• 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 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 2 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 3 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 4 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 5 Littleham family's five generations

  • 6 Last train from Torrington

  • 7 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 8 Happy Days!

  • 9 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 10 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 11 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 12 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 13 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 14 New look in the hayfields

  • 15 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 16 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 17 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 18 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 19 Waldon Triplets
  • 20 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 21 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 22 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 23 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 24 Circus comes to town

  • 25 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 26 He beat the floods

  • 27 Decontrol of meat

  • 28 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 29 Burnard family reunion

  • 30 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 31 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 32 Picking the pops

  • 33 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 34 Filming at Hartland

  • 35 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 36 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 37 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 38 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 39 A man and his wheel

  • 40 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 41 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 42 Ships at Bideford

  • 43

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 44 Service with a smile

  • 45 Hartland's invitation

  • 46 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 47 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 48 Torrington's new amenity

  • 49 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 50 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 51

    Exhibition of school work
  • 52 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 53 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 54 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 55 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 56 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 57 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 58 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

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

  • 60 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 61 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 62 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 63 Northam footballers of the future

  • 64 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 65 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 66 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 67 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 68 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 69 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 70 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 71 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 72 Variety in summer weather

  • 73 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 74

    Married in 1908
  • 75 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 76 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 77 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 78

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 79 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 80 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

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

  • 82 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 83 The cab at the corner>
  • 84 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 85 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 86 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 87 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 88 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 89 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 90 It really was the 'last time'

  • 91 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 92 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 93 In their new robes and hats

  • 94 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 95 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 96

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 97 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 98 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 99 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 100 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 101 Penny for the guy

  • 102 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 103 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 104 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 105 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 106 Bideford regatta

  • 107

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 108 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

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

  • 110

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 111 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 112 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 113 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 114 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 115 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 116 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 117

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 118 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 119

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 120

    First prize
  • 121 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 122 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 123 Children's procession with foxgloves

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

  • 125 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 126 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 127 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 128 Police station view of Bideford

  • 129 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 130 Hartland Dancers
  • 131

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 132

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 133 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 134 School's link with cargo ship

  • 135 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 136 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 137 No sale of Springfield House

  • 138 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 139 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 140

    Building works
  • 141 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 142 Northam's almshouse

  • 143

    Bidefordians
  • 144 Caught in the act>
  • 145 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 146 A roof-top view - where?

  • 147 End of the line

  • 148 The art of the thatcher

  • 149

    Relatives all over the world
  • 150 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 151 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 152 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 153 Out of puff!

  • 154 A sense of humour in advertising

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

  • 156 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 157 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 158 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 159 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 160 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 161 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 162 New art gallery opened

  • 163 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 164 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 165 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 166 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 167 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 168 School crossing patrol begins

  • 169 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 170 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 171 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 172 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 173 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 174 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 175 They are parted pro-tem

  • 176 For crying out loud!

  • 177 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 178 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 179 Warmington's garage ad

  • 180 Simple Item 138
  • 181 New Post Office

  • 182 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 183 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 184 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 185

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 186

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 187 North Devon Driving School

  • 188 Finished in 1876

  • 189 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 190 Torrington in 1967

  • 191 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 192 Passing of a Torrington landmark

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

  • 194 The Geneva marionettes

  • 195 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 196 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 197 By pony and trap to market

  • 198 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 199 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 200 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 201 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 202 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 203

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 204 Six footed lamb

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

  • 206 A bird of their own!

  • 207 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 208

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 209 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 210 Weare Giffard potato

  • 211 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 212 Twenty-one yachts

  • 213 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 214 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 215 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 216 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 217

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 218 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 219 Jumble sale fever

  • 220 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 221 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 222 Sweets derationing

  • 223 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 224 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 225 Holiday scene near Sandymere

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

  • 227 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 228 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 229 Loads of black and white

  • 230 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 231 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 232 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 233 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 234

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 235 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 236 Mobile missionary

  • 237 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 238 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

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

  • 240 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 241 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 242 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 243 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

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

  • 245 Revenge in style

  • 246 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 247 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 248 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 249 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 250

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 251 When horses score over the tractor

  • 252 Modern living at Bideford

  • 253 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 254 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 255 Cruising down the river

  • 256 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 257 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 258 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 259 Hartland postman retires

  • 260 First ship in 8 years

  • 261 Emergency ferry services

  • 262 Sight of a lifetime

  • 263 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 264 New Lundy stamps

  • 265 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 266 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 267 All for the love of a lady!

