• 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 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 2 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 3 From Bobby to Brian

  • 4

    Bidefordians
  • 5 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 6 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 7 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 8 No laughing matter

  • 9 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 10 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 11 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 12 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 13 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 14 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 15 School crossing patrol begins

  • 16 Service with a smile

  • 17 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 18 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 19 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 20 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 21 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 22 Private home for public pump

  • 23 Life begins at 80

  • 24

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 25

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 26 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 27 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 28 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 29 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 30 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 31 The Geneva marionettes

  • 32 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 33 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 34

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 35 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 36 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 37 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 38 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 39 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 40 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

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

  • 42 Clovelly custom

  • 43 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 44 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 45 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 46 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 47 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 48 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 49 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

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

  • 51 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 52 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 53 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 54 Torrington in 1967

  • 55 Jumble sale fever

  • 56 Pannier Market's future?

  • 57 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 58 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 59 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 60

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 61 End of the line

  • 62 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 63 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 64 New Lundy stamps

  • 65 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 66 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 67 Off on a great adventure

  • 68 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 69 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 70 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 71 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 72 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 73

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 74 For crying out loud!

  • 75 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 76 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 77 Bideford regatta

  • 78 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 79 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 80 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 81 Revenge in style

  • 82 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

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

  • 84 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 85 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 86 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 87 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 88 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 89

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 90 Sweets derationing

  • 91 New art gallery opened

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

  • 93 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 94 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 95 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 96 Filming at Hartland

  • 97 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 98 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 99 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 100 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 101 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 102 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 103 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 104 Finished in 1876

  • 105 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 106 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 107

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 108 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 109 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 110 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 111 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 112 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 113 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 114 Photo mural in Bideford bank

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

  • 116 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 117 Out of puff!

  • 118 Riverside mystery

  • 119 Artisans' Club

  • 120 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 121 New choral society's growing response

  • 122 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 123 Police station view of Bideford

  • 124 Picking the pops

  • 125 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 126 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 127 Some mushroom!

  • 128 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 129 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 130 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 131

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 132 Happy Days!

  • 133 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 134 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 135 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 136

    Building works
  • 137 Ships at Bideford

  • 138 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 139 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 140

    Relatives all over the world
  • 141 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 142 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 143 Decontrol of meat

  • 144 Last train from Torrington

  • 145 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 146 Littleham family's five generations

  • 147 A man and his wheel

  • 148 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 149 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 150 Mobile missionary

  • 151 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 152 Capers on the cobbles

  • 153 113 years at Instow

  • 154 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 155 Puppet characters introduced

  • 156 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 157 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 158 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 159

    Exhibition of school work
  • 160 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 161 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 162 All for the love of a lady!

  • 163 New Post Office

  • 164 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 165 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 166 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 167 A story to tell!

  • 168 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 169 Torrington's shelter for the aged

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

  • 171 Penny for the guy

  • 172 Emergency ferry services

  • 173 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 174 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 175 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 176 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 177 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 178 No sale of Springfield House

  • 179 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 180

    First prize
  • 181 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 182 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 183 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 184 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 185 Peter poses for TV film

  • 186 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 187 Blanchards ad.>
  • 188 Weare Giffard potato

  • 189 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 190 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 191 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 192 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 193 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 194 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 195 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 196 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 197 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 198 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

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

  • 200

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 201 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 202 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 203

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 204 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 205 Can spring be far away?

  • 206 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 207 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 208 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 209 Just over a year old

  • 210 Loads of black and white

  • 211 Twenty-one yachts

  • 212 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 213 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 214 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 215 Hartland Dancers
  • 216 The cab at the corner>
  • 217

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 218 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 219 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 220 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 221 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 222 Hartland postman retires

  • 223 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 224 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 225 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 226 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 227 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 228 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 229

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 230 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 231 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 232 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 233 Westward Ho! combined op

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

  • 235 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 236

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 237 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 238 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 239 Picking the pops

  • 240 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 241 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 242 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 243 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 244 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 245 Centenary of Gazette

  • 246 New life for Hartland organ

  • 247 First ship in 8 years

  • 248 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 249 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 250 Modern living at Bideford

  • 251 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 252 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 253 Simple Item 138
  • 254 Circus comes to town

  • 255 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 256 Appledore's largest

  • 257 Bideford loses training ship

  • 258

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 259 Variety in summer weather

  • 260 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 261 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 262 Ten year old scrambler

  • 263 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 264 A roof-top view - where?

  • 265 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 266 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 267 Northam's almshouse

  • 268 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 269 Recognise this resort?

  • 270 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 271 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 272 Traditions and skills still there

  • 273 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 274 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 275 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 276 What's the time?

