• 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 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 2

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 3 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 4 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 5 Six footed lamb

  • 6 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 7 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 8 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 9 New look in the hayfields

  • 10

    Was a missionary
  • 11 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 12

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 13 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 14 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 15 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 16 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 17 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 18 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 19 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 20 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

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

  • 22 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 23

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 24 Children's procession with foxgloves

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

  • 26 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 27

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 28 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 29 School crossing patrol begins

  • 30 Ships at Bideford

  • 31 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 32 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 33 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 34 Life begins at 80

  • 35 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 36 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 37 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 38 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

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

  • 40 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 41 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 42 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 43 All aboard the ark

  • 44 Burnard family reunion

  • 45 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 46 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 47 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 48 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 49

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 50 Cruising down the river

  • 51 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 52 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 53 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 54 End of the line

  • 55 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 56 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 57 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 58 Just over a year old

  • 59 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 60

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 61 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 62 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 63 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 64 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 65 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 66 Decontrol of meat

  • 67 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 68 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 69 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 70 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 71 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 72

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 73 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 74 New civic medallions

  • 75 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 76 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 77 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 78 Pannier Market's future?

  • 79 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 80 Capers on the cobbles

  • 81 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 82 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 83 Parkham plan realised

  • 84 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 85 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 86 Northam footballers of the future

  • 87 Appledore's largest

  • 88

    Married in 1908
  • 89 Penny for the guy

  • 90 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 91 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 92 Devil sent packing

  • 93 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 94 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 95 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 96 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 97 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 98

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 99 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 100 113 years at Instow

  • 101 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 102

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 103 New addition to Quay front

  • 104 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 105 Clovelly custom

  • 106 New shipyard on schedule

  • 107 Over the bank together>
  • 108 New Lundy stamps

  • 109 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 110 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 111 Torrington's new amenity

  • 112 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 113 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 114 Ten year old scrambler

  • 115 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 116

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 117 Sweets derationing

  • 118 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 119 Artisans' Club

  • 120 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 121 Bideford loses training ship

  • 122 Out of puff!

  • 123 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 124 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 125 Picking the pops

  • 126 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 127 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 128 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 129 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 130 No sale of Springfield House

  • 131 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 132 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 133 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 134 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 135 All for the love of a lady!

  • 136 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 137 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 138 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 139 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 140 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 141 Centenary of Gazette

  • 142 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 143 It really was the 'last time'

  • 144

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 145 They are parted pro-tem

  • 146 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 147 Police station view of Bideford

  • 148 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 149 Hartland Dancers
  • 150 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 151 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 152 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 153 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

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

  • 155 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 156 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 157 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 158 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

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

  • 160

    Bidefordians
  • 161 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 162 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 163 Sight of a lifetime

  • 164 Littleham family's five generations

  • 165 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 166 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 167 New life for Hartland organ

  • 168 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 169 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 170

    Relatives all over the world
  • 171 Finished in 1876

  • 172 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 173 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 174 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 175 Weare Giffard potato

  • 176 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 177 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 178 Circus comes to town

  • 179 North Devon Driving School

  • 180 Bridging the stream

  • 181 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 182 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 183

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 184 When horses score over the tractor

  • 185 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 186 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

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

  • 188 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 189

    Exhibition of school work
  • 190 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 191 Clovelly nightmare

  • 192 Some 240 exhibits

  • 193 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 194 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 195 Simple Item 138
  • 196 A bird of their own!

  • 197 Hartland postman retires

  • 198 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 199 In their new robes and hats

  • 200 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 201 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 202 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 203

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 204 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 205 From Bobby to Brian

  • 206 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 207 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 208 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 209 Picking the pops

  • 210 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 211 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 212 No ancient Grecian temple this

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

  • 214 School's link with cargo ship

  • 215 Can spring be far away?

  • 216 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 217 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 218 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 219 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 220

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 221 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 222

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 223 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 224 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 225 So this is the mainland!

  • 226 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 227 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 228 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 229 Modern living at Bideford

  • 230 Private home for public pump

  • 231 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 232 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 233 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

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

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

  • 236 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 237 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 238 Off on a great adventure

  • 239 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 240 Traditions and skills still there

  • 241 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 242 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 243 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 244 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 245 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 246 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 247 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 248 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 249 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 250 Hartland's invitation

  • 251 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 252 A roof-top view - where?

  • 253 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 254 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 255 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 256

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 257

    Building works
  • 258 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 259 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 260 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 261 Torrington children build igloo
  • 262 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 263 Service with a smile

  • 264 Puppet characters introduced

  • 265 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 266 New Post Office

  • 267 Bideford computer stars

  • 268 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 269 A story to tell!

