• 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 Devil sent packing

  • 2 The art of the thatcher

  • 3 First ship in 8 years

  • 4 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 5

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 6 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 7 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 8 Northam footballers of the future

  • 9 Simple Item 138
  • 10

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 11 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 12 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 13 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 14 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 15 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 16

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 17 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 18 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 19 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 20 Variety in summer weather

  • 21 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 22 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 23 Finished in 1876

  • 24 Penny for the guy

  • 25 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 26 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 27 Waldon Triplets
  • 28 No sale of Springfield House

  • 29 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 30 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 31 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 32 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 33 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 34 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 35 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 36 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 37 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 38 Riverside mystery

  • 39 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

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

  • 41 End of the line

  • 42 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 43

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 44 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 45 Bideford computer stars

  • 46 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 47 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 48 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 49 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 50 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 51 Hartland Dancers
  • 52 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 53 Twenty-one yachts

  • 54 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 55 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 56

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 57 Space dominates Hartland carnival

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

  • 59 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 60 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 61 Hartland's invitation

  • 62 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 63 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 64 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 65 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 66 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 67 Cruising down the river

  • 68 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 69 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 70

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 71 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 72 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 73

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 74 Northam's almshouse

  • 75 New choral society's growing response

  • 76 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 77 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

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

  • 79 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 80 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 81 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 82 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 83 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 84

    Married in 1908
  • 85 Out of puff!

  • 86 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 87 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 88 New look in the hayfields

  • 89 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 90 Off on a great adventure

  • 91 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 92 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 93 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 94 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 95 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 96 Circus comes to town

  • 97 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 98 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 99 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 100 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 101 Peter poses for TV film

  • 102 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 103 Last train from Torrington

  • 104 A story to tell!

  • 105 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 106 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 107 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 108 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 109 Centenary of Gazette

  • 110 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 111 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 112 They are parted pro-tem

  • 113 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 114 Filming at Hartland

  • 115 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

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

  • 117 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 118 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 119 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 120 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 121 In their new robes and hats

  • 122 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 123 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 124 Puppet characters introduced

  • 125 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

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

  • 127 New Lundy stamps

  • 128 Artisans' Club

  • 129 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 130 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 131 Service with a smile

  • 132 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 133 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 134 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 135 Blanchards ad.>
  • 136 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 137 Six footed lamb

  • 138 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 139 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 140 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 141 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 142 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 143 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 144 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 145 When horses score over the tractor

  • 146 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 147 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 148 Burnard family reunion

  • 149 Capers on the cobbles

  • 150 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 151 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 152 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 153

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 154 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 155 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 156 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 157

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 158 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 159

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 160 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 161 Littleham family's five generations

  • 162 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 163 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 164 Modern living at Bideford

  • 165 Police station view of Bideford

  • 166

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 167 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 168 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 169 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 170 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 171 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 172

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 173 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 174 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 175 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 176 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 177 Picking the pops

  • 178 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 179 Appledore's largest

  • 180 Over the bank together>
  • 181 New art gallery opened

  • 182 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 183 Warmington's garage ad

  • 184 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 185 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 186 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 187

    New gateway
  • 188

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 189 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 190 Loads of black and white

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

  • 192 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 193 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 194 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 195 Picking the pops

  • 196 North Devon Driving School

  • 197 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 198 Happy Days!

  • 199

    Exhibition of school work
  • 200 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 201 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 202 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 203 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 204

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 205 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 206 Bideford regatta

  • 207 Jumble sale fever

  • 208 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 209 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 210 From Bobby to Brian

  • 211 Parkham plan realised

  • 212 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 213 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 214 School crossing patrol begins

  • 215 New shipyard on schedule

  • 216 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 217 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 218 Fundraising trip for RNLI

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

  • 220 Some mushroom!

  • 221 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 222 Recognise this resort?

  • 223 New addition to Quay front

  • 224 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 225 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 226 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 227 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 228 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 229 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 230 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 231 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 232

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 233 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 234 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 235 Can spring be far away?

  • 236 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 237 Pannier Market's future?

