• 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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    Relatives all over the world
  • 2 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 3 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 4

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 5

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 6 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 7 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 8 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 9 Ships at Bideford

  • 10 Northam's almshouse

  • 11 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 12 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 13 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 14 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 15 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 16 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 17

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 18 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 19 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 20 New Lundy stamps

  • 21

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 22 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 23 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 24 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 25 Can spring be far away?

  • 26 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 27 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 28 What's the time?

  • 29 Torrington in 1967

  • 30

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 31 From Bobby to Brian

  • 32 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 33 Ten year old scrambler

  • 34 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 35 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 36 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 37 Private home for public pump

  • 38 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 39 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 40 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 41 Artisans' Club

  • 42 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 43 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 44 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 45

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 46 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 47 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 48 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 49 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 50 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 51 The Geneva marionettes

  • 52 Life begins at 80

  • 53 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 54 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 55 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 56 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 57 Recognise this resort?

  • 58 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 59 Picking the pops

  • 60 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 61 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 62 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 63 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 64 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 65 Burnard family reunion

  • 66 Picking the pops

  • 67 Parkham plan realised

  • 68 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 69 Hartland Dancers
  • 70 It really was the 'last time'

  • 71 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 72 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 73

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 74 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 75 All for the love of a lady!

  • 76

    Exhibition of school work
  • 77 Torrington's new amenity

  • 78 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 79 A story to tell!

  • 80 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 81 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 82 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 83 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 84 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 85 Circus comes to town

  • 86 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 87 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 88 Six footed lamb

  • 89 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 90

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 91 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 92 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 93 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 94 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 95 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 96 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 97 Blanchards ad.>
  • 98 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 99 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 100 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 101 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

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

  • 103 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 104 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 105 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 106 Centenary of Gazette

  • 107 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 108

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 109 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 110 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 111

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 112 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 113 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 114

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 115 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 116 Sight of a lifetime

  • 117 Puppet characters introduced

  • 118 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 119 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 120 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 121 Modern living at Bideford

  • 122 Shoes certainly not made for walking

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

  • 124

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 125 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 126 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 127

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 128 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 129 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 130 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 131 So this is the mainland!

  • 132 Pannier Market's future?

  • 133

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 134 Riverside mystery

  • 135 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

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

  • 137 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 138 A roof-top view - where?

  • 139 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 140 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 141 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 142 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 143 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 144 Just over a year old

  • 145 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 146 Steep street of old Bideford

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

  • 148

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 149 Littleham family's five generations

  • 150 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 151 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 152 Decontrol of meat

  • 153 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 154 Out of puff!

  • 155 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 156 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 157 Torrington children build igloo
  • 158 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 159

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 160 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 161 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 162 Jumble sale fever

  • 163 Warmington's garage ad

  • 164 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 165 Simple Item 138
  • 166 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 167 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 168 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 169 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 170 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 171 Some 240 exhibits

  • 172 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 173 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 174 End of the line

  • 175 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 176 Weare Giffard potato

  • 177 Off on a great adventure

  • 178 Twenty-one yachts

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

  • 180 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 181 School crossing patrol begins

  • 182 Bideford loses training ship

  • 183 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 184 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 185 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 186 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

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

  • 188 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 189 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 190 The art of the thatcher

  • 191 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 192 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 193 Variety in summer weather

  • 194

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 195

    Was a missionary
  • 196 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 197 Bideford computer stars

  • 198 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 199 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 200 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 201 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 202 For crying out loud!

  • 203 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 204 Capers on the cobbles

  • 205

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 206 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 207 Bridging the stream

  • 208 A man and his wheel

  • 209 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 210 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 211 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 212 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 213 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 214 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 215 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 216 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 217 Traditions and skills still there

  • 218 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 219 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 220 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 221 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 222 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 223 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 224 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 225 Clovelly custom

  • 226

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 227 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 228 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 229 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 230 113 years at Instow

  • 231 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 232 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 233 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 234 First ship in 8 years

  • 235 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 236 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 237 By pony and trap to market

  • 238 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 239 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 240

    First prize
  • 241 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 242 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 243 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 244 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 245 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 246 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 247 Service with a smile

  • 248 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 249 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 250 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 251 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

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

  • 253 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 254 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 255 When horses score over the tractor

  • 256 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 257 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 258 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 259 New art gallery opened

  • 260 New shipyard on schedule

  • 261 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 262 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 263 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 264 Water Board mains spread through villages

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

  • 266 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 267 Devil sent packing

  • 268 Finished in 1876

  • 269

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 270 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 271

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 272 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 273 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 274 Some mushroom!

