• 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 The cab at the corner>
  • 2 School's link with cargo ship

  • 3 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 4 New Post Office

  • 5 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 6 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 7 New choral society's growing response

  • 8 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 9 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 10 End of the line

  • 11 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 12

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 13 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 14 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 15 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 16 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 17 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 18 Emergency ferry services

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

  • 20 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 21 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 22 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 23 Revenge in style

  • 24 A bird of their own!

  • 25

    Exhibition of school work
  • 26 Caught in the act>
  • 27 Sight of a lifetime

  • 28 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 29 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 30 New addition to Quay front

  • 31 Northam's almshouse

  • 32 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 33 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 34 Finished in 1876

  • 35 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 36 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 37 Penny for the guy

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

  • 39 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 40

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 41 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 42 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 43 By pony and trap to market

  • 44 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 45 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 46 No laughing matter

  • 47 Modern living at Bideford

  • 48 What's the time?

  • 49 No sale of Springfield House

  • 50

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 51 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 52 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 53 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 54 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 55 Service with a smile

  • 56 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 57 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 58 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 59 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 60 Ten year old scrambler

  • 61 For crying out loud!

  • 62 Hartland Dancers
  • 63 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 64 They are parted pro-tem

  • 65 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 66 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 67 113 years at Instow

  • 68 Twenty-one yachts

  • 69 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 70

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 71 Riverside mystery

  • 72 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 73 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 74 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 75 Centenary of Gazette

  • 76 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 77 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 78 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 79 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 80 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 81 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 82 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 83 Over the bank together>
  • 84 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 85 Blanchards ad.>
  • 86 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 87 First ship in 8 years

  • 88 Private home for public pump

  • 89 Bideford regatta

  • 90 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 91

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 92

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 93 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 94 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 95 It really was the 'last time'

  • 96 Littleham family's five generations

  • 97 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 98 Sweets derationing

  • 99 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 100 A roof-top view - where?

  • 101 Traditions and skills still there

  • 102 Just over a year old

  • 103

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 104 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 105 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 106

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 107 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 108

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 109 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 110 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 111 The Geneva marionettes

  • 112 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 113 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 114 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 115 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 116 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 117 Can spring be far away?

  • 118 New civic medallions

  • 119 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 120 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 121 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 122 Jumble sale fever

  • 123 He beat the floods

  • 124 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 125 Clovelly custom

  • 126 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 127 From Bobby to Brian

  • 128 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 129 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 130 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 131 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 132 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 133 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

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

  • 135 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 136 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 137 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 138 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 139 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 140 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 141 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 142 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 143 Out of puff!

  • 144 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 145 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 146 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 147 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 148

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 149 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 150 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 151 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 152 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 153

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 154 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 155 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 156 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 157 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 158 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 159 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 160 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 161

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 162 Recognise this resort?

  • 163 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 164 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 165 Mobile missionary

  • 166 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 167 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 168 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 169 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 170

    Was a missionary
  • 171 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 172 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 173 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 174 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 175 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 176 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 177 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 178 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 179 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 180 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 181 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 182 Capers on the cobbles

  • 183 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 184

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 185 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 186 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 187 Ships at Bideford

  • 188 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 189 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 190 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 191 A man and his wheel

  • 192 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 193 New life for Hartland organ

  • 194 Torrington's new amenity

  • 195 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 196 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 197 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

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

  • 199 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 200 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 201 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 202 All for the love of a lady!

  • 203 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 204 The art of the thatcher

  • 205 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 206

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 207 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 208 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 209 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 210 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 211 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 212 Picking the pops

  • 213 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 214 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 215 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 216

    New gateway
  • 217 Appledore's largest

  • 218 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

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

  • 220 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 221 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 222 Life begins at 80

  • 223 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 224 Clovelly nightmare

  • 225 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 226 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 227 Artisans' Club

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

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

  • 230 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 231 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 232 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 233 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 234 Picking the pops

  • 235 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 236 Off on a great adventure

  • 237 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 238

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 239

    Relatives all over the world
  • 240 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 241 Warmington's garage ad

  • 242 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 243 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 244 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 245 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 246 Burnard family reunion

  • 247 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 248 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 249 Hartland's invitation

  • 250 Puppet characters introduced

  • 251 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 252 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 253 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 254 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 255 Happy Days!

  • 256 Loads of black and white

  • 257 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 258 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 259 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 260 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 261 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 262 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 263 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 264 So this is the mainland!

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

  • 266 All aboard the ark

  • 267 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 268 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 269 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 270 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 271 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 272 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 273 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 274 Parkham plan realised

  • 275

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 276 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 277 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 278 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 279 Some 240 exhibits

  • 280

    Building works
  • 281 Weare Giffard potato

  • 282 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 283 Last train from Torrington

  • 284 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 285 New art gallery opened

  • 286 Bideford computer stars

  • 287 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 288 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 289

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 290 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 291 Devil sent packing

  • 292 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 293 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 294 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 295 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 296 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 297

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 298 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 299 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 300 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 301 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 302

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 303 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 304 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 305 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 306 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 307 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 308 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 309 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 310 Police station view of Bideford

  • 311 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 312 Torrington's shelter for the aged

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

  • 314 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 315 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 316 Waldon Triplets
  • 317 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 318 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 319 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 320 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 321 Variety in summer weather

  • 322 In their new robes and hats

  • 323 When horses score over the tractor

  • 324 Decontrol of meat

  • 325 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 326 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 327 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 328 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 329 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 330 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 331 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 332 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 333 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

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

  • 335 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 336 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 337 Torrington children build igloo
  • 338

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 339 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 340 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 341 Six footed lamb

  • 342 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 343 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 344 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 345 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 346 New look in the hayfields

  • 347 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 348 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 349

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 350 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 351 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 352 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 353 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 354 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 355 Simple Item 138
  • 356 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 357 Bridging the stream

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

  • 359 Some mushroom!