  • 277 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 278 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 279 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 280 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 281 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 282 Hartland's invitation

  • 283 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 284 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 285 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 286 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 287 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 288 The art of the thatcher

  • 289 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 290 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 291

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 292 New civic medallions

  • 293 So this is the mainland!

  • 294 Clovelly nightmare

  • 295 Torrington's new amenity

  • 296 When horses score over the tractor

  • 297 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 298 Burnard family reunion

  • 299 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 300 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 301 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 302 Torrington children build igloo
  • 303 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 304 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

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

  • 306 Sight of a lifetime

  • 307 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 308 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 309 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 310 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 311 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 312 By pony and trap to market

  • 313

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 314 Caught in the act>
  • 315 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 316 Waldon Triplets
  • 317 Devil sent packing

  • 318 It really was the 'last time'

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

  • 320 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 321

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 322 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 323 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 324 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 325 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 326 All aboard the ark

  • 327 Over the bank together>
  • 328 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 329 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 330 New shipyard on schedule

  • 331

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 332 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 333 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 334 In their new robes and hats

  • 335 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 336 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 337 A bird of their own!

  • 338 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 339 North Devon Driving School

  • 340 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 341

    Was a missionary
  • 342 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 343 Fundraising trip for RNLI

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

  • 345 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 346 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 347 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 348 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 349 Six footed lamb

  • 350 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 351

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 352 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 353 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 354 Northam footballers of the future

  • 355 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 356

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 357

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 358 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 359

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 360 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 361 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 362 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 363 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 364 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 365 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 366 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 367 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 368

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 369 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 370

    Married in 1908
  • 371 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 372 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 373 School's link with cargo ship

  • 374 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 375 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 376 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 377 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 378 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 379 Cruising down the river

  • 380 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 381 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 382 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 383 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 384 They are parted pro-tem

  • 385 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 386 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 387 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 388 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 389 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 390 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 391 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 392 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 393 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 394 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 395 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 396 Parkham plan realised

  • 397 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 398 Bideford computer stars

  • 399 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 400 Some 240 exhibits

  • 401

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 402

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 403 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 404

    New gateway
  • 405 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 406 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 407 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 408 New addition to Quay front

  • 409 He beat the floods

  • 410 Warmington's garage ad

  • 411 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 412 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 413 Last of Bideford factory chimney

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

  • 415 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 416 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 417 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 418 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 419 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 420 Bridging the stream

  • 421 New look in the hayfields

  • 422 Big develolpment at Calveford

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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  • 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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  • 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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Instow's New Telephone Exchange

Switch to automatic

The new automatice exchange at Instow will be brought into service at 1.30pm on Wednesday, February 7th. Subscriber trunk dialling facilities are not being provided at the outset, but should be available for non-coinbox customers later in the year. The new building is at Back Road, Instow, and the equipment was installed by Post Office engineers.

All customers will be able to dial 30 local exchanges and 999 (Emergency) and Speaking Clock facilities will also be available. Local calls will be untimed as at present.

Although the existing manual exchange at Instow will close, operator services will still be available - these calls will, however, be handled at Barnstaple.

12.1.1968 Instow telephone exchange

 

Gazette dated January 12, 1968

Veteran Alderman Starts Big Scheme

Work began on a £60,000

widening scheme on the Back Road, Instow, and Ald Tom Anstey, vice-chairman of Devon Roads Committee and chairman of the Northern Division Roads Committee, informally inaugurated the scheme.

2.7.1965 Instow road widening Anstey

Ald Anstey climbed into a cabin of a Devon County Council diesel driven loader and trench digger, and, with a bit of help from the operator, Mr Mervyn Prust, of Pilton, switched on the engine and sent the bucket biting into the earth to scoop up a cwt. or so of soil.

For over 30 years he has been campaigning for the road widening. The widened road will run for three quarters of a mile.

Ald Anstey admitted that they had waited a long, long time. Since he has been made an alderman his successor, Mr John Andrew, had carried on the good work. Devon County Council had had to acquire 52 plots of land and use compulsory powers.

He warned villagers there were likely to be temporary difficulties. Because of the urgency it had been decided to start right away, now that the land was available. “Don’t grumble; we cannot do this work in the winter” he said.

Children of Instow School had time off to watch the ceremony, and among the guests were the Mayor and Mayoress of Bideford, Mrs E J Brown and Mrs L B Galliford.

Gazette article 2 July 1965

All On A Summer's Day

An 'artistic' moment at Instow during the presentation of the comedy "All on a summer's day" during an entertaining evening in aid of the Cancer Campaign funds, reported last week.

6.6.1958 Instow


The play was written by Mrs P Dreyer, of Instow. Seen in the photograph are: Miss Beckwith, Mrs Green, Mr Alan Bowyer, Mrs Weaver, Mrs Forster, Mrs Harvey and Miss Pilkington.

Gazette article dated 6 June 1958

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