• 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 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 2

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 3 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 4 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 5 Picking the pops

  • 6 Bideford regatta

  • 7 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 8 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 9 The Geneva marionettes

  • 10 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 11 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 12 Circus comes to town

  • 13

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 14 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 15 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 16 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 17 Twenty-one yachts

  • 18 Decontrol of meat

  • 19 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 20 Torrington in 1967

  • 21 End of the line

  • 22

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 23 Life begins at 80

  • 24 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 25 New addition to Quay front

  • 26

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 27 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 28 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 29 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 30 Ships at Bideford

  • 31 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 32 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 33 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 34 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 35 Police station view of Bideford

  • 36 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 37 New art gallery opened

  • 38 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 39 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 40 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 41 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 42 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 43 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 44

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 45 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 46 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 47 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 48 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 49

    Bidefordians
  • 50 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 51 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 52 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 53

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 54 Clovelly nightmare

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

  • 56 Littleham family's five generations

  • 57 Peter poses for TV film

  • 58 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 59 Artisans' Club

  • 60 A roof-top view - where?

  • 61 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 62 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 63 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 64 Revenge in style

  • 65 Blanchards ad.>
  • 66 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 67 Over the bank together>
  • 68 School crossing patrol begins

  • 69 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 70 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 71

    New gateway
  • 72 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 73

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 74 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 75 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 76 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 77

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 78 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 79 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 80 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 81 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 82 Burnard family reunion

  • 83 Picking the pops

  • 84

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 85 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 86 Can spring be far away?

  • 87 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 88

    First prize
  • 89 New Post Office

  • 90 Traditions and skills still there

  • 91 Riverside mystery

  • 92 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 93 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 94 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 95 Devil sent packing

  • 96 Appledore's largest

  • 97 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 98 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 99 Variety in summer weather

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

  • 101 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 102 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 103 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 104 When horses score over the tractor

  • 105 First ship in 8 years

  • 106

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 107 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 108 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 109 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 110 Jumble sale fever

  • 111

    Relatives all over the world
  • 112 Parkham plan realised

  • 113 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 114 Weare Giffard potato

  • 115 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 116 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 117 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 118 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 119

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 120 Bideford computer stars

  • 121 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 122 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 123 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 124 Pannier Market's future?

  • 125 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 126 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 127 Modern living at Bideford

  • 128 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 129 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 130 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 131 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 132 New civic medallions

  • 133 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 134 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 135 From Bobby to Brian

  • 136 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 137 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 138

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 139 Emergency ferry services

  • 140 They are parted pro-tem

  • 141 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 142 New look in the hayfields

  • 143 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 144 North Devon Driving School

  • 145 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 146 New shipyard on schedule

  • 147 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 148 Northam's almshouse

  • 149 113 years at Instow

  • 150 Ten year old scrambler

  • 151 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 152 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 153 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 154 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 155 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 156

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 157 No sale of Springfield House

  • 158 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 159 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 160

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 161 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 162 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 163

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 164 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 165 Some mushroom!

  • 166 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 167 All for the love of a lady!

  • 168 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 169 Just over a year old

  • 170 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 171 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 172 Caught in the act>
  • 173 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 174 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

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

  • 176 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 177 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 178 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 179 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 180 A story to tell!

  • 181 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 182 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

  • 183 Simple Item 138
  • 184 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 185 Warmington's garage ad

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

  • 187 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 188 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 189 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 190 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 191 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 192 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 193 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 194 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 195 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 196 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 197 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 198 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 199 Waldon Triplets
  • 200 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 201 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 202 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

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

  • 204 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

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

  • 206 Centenary of Gazette

  • 207 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 208 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 209 Northam footballers of the future

  • 210 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 211 Recognise this resort?

  • 212 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 213 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 214 Some 240 exhibits

  • 215

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 216 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 217 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 218 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 219 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 220 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 221 The art of the thatcher

  • 222 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 223 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 224

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 225 Puppet characters introduced

  • 226 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 227 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 228 No laughing matter

  • 229 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 230 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 231 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 232 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 233

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 234

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 235 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 236 For crying out loud!

  • 237 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 238 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 239 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 240 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 241 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 242 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 243 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 244 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 245

    Was a missionary
  • 246 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 247 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 248 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 249 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 250 Bideford loses training ship

  • 251 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 252 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 253 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 254 Sight of a lifetime

  • 255 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 256 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 257 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 258 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 259 Service with a smile

  • 260 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 261 Meredith's ironmongers

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

  • 263 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 264 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 265 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 266 Loads of black and white

  • 267 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 268 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 269 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 270 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 271 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 272 Cruising down the river

  • 273

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 274 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 275 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 276 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 277 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 278 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 279 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 280 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 281 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 282 What's the time?

