• 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
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 2 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 3 Northam footballers of the future

  • 4 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 5 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 6 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 7 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 8 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 9 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 10 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 11 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 12

    Bidefordians
  • 13 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 14 Clovelly nightmare

  • 15 Torrington children build igloo
  • 16 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 17 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 18 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 19 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 20 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 21 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 22 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 23 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 24 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 25 When horses score over the tractor

  • 26 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 27 Some 240 exhibits

  • 28 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 29 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 30 First ship in 8 years

  • 31 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 32 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 33 Blanchards ad.>
  • 34 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 35 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 36 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 37

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 38 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 39 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 40 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 41 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 42 Torrington in 1967

  • 43

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 44 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 45 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 46 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 47 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 48 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 49 Over the bank together>
  • 50

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 51 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 52 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 53

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 54 Last train from Torrington

  • 55 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

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

  • 57 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 58 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 59 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 60 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 61 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 62

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 63 Pannier Market's future?

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

  • 65 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 66 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 67 Happy Days!

  • 68 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 69 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 70 Off on a great adventure

  • 71

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 72 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 73 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 74 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 75 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 76 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 77 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 78 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 79 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 80 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 81 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 82 Sight of a lifetime

  • 83

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 84 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 85

    Relatives all over the world
  • 86 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 87 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 88 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 89 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 90 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 91 Six footed lamb

  • 92 Weare Giffard potato

  • 93 Traditions and skills still there

  • 94 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 95 Life begins at 80

  • 96 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 97 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 98 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 99 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 100 Hartland postman retires

  • 101

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 102 Bridging the stream

  • 103 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 104 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 105 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 106 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 107 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 108 Centenary of Gazette

  • 109

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 110 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 111 Caught in the act>
  • 112 The art of the thatcher

  • 113 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 114

    Was a missionary
  • 115 Private home for public pump

  • 116 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 117 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 118 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 119 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 120 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 121 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 122 Hartland Dancers
  • 123 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 124 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 125 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 126 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 127 New look in the hayfields

  • 128 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 129 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 130 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 131 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 132 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 133

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 134 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 135 Decontrol of meat

  • 136 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 137 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 138 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 139 Littleham family's five generations

  • 140 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 141 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 142 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 143 North Devon Driving School

  • 144

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 145 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 146 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 147 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 148 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 149 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 150 New Lundy stamps

  • 151 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 152 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 153 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 154 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 155 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 156 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 157 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 158 Sweets derationing

  • 159 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

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

  • 161 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 162 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 163 113 years at Instow

  • 164 A sense of humour in advertising

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

  • 166 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 167 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 168 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 169 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 170 Circus comes to town

  • 171 Ships at Bideford

  • 172 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 173 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 174 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 175 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 176

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 177 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 178 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 179 Artisans' Club

  • 180 New shipyard on schedule

  • 181 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 182 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 183 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 184 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 185 For crying out loud!

  • 186 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 187 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 188 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 189 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

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

  • 191 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 192 Revenge in style

  • 193 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 194 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 195 Cruising down the river

  • 196 Twenty-one yachts

  • 197 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 198 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 199 Clovelly custom

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

  • 201 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 202 New choral society's growing response

  • 203 New Post Office

  • 204 School crossing patrol begins

  • 205 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 206 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 207 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 208 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 209 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 210 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 211 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 212 Capers on the cobbles

  • 213 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 214 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 215 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 216 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 217 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 218 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 219 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 220 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 221 New life for Hartland organ

  • 222 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 223 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 224 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 225 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 226 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 227 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 228 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 229 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 230 New art gallery opened

  • 231

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 232 End of the line

  • 233 Simple Item 138
  • 234 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 235 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 236 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 237 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 238 A roof-top view - where?

  • 239 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 240 All for the love of a lady!

  • 241 A story to tell!

  • 242 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 243 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 244 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 245 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 246 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 247 Recognise this resort?

  • 248 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 249 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 250 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 251 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 252 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 253 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 254 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 255 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 256 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 257

    Building works
  • 258 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 259 Penny for the guy

  • 260 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 261 Waldon Triplets
  • 262

    New gateway
  • 263 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 264 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 265 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 266 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 267 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 268

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 269 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 270 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 271 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

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

  • 273 A bird of their own!

  • 274 Parkham plan realised

  • 275

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 276 Warmington's garage ad

  • 277 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 278 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 279 Riverside mystery

  • 280 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 281 All aboard the ark

  • 282 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 283 Picking the pops

  • 284 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 285

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 286 The cab at the corner>
  • 287 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 288 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 289 Bideford regatta

  • 290 Modern living at Bideford

  • 291 Northam's almshouse

  • 292

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 293 What's the time?

