warmington's garage ad

  • 39 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 40 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 41 Sight of a lifetime

  • 42 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 43 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 44 Appledore's largest

  • 45 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 46

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 47 A story to tell!

  • 48 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 49

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 50 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 51 Twenty-one yachts

  • 52 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 53 A bird of their own!

  • 54 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 55 Sixty-two year old Picarooner makes ready for season

  • 56 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 57 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 58 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 59 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 60 All aboard the ark

  • 61 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 62 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 63 Can spring be far away?

  • 64 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 65 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 66 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 67 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 68 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 69

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 70 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 71 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 72 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 73 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 74 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 75 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 76 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 77

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 78 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 79 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 80 Picking the pops

  • 81 Finished in 1876

  • 82 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 83 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 84 Private home for public pump

  • 85 New choral society's growing response

  • 86 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 87 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 88

    Bidefordians
  • 89 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 90 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 91 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 92 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 93 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 94

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 95 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 96 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 97 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 98 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 99 New art gallery opened

  • 100 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 101

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 102 Jumble sale fever

  • 103 Filming at Hartland

  • 104 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 105 New look in the hayfields

  • 106 Pannier Market's future?

  • 107 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 108 Out of puff!

  • 109 Burnard family reunion

  • 110 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 111 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 112 New Lundy stamps

  • 113 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 114 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 115 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 116 No laughing matter

  • 117 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 118 The Geneva marionettes

  • 119 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 120 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 121 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 122

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 123 Centenary of Gazette

  • 124 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 125 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 126 Traditions and skills still there

  • 127 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 128 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 129 Bideford computer stars

  • 130 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 131 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 132 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 133 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 134 New Post Office

  • 135 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 136 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 137 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 138 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 139 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 140 Northam footballers of the future

  • 141 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 142 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 143 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 144 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 145 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 146 New addition to Quay front

  • 147 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 148 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 149 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 150 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 151 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 152 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 153 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 154 Riverside mystery

  • 155 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 156 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 157 Life begins at 80

  • 158 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 159 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 160 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 161 Artisans' Club

  • 162 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 163 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 164 Blanchards ad.>
  • 165 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 166 Revenge in style

  • 167 Ten year old scrambler

  • 168 Weare Giffard potato

  • 169 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 170 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 171 School's link with cargo ship

  • 172 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 173 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 174 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 175 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 176 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 177 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 178 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 179 Service with a smile

  • 180 Happy Days!

  • 181 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 182 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 183 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 184 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 185 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 186 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 187 Hartland's invitation

  • 188 Bideford regatta

  • 189 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 190 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 191 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 192 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 193 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 194 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 195 Clovelly nightmare

  • 196 Variety in summer weather

  • 197 New civic medallions

  • 198 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 199 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 200 He beat the floods

  • 201 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 202 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 203 Torrington's new amenity

  • 204 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 205 Ships at Bideford

  • 206 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 207 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 208 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 209 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 210 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 211 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 212 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 213 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 214 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 215 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 216 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 217 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 218 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 219 A man and his wheel

  • 220 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 221 Bideford - as Rowlandson saw it about 1810-15

  • 222 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 223 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 224 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 225 A roof-top view - where?

  • 226 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 227 From Bobby to Brian

  • 228 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 229 Some mushroom!

  • 230 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 231 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 232 Cruising down the river

  • 233 Northam's almshouse

  • 234 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 235 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 236 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 237 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 238 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 239 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 240 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 241 Off on a great adventure

  • 242

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 243 Modern living at Bideford

  • 244 Last train from Torrington

  • 245 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 246 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 247

    First prize
  • 248 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 249 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 250 Littleham family's five generations

  • 251 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 252 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 253 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 254

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 255 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 256 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 257 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 258 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 259 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 260 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 261 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 262 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 263 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 264 Devil sent packing

  • 265 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 266 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 267

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 268 It really was the 'last time'

  • 269 Sweets derationing

  • 270

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 271 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 272 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 273 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 274

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 275 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 276 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 277 113 years at Instow

  • 278

    Relatives all over the world
  • 279 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 280 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 281 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 282

    New gateway
  • 283 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 284 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 285 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 286 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 287 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 288 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 289 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 290 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 291 The cab at the corner>
  • 292 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 293 Simple Item 138
  • 294 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 295 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 296 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 297 First ship in 8 years

  • 298 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 299 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 300 End of the line

  • 301 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 302 Six footed lamb

  • 303 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 304 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 305 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 306 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 307 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 308 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 309 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 310 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 311 In their new robes and hats

  • 312 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 313 They are parted pro-tem

  • 314 Torrington in 1967

  • 315 Puppet characters introduced

  • 316

    Was a missionary
  • 317 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 318 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 319 Emergency ferry services

  • 320

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 321 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 322 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 323 Bridging the stream

  • 324 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 325 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 326 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 327 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 328 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 329 New shipyard on schedule

  • 330 Some 240 exhibits

  • 331 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 332 Waldon Triplets
  • 333 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 334 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 335 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 336 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 337 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 338 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 339 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 340 What's the time?