  • 238

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 239 Emergency ferry services

  • 240 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 241 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 242 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 243 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 244

    Building works
  • 245 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 246 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 247 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 248 Ten year old scrambler

  • 249 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 250 The cab at the corner>
  • 251 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 252 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 253 New life for Hartland organ

  • 254 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 255 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 256

    Was a missionary
  • 257 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 258 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 259 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 260 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 261

    Bidefordians
  • 262 No laughing matter

  • 263

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 264

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 265 By pony and trap to market

  • 266 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 267

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 268 Light reading for the lighthouse

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

  • 270

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 271 113 years at Instow

  • 272 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 273 Traditions and skills still there

  • 274 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 275 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 276 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 277 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 278 Sight of a lifetime

  • 279 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 280 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 281 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 282 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 283 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 284

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 285 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 286 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 287 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 288 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 289 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 290 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 291 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 292 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 293 All aboard the ark

  • 294 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 295 Private home for public pump

  • 296 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 297 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 298 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 299 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 300 A roof-top view - where?

  • 301 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 302 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 303 Caught in the act>
  • 304 Torrington's new amenity

  • 305 New Post Office

  • 306 A bird of their own!

  • 307 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 308 It really was the 'last time'

  • 309 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 310 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 311 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 312 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 313 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 314 Clovelly custom

  • 315 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 316 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 317 Hartland postman retires

  • 318 What's the time?

  • 319

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 320 He beat the floods

  • 321 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 322 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 323

    First prize
  • 324 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 325 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 326 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 327 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 328 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 329 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 330 Bridging the stream

  • 331 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 332 Decontrol of meat

  • 333 Clovelly nightmare

  • 334 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 335 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 336 Weare Giffard potato

  • 337 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 338 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 339 Some 240 exhibits

  • 340 School's link with cargo ship

  • 341 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 342 All for the love of a lady!

  • 343 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 344 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 345 For crying out loud!

  • 346 Appledore schooner broadcast

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

  • 348 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 349 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 350 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 351 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 352 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 353 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 354 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 355 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 356 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 357 Just over a year old

  • 358

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 359 Life begins at 80

  • 360 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 361 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 362 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 363 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 364 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 365 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 366 Television comes to Torridge District

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

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

  • 369 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 370

    Relatives all over the world
  • 371 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 372 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 373 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 374 Bideford loses training ship

  • 375 Torrington in 1967

  • 376 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 377 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 378 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 379 Revenge in style

  • 380 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 381 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 382 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 383 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 384 The Geneva marionettes

  • 385 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 386 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 387 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 388 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 389 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 390

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 391 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 392 Mobile missionary

  • 393 Sweets derationing

  • 394 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 395 New civic medallions

  • 396 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 397 So this is the mainland!

  • 398 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 399 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 400 A man and his wheel

  • 401 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 402 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 403 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 404 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 405 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 406 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 407 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 408 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 409 Torrington children build igloo
  • 410 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 411 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 412 Ships at Bideford

  • 413 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 414 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 415 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 416

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 417 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 418 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 419 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 420 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 421 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 422 No ancient Grecian temple this

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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Remembered ...

Pebble ridge potwalloping

Potwalloping1

Littlejohns, Keats, Larner, Yeoman, George Glover

North Devon harbours some odd customs and this was one of them - potwalloping. It was the day locals and holidaymakers turned out in force to throw back pebbles on to the famour pebbleridge at Westward Ho! after storms and high tides had scattered them on to the Burrows. Potwallopers were not paid for their labour but free beer and cider were provided to quench thirsts and turn the occasion into something of a celebration.

Our two pictorial oldies, discovered by chance in a Bideford bric-a-brac shop, takes us back to between the wars when potwalloping on August Bank Holiday was at its heyday. The custom died out in the early 1960s. Readers may recognise parents or grandparents and, hopefully, come up with a few names. One thing is certain - the ladies and kids were definitely not dress for toil.

Potwalloping2

Littlejohns, Wilkey

Boulder Scheme Moves into Second Phase 28.01.1983

Boulder Scheme Moves into Second Phase 28.01.1983

Boulder Scheme Moves into Second Phase 28.01.1983

Coastal Defence.  Huge granite boulders were tipped in front of Westward Ho! sea wall this week as part of the second phase of a £45,000 coast protection scheme. Mr Richard Brasington

Sea Breaches Wall at Appledore 19.03.1982

Sea Breaches Wall at Appledore 19.03.1982

Sea Breaches Wall at Appledore 19.03.1982

Coastal Defence.  Heavy seas whipped up by fierce winds breached the sea wall at Appledore on Saturday morning. Irsha Street. Mrs Lilian Wood, Sydney Wood

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