  • 270 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 271 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 272 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 273 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 274 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 275 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 276 Jumble sale fever

  • 277 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 278 Photo of town's first car wins prize

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

  • 280 Twenty-one yachts

  • 281 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 282 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 283 The Geneva marionettes

  • 284 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 285 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 286 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 287 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 288 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 289 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 290 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 291 First ship in 8 years

  • 292 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 293 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 294

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 295

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 296 Loads of black and white

  • 297 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 298 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 299 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 300

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 301 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 302 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 303 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 304 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 305 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 306 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 307 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 308 New choral society's growing response

  • 309 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 310 Filming at Hartland

  • 311 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 312 Some mushroom!

  • 313 Blanchards ad.>
  • 314 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 315 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 316 Bideford's private wharves busier

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

  • 318 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 319

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 320 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 321 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 322 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 323 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 324 Bideford regatta

  • 325

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 326 By pony and trap to market

  • 327 Peter poses for TV film

  • 328 A man and his wheel

  • 329 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 330 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 331 No laughing matter

  • 332 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 333 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 334 Revenge in style

  • 335 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 336 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 337 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 338 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 339 Northam's almshouse

  • 340 Warmington's garage ad

  • 341 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 342 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 343

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 344 What's the time?

  • 345 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 346 Variety in summer weather

  • 347 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 348 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 349 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 350 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 351 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 352 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 353 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 354 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 355 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 356 He beat the floods

  • 357 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 358 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 359 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 360 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 361 Riverside mystery

  • 362 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 363 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 364 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 365 The art of the thatcher

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

  • 367 For crying out loud!

  • 368 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 369 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 370 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 371 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 372 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 373

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 374 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 375 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 376 Emergency ferry services

  • 377 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 378 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 379 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 380 New art gallery opened

  • 381 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 382 Mobile missionary

  • 383 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 384

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 385 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 386 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 387 The cab at the corner>
  • 388 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 389 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 390 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 391 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 392 Recognise this resort?

  • 393 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

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

  • 395 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 396 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 397 Happy Days!

  • 398 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 399 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 400 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 401 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 402 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 403 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 404

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 405 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 406 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 407 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 408 Last train from Torrington

  • 409 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 410 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 411 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 412 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 413 Waldon Triplets
  • 414 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 415 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 416

    New gateway
  • 417 Torrington in 1967

  • 418 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 419

    First prize
  • 420 Caught in the act>
  • 421 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

  • 422 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
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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Over 200 Panes To Clean

Spraying solves Woolsery Vicar’s problem

4.7.1958 Woolsery Vicar

The Rev P F H How, Vicar of Woolsery and Bucks Mills, who recently moved to the new Vicarage in the parish is very happy in his new home, but he and his wife have found one outsize domestic problem. Their eight-roomed residence contains no fewer than 230 window panes.
“Where you’d normally find one pane” says the Vicar, “we have six tiny ones. A parishioner pointed out that this involved cleaning 920 corners, and we’re now experiencing just how right she was.”
“But I think I’ve halved the problem,” he adds. “I clean the outside of the windows with a hand-spray (really meant for roses) attached to the well. Any suggestion as to how to simplify the cleaning of the insides will be more than welcome.”
Gazette article dated 4 July 1958

Sunday School Anniversary at Woolsery

At Woolsery Methodist Church, the Sunday School anniversary services have been held.

23.5.1958 Woolsery Sunday School

The preacher on the Sunday was Mr I Quance, of Sutcombe, and the scholars took an active part in the services.
On the Monday the tea was well patronised, pourers and helpers being: Mrs W Hill, Miss Johns, Mrs A Bray, Miss P Dennis, Mrs J Wonnacott, Mrs T Eastabrook, Mrs S Wonnacott, Mrs W Walter, Mrs A Dennis and Mrs B Wonnacott. Tea steward was Mr S Wonnacott (Superintendent).
Rev Bernard Titmus, of Bude, was the chairman for the evening meeting, and his address to the young people was helpful and interesting. He also presented the annual report, with a satisfactory financial statement. After prayer, the children sand and recitations were given by Mary Dennis and Brenda Cloke. A solo was given by June Cloke, and an Object Lesson, presented by the scholars. Norman Bray recited and a hymn followed, also recitations by Jennifer Souch, Michael Dark, Rosemarie Souch, Adrian Johns and B Cloke. Jennifer Souch, Mary Dennis and Brenda Cloke rendered a trio. Mrs A Bray was the organist throughout.
At the close of the meeting the scholars received their Sunday School awards from the Superintendent and the Rev Bernard Titmus, and presentation Bibles were given to senior scholars P Dennis and J Cloke.
Full Gazette article is dated 23 May 1958

Manor Park It Is!

Two names were suggested to Bideford Rural Council for a proposed new estate at Woolsery.

6.4.1973 Woolsery Manor Park

“Perkin’s Field” was the suggestion of the developers, who plan to begin the operations shortly. “Manor Park” was the choice of local councillors Mr R J Stoneman and Mr C J Andrew. “Manor Park” was chosen by the council. 

Gazette article dated 6 April 1973

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