  • 283 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 284 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 285 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 286

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 287 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 288

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 289 New life for Hartland organ

  • 290 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 291 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 292 Hartland's invitation

  • 293 Off on a great adventure

  • 294 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 295 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 296 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 297 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 298

    Married in 1908
  • 299 The cab at the corner>
  • 300 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 301 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 302 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 303 Clovelly custom

  • 304 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 305 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 306 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

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

  • 308 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 309 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 310 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 311 Capers on the cobbles

  • 312 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 313 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 314 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 315 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 316 Torrington's new amenity

  • 317 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 318 All aboard the ark

  • 319 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 320 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 321 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 322 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 323 So this is the mainland!

  • 324

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 325 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 326 School's link with cargo ship

  • 327 Hartland postman retires

  • 328 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 329 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 330 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 331 He beat the floods

  • 332 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 333 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 334 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 335 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 336 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 337 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 338 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 339 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 340 Torrington children build igloo
  • 341 Sweets derationing

  • 342 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 343 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 344 Hartland Dancers
  • 345 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 346 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 347

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 348 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 349 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 350 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 351

    Building works
  • 352 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 353 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 354 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 355 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 356 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 357 Bridging the stream

  • 358 Filming at Hartland

  • 359

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 360 New choral society's growing response

  • 361 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 362 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 363 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 364 Last train from Torrington

  • 365 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 366 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 367 By pony and trap to market

  • 368 Mobile missionary

  • 369 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 370 A man and his wheel

  • 371 Penny for the guy

  • 372 Private home for public pump

  • 373 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 374 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 375 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 376 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

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

  • 378 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 379 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 380 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 381 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 382 Happy Days!

  • 383 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 384 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 385 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 386 New Lundy stamps

  • 387 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 388 Six footed lamb

  • 389 Out of puff!

  • 390 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 391 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 392

    Exhibition of school work
  • 393 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 394 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 395 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 396 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 397 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 398 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 399 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 400 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 401 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 402 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 403 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 404 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 405 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 406 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 407 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 408 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 409 Finished in 1876

  • 410 A bird of their own!

  • 411 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 412 In their new robes and hats

  • 413 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 414 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 415 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 416 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 417 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

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

  • 419 It really was the 'last time'

  • 420 Calligrapher extraordinary

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

  • 422 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

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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  • 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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  • 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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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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Bideford-Appledore Wedding

 The wedding took place at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, on February 4th,

17.2.1942 Popham Paddon

of Corpl W G Popham, second son of Mr and Mrs G H Popham, 9 Marine Parade, Appledore, and Miss Alice Mary Paddon, only daughter of Mr and Mrs R Paddon, 20 Chingswell Street, Bideford.

The ceremony was conducted by the Rector of Bideford, the Rev Preb. W N Manning. Mr R Harper was the organist. Miss A James was the chief bridesmaid and there were two small attendants. Sergt C J Popham, RAOC, brother of the bridegroom, carried out the duties of the best man.

A reception was held at Morrison’s Café, Bridgeland Street, Bideford, where some 80 guests were entertained. Later, Mr and Mrs Popham left for Torquay for the honeymoon.

The full Gazette article is dated 17 February 1942.

A naval reunion of men

who had met while serving in the Mediterranean theatre was a happy feature

14.3.1944 Alexander Perkins1

14.3.1944 Alexander Perkins2

of the wedding which took place at St Michael’s Church, Torrington on Wednesday March 1st of Signalman Reuben J L Alexander, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Alexander, 23 Well Street, Torrington, and Corpl Violet May Perkins, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs W J Perkins, Longham Farm, Coryton, Okehampton.

The best man was Torpedoman Stanley Davy, RN, a Torritonian who had met Signlmn Alexander in Tripoli. Among the guests was Leading Seaman Braunton, of Bideford, who has been a shipmate of the bridegroom.

The Vicar of Torrington, Rev C J Barker, officiated and Mr S Parkes was at the organ. The bride was accompanied by Miss Margaret Alexander and two little pageboys – Master Tony Stapleton and Peter Webber – were in attendance.

The full Gazette article is dated 14 March 1944.

Bideford-Westward Ho! Wedding

There was much local interest

13.2.1945 Lang Stevens

in the wedding on January 30th at the High Street Methodist Church, Bideford, between LAC David Charles Blake Lang, RAF, eldest son of Mr F G and the late Mrs Lang, 36 Old Town, Bideford, and Miss Daphne Grace Stevens, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs J Stevens, 2 Eastbourne Terrace, Westward Ho!

The Rev T E Clarke officiated at the ceremony. Mrs Cox presided at the organ. The bride was given away by her brother, Mr F A B Stevens. The duties of the best man were carried out by Mr Frank Babb.

Gazette articled dated 13 February 1945

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