  • 341 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 342 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 343 Police station view of Bideford

  • 344 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 345 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 346 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 347 Hartland Dancers
  • 348 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 349 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 350 North Devon Driving School

  • 351 For crying out loud!

  • 352 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 353 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 354

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 355 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 356 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 357 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 358 No sale of Springfield House

  • 359 Caught in the act>
  • 360 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 361 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 362 Loads of black and white

  • 363 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 364 Capers on the cobbles

  • 365 Parkham plan realised

  • 366 New life for Hartland organ

  • 367 By pony and trap to market

  • 368 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 369 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 370

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 371 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 372 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 373 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 374 Peter poses for TV film

  • 375 Clovelly custom

  • 376

    Building works
  • 377 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 378

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 379 The art of the thatcher

  • 380 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 381 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 382

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 383

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 384 Penny for the guy

  • 385 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 386 When horses score over the tractor

  • 387

    Married in 1908
  • 388 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 389 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 390

    Exhibition of school work
  • 391

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 392 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 393 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 394 Just over a year old

  • 395

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 396

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 397 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 398 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 399 So this is the mainland!

  • 400

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 401 Hartland postman retires

  • 402 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 403 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 404 Over the bank together>
  • 405 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 406 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 407 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 408 Mobile missionary

  • 409 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 410 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 411 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 412 Circus comes to town

  • 413 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 414 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 415 All for the love of a lady!

  • 416 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 417 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 418 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 419 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 420 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 421 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 422 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

3.5.1957 Robins win Hansen Cup

Robins Win The Hansen Cup

May 3rd, 1957

Bideford AFC pictured with the Hansen Cup after they had defeated Bude 2-1 in the final

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and suddenly it's spring

Cadds Down Farm

1 March 1974

Joined by Trixie, the pony

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  • Torrington May Fair Queen and Her Attendants

    Names from left to right:Joan Ricketts; Joan Newcombe; Jean Wernhem; Margaret Sweet; Enid Ovenden; Rona Elsworthy; Doris Short; (back row);
    Eileen Short; Miss Margery Bennett (Queen); Joyce Downman; David Fiddian (Page); Peggie Sussex;

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  • Christmas Eve at the Front

    An interesting letter has just been received by Mrs Packer, of Broadclyst, from her husband, Corpl Packer of A Company, 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, who is serving with the Expeditionary Force in Northern France. In the course of a letter he describes a remarkable incident which occurred on Christmas Eve between the British and German trenches.

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  • Seafield House - the "Spooky House" of Westward Ho!

    The house on the cliff edge known locally as ‘Spooky House’ or even ‘Haunted House’ , was built about 1885.

    The road was especially built to enable access to the house and was initially known as Seafield Road; later it became Merley Road.

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1911 Coronation Medal

Coronation Medal Presented on June 22nd 1911   Learn More

The Hoops Inn

The Hoops Inn close to Peppercombe Beach

The Quay at Appledore

Appledore Quay where Taw and Torridge Rivers meet 

 
Wynne Olley

Crowning Glory

12 October 1962

Their finest achievement to date...

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Shipyard goes into liquidation 1963

Liquidator appointed

4 January 1963

Difficulty in retaining labour...

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Peter Sands and Henry Hopkins meet abroad

Service In Borneo - Meets fellow officer from Northam in Singapore

1963 Borneo

18.1.1963 Borneo

A 27 year old RAF officer from Northam, Flight-Lieut Peter Sands, has recently been serving with the British Far East Forces engaged fighting rebel troops in Borneo. 

Last week Flight-Lieut Sands, son of Mr and Mrs Reginald Sands, of Restharrow, Higher Clevelands, Northam, returned to Singapore where he was posted in Traffic Control 18 months ago, and where he was accompanied by his wife, When he returned from Brunei he found he was living in the same block of flats Flight-Lieut Henry Hopkins, son of Mr and Mrs Hopkins, 9 Seaview Terrace, Morwenna Park, Northam who has been stationed at Singapore with his wife, Brenda, and two children. The two officers had not previously known each other.
The full Gazette article is dated 18 January 1963

Princess Anne 'Let Off' Quoted

In a letter to Bideford magistrates on Tuesday a 21 year olf Northam shipwright, Robert Sydney Stevens, of 6 Honey Street, asked why Princess Anne was let off with a caution for speeding instead of receiving the punishment he would probably receive.

1972 Robert Stevens

'We may not be high-class or Royal Family, but that does not mean that she should not receive the same punishment as I and other citizens will probably get' he added.
The magistrate did not answer his question, but fined him £20 and endorsed his licence for exceeding the speed limit at Instow on his motorcycle.

Former Northam Postmistress is 95

Celebrating her 95th birthday on Sunday was Miss C M Davis, former sub postmistress of Northam.

1.12.1972 Miss C M Davis

Although her health does now permit her to venture beyond her home, The Cairns, Windmill Lane, Miss Davis continues her alert interest in local affairs. Five years ago she published a history of her native Northam.

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