  • 360 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 361 Northam footballers of the future

  • 362 New Lundy stamps

  • 363 School crossing patrol begins

  • 364

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 365 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 366

    Bidefordians
  • 367 Peter poses for TV film

  • 368 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 369 Cruising down the river

  • 370 North Devon Driving School

  • 371 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 372 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 373 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 374 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 375

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 376 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 377 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 378

    First prize
  • 379 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 380 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 381 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 382 Torrington in 1967

  • 383 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

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

  • 385 Pannier Market's future?

  • 386 Bideford loses training ship

  • 387 Circus comes to town

  • 388 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 389 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 390 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 391 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 392

    Married in 1908
  • 393

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 394 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 395 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 396 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 397 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 398 Hartland postman retires

  • 399 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 400 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 401 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 402 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 403 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 404 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 405 New shipyard on schedule

  • 406 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 407 Filming at Hartland

  • 408 A story to tell!

  • 409 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 410 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 411 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 412 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 413 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 414 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 415 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 416 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 417 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 418 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 419

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 420 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 421 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 422 Little 'Big Ben'

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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  • 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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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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Twelfth Visit to the US - 1977

Twelfth Visit to the US - 1977

Cyril Braund 1977
 

Back from his 12th visit to the United States is Mr Cyril Braund, of Green Gardens, Northam, with a new fund of experiences to draw upon.

He and Mrs Braund have again been staying with their daughter, now in Kansas City. He had been there only three days and was sitting sunning himself in a temperature of 75 degrees when by chance an 'Eye Witness Report' television crew pulled up to obtain his views on that night's baseball match. More exciting was time spend with the police - but in the nicest possible way. A fellow Rotarian and a captain in the city police who is a traffic control officer took him on an extended tour of the black area. This really got him up in the air for his wish to travel in a police helicopter was quickly granted.

An assignment involved checking on a van speeding along the expressway and dropping down to take pictures, and another circling a house that it had been reported was being burgled. Back on the ground there was a visit to the pistol range.
Another highlight of the holiday was a trip to the Nasa Space Center in Houston where Mr Braund attended a meeting of the Rotary Club and heard a Congressman who had flown from Washington speaking about the engergy crisis in the US.

Mr Braund also enjoyed meeting again Mr Robert King, formerly a consultant at the NDI, Barnstaple, and now a heart specialist at St Luke's Hospital at Houston. He formerly lived in Instow which is the home of his son-in-law, Mr Geoffrey Day, former chairman of Bideford Round Table.

 

Joshua Petheridge Downing - Brass Plate

Joshua Petheridge Downing – Horwood, Devon - Brass Plate

A steam roller brass plate and booklets were donated by Richard Sandercock on 6 January 2015. His great-grandfather was Richard Dingle (Dingles Heritage Fairground at Lifton) who had 3 sons (no issue) and 1 daughter who married a Sandercock.

JP Downing of Horwood, Devon, ordered a Clayton and Shuttleworth steam roller (TA6236) from Dingles in 1913 – there was a legal requirement to have identification of the owner on the roller, hence the plaque.

The Downing Family history is:

1891 Census shows:

John Petheridge Downing (aged 35) married to Cora S Downing (aged 32) with 3 offspring – John Richard Downing (aged 10), Cora T Downing (aged 8 – 1882) and Joshua Downing (aged 1 – 1889). All living at East Barton, Horwood, Newton Tracey.
Later investigations identify Cora T Downing as Cora I Downing, Cora T Downind and Cora I Donning.

1901 Census shows:

As above with Richard C Downing (aged 2) and Penelope Rice Downing (aged 83). Cora T Downing still at Horwood.

John Petheridge Downing died in 1924 aged 69 – registered in Barnstaple. Joshua Downing died 1966 – registered in Barnstaple

1901 Census details an Ernest Charles Eveleigh (aged 19 - born Islington about 1882 – undergraduate at Oxford) boarding at Ilfracombe Hotel with other members of the Eveleigh family.

1911 Census (recorded 2 April) - Ernest Eveleigh, single, gentleman farmer and son of Head (10 Park Square West, Regents Park) – Irene Downing, aged 34 and single, from Horwood visiting.

Cora married Ernest C Eveleigh in the second quarter of 1911. Michael Eveleigh born 1914 – registered in first quarter in Barnstaple. 

Cora T Eveleigh died in 1967 and Ernest Charles Eveleigh died 4 February 1927, aged 45 (St Thomas, Devon). Wear House, Countess Wear, Devon (left to widow Cora Irene Downing)

 
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