  • 275 North Devon Driving School

  • 276 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 277 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 278 Cruising down the river

  • 279 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 280 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 281 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 282 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

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

  • 284 Hartland postman retires

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

  • 286 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 287 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 288

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 289 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 290 School's link with cargo ship

  • 291 Over the bank together>
  • 292 No sale of Springfield House

  • 293 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 294 A bird of their own!

  • 295 Clovelly nightmare

  • 296

    Building works
  • 297 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 298 Waldon Triplets
  • 299 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 300 New choral society's growing response

  • 301 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 302 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 303 Revenge in style

  • 304 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 305 Caught in the act>
  • 306 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 307 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 308 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 309 Hartland's invitation

  • 310 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 311 Emergency ferry services

  • 312 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 313 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 314 Loads of black and white

  • 315 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 316 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 317 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 318 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 319 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 320 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 321 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 322 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 323 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 324 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 325 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 326

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 327 New life for Hartland organ

  • 328 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 329 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 330 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 331 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 332 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 333 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 334 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 335 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 336 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 337 No laughing matter

  • 338 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 339 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 340 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 341 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 342 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 343 Sweets derationing

  • 344 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 345 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 346 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 347 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 348 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 349 They never miss a game at Torrington

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

  • 351 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 352 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 353 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 354 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 355 Bideford regatta

  • 356 Police station view of Bideford

  • 357 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 358 All aboard the ark

  • 359 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 360

    New gateway
  • 361 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 362 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 363 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 364 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 365 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 366 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 367 The cab at the corner>
  • 368 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 369 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 370 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 371 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 372 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 373 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 374 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 375 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 376 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 377 He beat the floods

  • 378 Northam footballers of the future

  • 379 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 380 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 381 Mobile missionary

  • 382 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 383

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 384 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 385

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 386 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 387 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 388 New Post Office

  • 389 They are parted pro-tem

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

  • 391 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 392 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 393

    Bidefordians
  • 394 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 395 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 396 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 397 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 398 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 399 Filming at Hartland

  • 400 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 401 In their new robes and hats

  • 402 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 403 New addition to Quay front

  • 404 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 405 Appledore's largest

  • 406 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 407 Last train from Torrington

  • 408 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 409 Photo of town's first car wins prize

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

  • 411 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 412 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

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

  • 414 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 415 Penny for the guy

  • 416 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 417 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 418 Peter poses for TV film

  • 419 New look in the hayfields

  • 420 Happy Days!

  • 421 New civic medallions

  • 422

    Married in 1908
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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For the villagers of Shebbear it is a moving time

November 5 means more than bonfires and fireworks for the people of Shebbear. 

1975 Shebbear boulder
Every years 'since the mind of man runneth not to the contrary' the village bellringers have ensured that the Devil is driven from the district. 
They ring discordant peals on the bells and then move outside the Church to turn the 'Devil's Stone'. This is a massive boulder weighing more than a ton, which, with the aid of crowbards, they turn over, a task that must be symbolic of wrestling with the prince of darkness and it ensures that he is kept away for another year. 
Geologists are interested in the origin of the stone. Some Shebbear people have no doubt. They swear that it was dropped by the Devil when he was descending from heaven to hell.
And even during the war the villagers took no chances. They managed to keep the stone on the turn. 

Spring Quins

Spring Quins - 19th March 1965

19.3.1965 Sheep quins 1
19.3.1965 Sheep quins 2
 

A Closewool sheep belonging to Mr P Jenkinson of Alscott Farm, Shebbear, had quins on March 9th, and this week Mr Jenkinson told the Gazette that all were doing well, though necessitating artificial feeding every two hours. Mrs Jenkinson, Nigel and Sarah, are pictured keeping the proud mother company with her five children.

Shebbear Turns The Boulder

Shebbear Turns The Boulder - 11th November 1960

11.11.1960 Shebbear boulder
 

Hundreds of onlookers gathered around Shebbear Square on Saturday and witnessed the village's ancient tradition of turning over the "Devil's Boulder", a giant stone weighing about 5-cwt and lying beneath a 700-year-old oak near the entrance to the Parish Church.
The ceremony was performed by six stalward bell-ringers. First, five local ringers, brothers Will and George Ackland, cousin Walter, Will Haine, the captain, and Robert Mill. They were reinforced by a visiting ringer, Mr Lake, of Torrington. A discordant jangle on the bells was sounded in order to exorcise the Devil. The stone turning took two minutes to accomplish amid "heave-ho's" and cheers from the crowd. Mr Mill, the 73-year-old senior ringer, pleaded for more recruits so that the village could again have a team of its own. Mr Mills has been a ringer for over 50 years.
A beef barbeque, organised by Shebbear A.F.C, concluded the occasion.

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