• 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 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 2 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 3 Off on a great adventure

  • 4 New civic medallions

  • 5 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 6 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 7 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 8 Simple Item 138
  • 9 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 10 Police station view of Bideford

  • 11 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 12 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 13 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 14 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 15 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 16 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 17 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 18 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 19

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 20 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 21 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 22 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 23 In their new robes and hats

  • 24 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 25 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 26 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 27 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 28 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 29 For crying out loud!

  • 30 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 31 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 32 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 33 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 34 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 35 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 36 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 37 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 38 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 39 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 40 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 41 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 42 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 43 Hartland postman retires

  • 44 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 45 Warmington's garage ad

  • 46 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 47 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 48 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 49

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 50 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 51 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 52 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 53 Penny for the guy

  • 54 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 55 School crossing patrol begins

  • 56 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 57 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 58 Blanchards ad.>
  • 59 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 60

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 61 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 62 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 63 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 64 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 65 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 66 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 67 Parkham plan realised

  • 68 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 69 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 70 A bird of their own!

  • 71 Hartland's invitation

  • 72 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 73 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 74 Happy Days!

  • 75 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 76 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 77

    Bidefordians
  • 78 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 79 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 80 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 81 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 82 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 83 Modern living at Bideford

  • 84 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 85 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 86 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

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

  • 88 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 89 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 90 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 91 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 92 Cruising down the river

  • 93

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 94

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 95 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 96 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 97 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 98 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 99 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 100 Service with a smile

  • 101 Northam's almshouse

  • 102 Bideford regatta

  • 103 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 104 Sweets derationing

  • 105 Out of puff!

  • 106 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 107 Capers on the cobbles

  • 108 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 109 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 110 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 111

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 112 Some mushroom!

  • 113 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 114 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 115 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 116 Twenty-one yachts

  • 117 Last train from Torrington

  • 118 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 119 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 120 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 121 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 122 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 123 Bideford computer stars

  • 124 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 125 Over the bank together>
  • 126 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 127 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 128 A roof-top view - where?

  • 129 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 130 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 131 End of the line

  • 132 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 133 Weare Giffard potato

  • 134 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 135

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 136 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 137 School's link with cargo ship

  • 138 It really was the 'last time'

  • 139 Clovelly nightmare

  • 140 Variety in summer weather

  • 141 Torrington children build igloo
  • 142 What's the time?

  • 143 When horses score over the tractor

  • 144 No sale of Springfield House

  • 145 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 146 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 147

    Building works
  • 148

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 149 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 150 Jumble sale fever

  • 151 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 152 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 153 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 154 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 155 New look in the hayfields

  • 156 Bideford loses training ship

  • 157 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 158 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 159 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 160 New choral society's growing response

  • 161 Six footed lamb

  • 162 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 163 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 164 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 165 Emergency ferry services

  • 166 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 167 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 168 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

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

  • 170 All aboard the ark

  • 171 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 172 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 173 Centenary of Gazette

  • 174 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 175 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 176 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 177 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 178

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 179 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 180 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 181 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 182 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 183 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 184 Loads of black and white

  • 185 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 186

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 187 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 188

    Exhibition of school work
  • 189 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 190 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 191 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 192 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 193 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 194 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 195 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 196 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 197 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 198 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 199 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 200 New life for Hartland organ

  • 201 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 202 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 203 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 204 No laughing matter

  • 205 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 206 Burnard family reunion

  • 207 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 208 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 209 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 210 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 211 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 212 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 213 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 214 So this is the mainland!

  • 215 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 216 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 217 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 218 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 219 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 220 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 221

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 222 Pannier Market's future?

  • 223 New shipyard on schedule

  • 224 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 225 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 226 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 227 Afternoon tea in the park

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

  • 229 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 230

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 231 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 232 Northam footballers of the future

  • 233 Mobile missionary

  • 234 He beat the floods

  • 235 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 236 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 237 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 238 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 239 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

  • 240 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 241 New art gallery opened

  • 242 Can spring be far away?

  • 243

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 244 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 245 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 246

    Was a missionary
  • 247 Puppet characters introduced

  • 248 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 249 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 250 Life begins at 80

  • 251 All for the love of a lady!

  • 252 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 253 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 254 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 255 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 256 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 257 Circus comes to town

  • 258 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 259 By pony and trap to market

  • 260 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 261 Torrington in 1967

  • 262 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 263 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 264 Filming at Hartland

  • 265 Unique holiday adventure!