  • 268 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 269 New choral society's growing response

  • 270 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 271 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 272 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 273 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 274 Some mushroom!

  • 275 Capers on the cobbles

  • 276 Devil sent packing

  • 277 Appledore's largest

  • 278 Picking the pops

  • 279 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 280 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 281 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 282 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 283

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 284 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 285 Blanchards ad.>
  • 286 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 287 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 288

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 289 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 290 Riverside mystery

  • 291 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 292 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 293 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 294 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 295 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 296 So this is the mainland!

  • 297 New civic medallions

  • 298

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 299 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 300 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 301 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 302 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 303 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 304 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 305 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 306 A lost Bideford 'island'

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

  • 308 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 309 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 310 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 311 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 312 113 years at Instow

  • 313

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 314 Can spring be far away?

  • 315 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 316

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 317 New addition to Quay front

  • 318 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 319 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 320 From Bobby to Brian

  • 321 Clovelly custom

  • 322 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 323 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 324 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 325 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 326 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 327 Traditions and skills still there

  • 328 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 329 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 330 Ten year old scrambler

  • 331 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 332 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 333 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 334 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 335

    Was a missionary
  • 336 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 337 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 338 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 339 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 340

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 341 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 342 Peter poses for TV film

  • 343 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 344 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 345 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 346 Some 240 exhibits

  • 347

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 348 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 349 Just over a year old

  • 350 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 351 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 352 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 353 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 354 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 355 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

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

  • 357 Over the bank together>
  • 358 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 359 Puppet characters introduced

  • 360 New life for Hartland organ

  • 361 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 362 Bideford loses training ship

  • 363 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 364 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 365 What's the time?

  • 366 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 367 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 368

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 369 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 370 Bridging the stream

  • 371 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 372 Bideford computer stars

  • 373 A story to tell!

  • 374 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 375 Recognise this resort?

  • 376 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 377 Torrington children build igloo
  • 378 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 379 Parkham plan realised

  • 380 Pannier Market's future?

  • 381 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 382 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 383 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 384 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 385 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 386 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 387 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 388 All aboard the ark

  • 389 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 390 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 391 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 392 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 393 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 394 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 395 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 396 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 397

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 398 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 399 Artisans' Club

  • 400 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 401 Centenary of Gazette

  • 402 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 403 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 404 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 405 Life begins at 80

  • 406 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 407

    New gateway
  • 408 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 409 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 410 New shipyard on schedule

  • 411 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 412 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 413 Off on a great adventure

  • 414 No laughing matter

  • 415 Clovelly nightmare

  • 416 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 417 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 418 Private home for public pump

  • 419 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 420 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 421 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 422 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

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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Chieftain Tank Under The Torridge!

Some of the peacetime backroom development that has followed as a natural progression to the waterproofing of vehicles which helped in the wartime landings on enemy coasts was in evidence in the Torridge estuary last week.

7 May 1971 Chieftain tank

Observers from the Ministry of Defence in London, together with those from other experimental and development units in the UK, watched as a 50-ton Chieftain tank, which has been converted into an armoured recovery vehicle, went completely underwater, except for a snorkel, from the beach at Instow across the river bed to Crow Point.
The new equipment in use has been developed at the Fording Trials Branch of REME at Instow and the trials were concerned with the ability of the Chieftain ARV to support tanks in a river crossing environment.
Gazette article dated 7 May 1971

Instow's Beekeeping Rector

Widely recognised as one of the experts of the beekeeping world, the 68 year old Rector of Instow, the Rev Herbert Leonard Hustwayte, who keeps 20 hives, has retired after 15 years at hon. secretary of the Devon Beekeepers' Association.

7.4.1961 Instow bee keeper

His successor is Mr L Thoday, of Croyde. Mr Hustwayte is to continue as editor of Beekeeping, the Devon Association's journal. In September he is attending the 18th International Beekeepers' Congress at Madrid.

The full Gazette article is dated 7 April 1961

Christmas entertainment

COMMODORE HOTEL DINING AND DANCING

19.12.1975 Christmas

For that special night out for your party - large or small - the following bands will be playing (we are fully booked this Saturday)
Friday December 19 - Johnny Andrews
Tuesday December 23 - Ray and his Blue Stars
Christmas Eve - Music and Imagination
Boxing Night - Green Velvet
Choose your date, make a booking and enjoy a good night out
Telephone Instow 347

Gazette article dated 19 December 1975

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