  • 294 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 295 Burnard family reunion

  • 296 Just over a year old

  • 297 Variety in summer weather

  • 298 The Geneva marionettes

  • 299 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 300 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 301 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 302 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 303 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 304 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 305 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 306

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 307 Passing of a Torrington landmark

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

  • 309 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 310 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 311 Service with a smile

  • 312 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 313 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 314

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 315 No laughing matter

  • 316

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 317 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 318 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 319 Emergency ferry services

  • 320 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 321 Out of puff!

  • 322 New civic medallions

  • 323 Jumble sale fever

  • 324 Some mushroom!

  • 325 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 326 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 327 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 328 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 329 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 330 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 331 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 332 In their new robes and hats

  • 333 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 334 School's link with cargo ship

  • 335 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 336 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 337 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 338 Torrington's new amenity

  • 339 Ten year old scrambler

  • 340 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 341 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 342 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 343 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 344 New addition to Quay front

  • 345 Bideford loses training ship

  • 346 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 347 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 348 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 349 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 350 Finished in 1876

  • 351 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 352 Can spring be far away?

  • 353 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 354 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 355 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 356 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 357 A man and his wheel

  • 358 By pony and trap to market

  • 359 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 360 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 361 Loads of black and white

  • 362 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 363 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 364 He beat the floods

  • 365 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 366 Television comes to Torridge District

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

  • 368 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 369

    Married in 1908
  • 370

    First prize
  • 371 Mobile missionary

  • 372 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 373 From Bobby to Brian

  • 374 Picking the pops

  • 375

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 376 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 377 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 378 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 379 Filming at Hartland

  • 380 Bideford computer stars

  • 381 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 382 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

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

  • 384 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 385 They are parted pro-tem

  • 386 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 387

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 388 Devil sent packing

  • 389 So this is the mainland!

  • 390 Appledore's largest

  • 391 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 392 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 393 No sale of Springfield House

  • 394 Police station view of Bideford

  • 395 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 396 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 397 Hartland's invitation

  • 398 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 399 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 400 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 401 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 402 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

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

  • 404 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 405 It really was the 'last time'

  • 406 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 407 Puppet characters introduced

  • 408 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 409 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 410

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 411 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 412 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 413 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 414 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 415 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 416

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 417 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 418 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 419

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 420 Peter poses for TV film

  • 421

    Exhibition of school work
  • 422 Sixty-two year old Picarooner makes ready for season

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

Read More
and suddenly it's spring

Cadds Down Farm

1 March 1974

Joined by Trixie, the pony

READ MORE

  • 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.

    Read More

  • 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.

    Read More

  • 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;

    Read More
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
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...

Read More
 

Shipyard goes into liquidation 1963

Liquidator appointed

4 January 1963

Difficulty in retaining labour...

Read More

Torrington - by air

Just over 400 years ago the traveller-antiquarian John Leland came through Torrington

and described it in his journal as ‘a great large toune and standith on the brow of an hille and hath 3 fair streates in it”.

18.8.1961 Torrington by air

Making no claim nowadays to being a large town – in fact it is one of the smallest boroughs in the country – Torrington still stands on its hill and certainly has more than three fair streets, as this recent aerial photograph shows.

Gazette article dated 18 August 1961

Future of Torrington Almshouses

Torrington Town Council are exploring further an offer by the Clinton (Devon) Estates Co.

19.12.1958 Torrington Alms Houses1

to hand over to the Council free, subject to the Council paying legal costs, the six almshouses held by the estate in New Street. 

The Council have received a report from the District Valuer on the almshouses which stated that with the exception of the roofs, which required attention, the premises appeared to be in sound structural repair.

Members of the Council are at present considering the extent of improvements contemplated, bearing in mind the possibilities of getting the grant towards the cost of the works.

The consent of the appropriate Ministry will be required for the transfer.

One of the agreed conditions will be that the houses shall continue to be let to old people.

19.12.1958 Torrington Alms Houses2

Article dated 19 December 1958 and a 1964 article provides an update on progress.

 

Last ‘Time Please’

Closing of ‘Setting Sun’

13.2.1959 Torrington Setting Sun

An inn which has stood at Torrington for many years closed down on Sunday night.

It was the ‘Setting Sun’ belonging to the brewery firm of Starkey, Knight and Ford Ltd. The licensee and his wife, Mr and Mrs A Clarke, have become well known in Torrington during the two years in which they have occupied the premises.

Now they are moving to the Globe Hotel, at Barnstaple. They came to Torrington from Mortehoe.

Mrs Clarke told a Gazette reported on Saturday: “The structural conditions, especially in the upstairs rooms, which are very old, have got into a bad state over the years. So the brewers have decided to shut it down.”

Mr Clarke said he thought the inn was extremely old. “I think that, next to the Black Horse Inn in the Square, this place is one of the oldest in the town,” he added.

Article dated 13 February 1959

  • 1

Login Form