• 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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    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 2 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 3 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 4

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 5 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 6 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 7 Bridging the stream

  • 8 Filming at Hartland

  • 9 A bird of their own!

  • 10 Record pebble-throwing day

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

  • 12

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 13 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 14 Six footed lamb

  • 15 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 16 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 17 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 18 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 19 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 20 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 21 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 22 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 23 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 24 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 25 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 26 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 27 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 28 Warmington's garage ad

  • 29 It really was the 'last time'

  • 30 New addition to Quay front

  • 31 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 32 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 33 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 34 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 35

    Was a missionary
  • 36 Cruising down the river

  • 37

    First prize
  • 38 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 39 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 40 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 41 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 42 Traditions and skills still there

  • 43 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 44 Private home for public pump

  • 45 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 46 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 47 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 48 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 49 Some mushroom!

  • 50 113 years at Instow

  • 51 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 52 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 53 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 54 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 55 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 56 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 57 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 58 School's link with cargo ship

  • 59 Picking the pops

  • 60

    Relatives all over the world
  • 61 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 62 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 63

    New gateway
  • 64 No laughing matter

  • 65

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 66 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 67 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 68 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 69 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 70 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 71 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 72 Weare Giffard potato

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

  • 74 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 75 Sweets derationing

  • 76 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 77 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 78 Burnard family reunion

  • 79 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 80 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 81 End of the line

  • 82 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 83 Simple Item 138
  • 84 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 85 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 86 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 87 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 88 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 89

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 90 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 91 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 92 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 93 Revenge in style

  • 94 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

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

  • 96 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 97 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 98 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 99 New Lundy stamps

  • 100 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 101 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 102 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 103 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 104 For crying out loud!

  • 105 Ten year old scrambler

  • 106 Peter poses for TV film

  • 107 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 108 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 109 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 110 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 111 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 112 Centenary of Gazette

  • 113 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 114 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 115 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 116 Finished in 1876

  • 117 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 118 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 119

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 120 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 121 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 122 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 123 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 124 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 125 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 126 Penny for the guy

  • 127 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 128 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 129 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 130 Artisans' Club

  • 131 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 132 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 133 Can spring be far away?

  • 134 Puppet characters introduced

  • 135 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 136 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 137 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 138 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 139 They are parted pro-tem

  • 140

    Bidefordians
  • 141 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 142 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 143 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 144 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 145 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 146 Sixty-two year old Picarooner makes ready for season

  • 147 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 148 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 149 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 150 Twenty-one yachts

  • 151 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 152 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 153

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 154 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 155 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 156 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 157 When horses score over the tractor

  • 158 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 159 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 160 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 161 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 162 From Bobby to Brian

  • 163 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 164 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 165 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 166 Loads of black and white

  • 167 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 168 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 169

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 170 Bideford computer stars

  • 171 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 172 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 173 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 174

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 175 Picking the pops

  • 176 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 177 By pony and trap to market

  • 178 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 179 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 180 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 181 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 182

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 183 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 184 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 185 Recognise this resort?

  • 186 Jumble sale fever

  • 187 Sight of a lifetime

  • 188 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 189 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 190 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 191 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 192 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 193 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 194 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 195 Appledore's largest

  • 196 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 197 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 198 New art gallery opened

  • 199 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 200

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 201 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 202 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 203 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 204 Hartland Dancers
  • 205 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 206 Emergency ferry services

  • 207 New life for Hartland organ

  • 208 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 209 Northam footballers of the future

  • 210 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

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

  • 212 No sale of Springfield House

  • 213 Pannier Market's future?

  • 214 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 215 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 216 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 217 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 218 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 219 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 220 Some 240 exhibits

  • 221 Over the bank together>
  • 222 Service with a smile

  • 223 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 224 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 225 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 226 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 227 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 228 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 229 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 230 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 231 A story to tell!

  • 232 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 233 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 234 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 235 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 236 Just over a year old

  • 237

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 238 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 239 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 240 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 241 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 242 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 243 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 244 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 245 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 246 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 247 Hartland postman retires

  • 248 Torrington children build igloo
  • 249

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 250 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 251 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 252 Northam's almshouse

  • 253 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 254 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 255 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 256 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 257 So this is the mainland!

  • 258 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 259 Waldon Triplets
  • 260 Bideford loses training ship

  • 261 A roof-top view - where?

  • 262 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 263 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 264 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 265 North Devon Driving School

  • 266 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 267

    Building works
  • 268 Ships at Bideford

  • 269 Torrington's new amenity

  • 270 All aboard the ark

  • 271 Out of puff!

  • 272 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 273 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 274 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 275 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 276 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 277 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 278 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 279 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 280 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 281 Bideford regatta

  • 282 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 283 Circus comes to town

  • 284 Bideford Bridge re-opens

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

  • 286 Variety in summer weather

  • 287 Littleham family's five generations

  • 288

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 289 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 290 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 291 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 292 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 293 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 294 New choral society's growing response

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

  • 296 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 297 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 298 Happy Days!

  • 299 A man and his wheel

  • 300 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 301 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 302 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 303 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 304 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 305 Blanchards ad.>
  • 306 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 307 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 308 The art of the thatcher

  • 309 No ancient Grecian temple this

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

  • 311 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 312

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 313 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 314 Mobile missionary

  • 315 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 316 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 317 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 318

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 319 Off on a great adventure

  • 320 All for the love of a lady!

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

  • 322 In their new robes and hats

  • 323 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 324 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 325 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 326 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 327 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 328 Parkham plan realised

  • 329 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 330 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 331 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 332 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 333 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 334 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 335 Last train from Torrington

  • 336 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 337 The Geneva marionettes

  • 338 Decontrol of meat

  • 339

    Married in 1908
  • 340 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 341 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 342 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 343 Riverside mystery

  • 344 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 345 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 346 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 347 First ship in 8 years

  • 348

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 349 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 350 Capers on the cobbles

  • 351 New shipyard on schedule

  • 352

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 353 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 354 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 355 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 356 Police station view of Bideford

  • 357 What is future of railway goods yard?

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

  • 359 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 360 Caught in the act>
  • 361 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 362 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 363 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 364 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 365 Life begins at 80

  • 366 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 367 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 368

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 369 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 370 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 371 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 372 School crossing patrol begins

  • 373 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 374 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 375 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 376 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 377 Devil sent packing

  • 378 New Post Office

  • 379 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 380 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 381 Clovelly nightmare

  • 382 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 383 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 384 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 385

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 386 What's the time?

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

  • 388 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 389 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 390 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 391 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 392 Hartland's invitation

  • 393 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 394 The cab at the corner>
  • 395 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 396 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 397

    Exhibition of school work
  • 398 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 399

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 400

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 401 Torrington in 1967

  • 402 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 403 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 404 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 405 Clovelly custom

  • 406 New look in the hayfields

  • 407 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 408 Modern living at Bideford

  • 409 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 410 New civic medallions

  • 411 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 412

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 413 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 414

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 415

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 416 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 417 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 418 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 419 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 420 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 421 He beat the floods

  • 422 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

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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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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