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

  • 267 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 268 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 269

    Married in 1908
  • 270 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 271 Just over a year old

  • 272 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 273 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 274 Ships at Bideford

  • 275 Picking the pops

  • 276 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 277 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 278 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 279 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 280 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 281 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 282 Some 240 exhibits

  • 283 Artisans' Club

  • 284 Riverside mystery

  • 285 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 286 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 287 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 288 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 289 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 290 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 291 North Devon Driving School

  • 292 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 293 Traditions and skills still there

  • 294 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 295 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 296 New Lundy stamps

  • 297 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 298 Revenge in style

  • 299 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 300 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 301 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 302 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 303 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 304 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 305 Clovelly custom

  • 306 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 307 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 308 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 309 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 310 Bridging the stream

  • 311 Picking the pops

  • 312 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 313 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 314 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 315 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 316 113 years at Instow

  • 317 Finished in 1876

  • 318 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 319 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 320

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 321 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 322 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 323 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 324

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 325 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 326 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 327

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 328

    Relatives all over the world
  • 329 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 330 New addition to Quay front

  • 331 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 332 Spray dodging - the new pastime

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

  • 334 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 335 Hartland Dancers
  • 336 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 337 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 338

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 339 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 340 A story to tell!

  • 341 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 342 Torrington's new amenity

  • 343 A man and his wheel

  • 344 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 345 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 346 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 347 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 348 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 349 New Post Office

  • 350 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 351 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 352 First ship in 8 years

  • 353

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 354 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 355 Littleham family's five generations

  • 356 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 357 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 358 Caught in the act>
  • 359 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 360 Devil sent packing

  • 361 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 362 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 363 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 364 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 365 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 366

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 367 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 368 Waldon Triplets
  • 369 Ten year old scrambler

  • 370 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 371

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 372 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 373 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 374 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 375 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

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

  • 377 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 378 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 379

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 380 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 381 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 382 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 383 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 384 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 385

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 386 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 387 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 388 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 389 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 390 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 391 The art of the thatcher

  • 392 The Geneva marionettes

  • 393 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 394

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 395 Appledore's largest

  • 396 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

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

  • 398 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 399 Peter poses for TV film

  • 400 From Bobby to Brian

  • 401 Decontrol of meat

  • 402

    First prize
  • 403 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 404 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 405 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 406 Recognise this resort?

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

  • 408 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

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

  • 410 Sight of a lifetime

  • 411 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 412 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 413 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 414 They are parted pro-tem

  • 415 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 416 The cab at the corner>
  • 417

    New gateway
  • 418 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 419 Private home for public pump

  • 420

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 421

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 422 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

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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  • 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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  • 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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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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Torrington May Fair 1955

May Fair at Torrington concludes with the Carnival

At a dance last week the Carnival Queen and her attendants were chosen as seen above with the Queen - Miss Margaret Parish of Torrington - being crowned by the Mayoress, Mrs J H Long.

6.5.1955 Torrington Carnival Queen

From left to right: Miss Jane Sanders (High Bickington), Miss Agnes Vanstone (Shebbear), the Mayoress, the Carnival Queen, Miss Phyllis Sanders (Langtree), the Mayor and Miss Roslyn Mitchell (Little Torrington).

Gazette article dated 6 May 1955

Council to buy Torrington Drill Hall

Torrington Town Council are to purchase

the town's Drill Hall which is not now required for Territorial Army purposes.

5.1.1968 Torrington Drill Hall

Following a letter from the District Valuer, the Council have agreed to pay £3,600 for the unexpired term of the 99-year lease expiring December 25th, 2010. It is proposed to use the building, which is centrally situated in Fore Street, for recreational and social purposes.

Application is being made to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government for consent to the raising of a loan for the purchase.

Gazette dated January 5, 1968

Last From Torrington To Get This Medal?

Mr Reginald T Jones,

seen in the centre of the picture wearing the Imperial Service Medal, could conceivably be the last of Torrington Post Office staff to receive the decoration.

30.5.1965 Torrington Imperial Service Medal

No one seems to know whether the award, from the Queen, made for meritorious service, will be discontinued under the forthcoming changes in administration.

Mr Jones has just retired after completing 45 years in the Post Office service, beginning as a messenger and finishing as postman higher grade.

The medal was presented by the head postmaster of Barnstaple, Mr J Eddleston. Mr W S Hutchings, the then Mayor, and also on the Torrington Post Office staff, on their behalf presented an electric clock. Miss Avril M Beer, postal and telegraph officer, handed Mr Jones a barometer, the gift of Torrington and Bideford Sports and Social Club.

In the photograph with Mr Jones are Mr H R F Young, Mr B E J Quick, Mr D A Gould, Mr P Ellis, Miss M L Bissett, Miss E Hoyle, Mr W J Page and Mr L Steer.

Gazette article dated 30 May 1965

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