• 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 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 2 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 3 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 4 Traditions and skills still there

  • 5 Decontrol of meat

  • 6 Centenary of Gazette

  • 7 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 8 Torrington children build igloo
  • 9

    Exhibition of school work
  • 10 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 11 No sale of Springfield House

  • 12

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 13 The art of the thatcher

  • 14 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 15 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 16 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 17 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 18 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 19 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 20 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 21 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 22 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 23 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 24 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 25 Northam footballers of the future

  • 26 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 27 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 28 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 29 Capers on the cobbles

  • 30 Six footed lamb

  • 31 He beat the floods

  • 32 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 33 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 34 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 35 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 36 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 37 Northam's almshouse

  • 38 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 39 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 40

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 41

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 42 In their new robes and hats

  • 43 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 44

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 45

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 46 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 47 Private home for public pump

  • 48 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 49 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 50 Peter poses for TV film

  • 51 Can spring be far away?

  • 52 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 53 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 54 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 55 Finished in 1876

  • 56 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 57 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 58 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 59 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 60 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 61 A roof-top view - where?

  • 62 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 63 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 64 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 65 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 66 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 67 A man and his wheel

  • 68 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 69 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 70 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 71 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 72 Circus comes to town

  • 73 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 74 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 75 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 76 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 77 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 78 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 79 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 80 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 81 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 82 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 83 Ships at Bideford

  • 84

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 85 Just over a year old

  • 86 Some mushroom!

  • 87 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 88 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 89 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 90 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 91 Sweets derationing

  • 92 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 93 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 94 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 95 No laughing matter

  • 96 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 97 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 98 New Post Office

  • 99 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 100 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 101 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 102

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 103 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 104 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 105 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 106 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 107

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 108 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 109 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 110 Variety in summer weather

  • 111 Pannier Market's future?

  • 112 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 113 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 114

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 115 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 116 A bird of their own!

  • 117 A story to tell!

  • 118 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

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

  • 120 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 121 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 122 Happy Days!

  • 123

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 124 Last train from Torrington

  • 125 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 126 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 127 Picking the pops

  • 128 Burnard family reunion

  • 129 Hartland Dancers
  • 130 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 131 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 132 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 133 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 134 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 135 Appledore's largest

  • 136 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 137 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 138 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 139 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 140

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 141 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 142 School's link with cargo ship

  • 143 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 144 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 145 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 146 Parkham plan realised

  • 147

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 148 Filming at Hartland

  • 149 North Devon Driving School

  • 150 What's the time?

  • 151 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 152 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 153 Puppet characters introduced

  • 154 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 155 It really was the 'last time'

  • 156 Revenge in style

  • 157 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

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

  • 159 New look in the hayfields

  • 160 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 161 New choral society's growing response

  • 162 Mobile missionary

  • 163 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 164 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 165 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 166 Out of puff!

  • 167 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 168 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 169 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 170 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 171 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 172 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 173 Penny for the guy

  • 174 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 175 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 176 Caught in the act>
  • 177 They are parted pro-tem

  • 178 Ten year old scrambler

  • 179

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 180 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 181 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 182 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 183 Emergency ferry services

  • 184 Police station view of Bideford

  • 185 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 186 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 187

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 188 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 189 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 190 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 191 All aboard the ark

  • 192 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 193 New life for Hartland organ

  • 194

    Married in 1908
  • 195 Polish custom on Pancake Day

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

  • 197 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 198 Modern living at Bideford

  • 199 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 200 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 201 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 202 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 203 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 204 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 205 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 206 Artisans' Club

  • 207 Bridging the stream

  • 208

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 209 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 210 Sight of a lifetime

  • 211 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

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

  • 213

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 214 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 215 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 216 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 217 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 218 Clovelly custom

  • 219 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 220 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 221

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 222 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 223 Weare Giffard potato

  • 224 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 225 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 226 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 227 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 228 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 229 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 230 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 231 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 232 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 233

    First prize
  • 234 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 235 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 236 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 237 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 238 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 239 New Lundy stamps

  • 240 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 241 Recognise this resort?

  • 242 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 243 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 244 Simple Item 138
  • 245 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 246 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 247 Torrington in 1967

  • 248 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 249 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 250 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 251 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 252 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 253 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 254 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 255

    New gateway
  • 256 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 257 New shipyard on schedule

  • 258 From Bobby to Brian

  • 259 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 260 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 261 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 262 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 263 Warmington's garage ad

  • 264 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 265 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 266 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 267 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 268 Torrington's new amenity

  • 269 So this is the mainland!

  • 270 Service with a smile

  • 271 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 272 113 years at Instow

  • 273 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 274 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 275 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 276 Bideford computer stars

  • 277 Riverside mystery

  • 278 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 279 Hartland's invitation

  • 280 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

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

  • 282 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 283 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 284

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 285 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 286 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 287 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 288 Littleham family's five generations

  • 289 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 290 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 291 Twenty-one yachts

  • 292 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 293 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 294 The Geneva marionettes

  • 295 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 296 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 297 Bideford regatta

  • 298 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 299 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 300 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 301 Jumble sale fever

  • 302

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 303 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 304 Off on a great adventure

  • 305 Waldon Triplets
  • 306 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 307 Blanchards ad.>
  • 308 Bideford - as Rowlandson saw it about 1810-15

  • 309 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 310 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 311 Hartland postman retires

  • 312 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 313 Over the bank together>
  • 314 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 315 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 316 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 317 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 318 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 319

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 320 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 321 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 322 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 323 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 324 The cab at the corner>
  • 325 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 326 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 327 What is future of railway goods yard?

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

  • 329 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 330 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 331

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 332 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 333 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 334 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 335 Last of Bideford factory chimney

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

  • 337 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 338 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 339 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 340 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 341 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 342 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 343 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 344 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 345 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 346

    Bidefordians
  • 347 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 348 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 349 Life begins at 80

  • 350 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 351 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 352 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 353 Picking the pops

  • 354 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 355 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 356 By pony and trap to market

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

  • 358 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 359 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 360 Bideford loses training ship

  • 361 Fishermen of Greencliff

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

  • 363 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 364 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 365 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 366 School crossing patrol begins

  • 367 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 368 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 369 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 370 New art gallery opened

  • 371

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 372

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 373

    Was a missionary
  • 374 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 375 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 376 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 377 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 378 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 379 Cruising down the river

  • 380 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 381 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 382 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 383 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 384 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 385 All for the love of a lady!

  • 386 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 387 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 388 For crying out loud!

  • 389 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 390 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 391 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 392 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 393 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 394 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 395 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 396 Clovelly nightmare

  • 397 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 398

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 399 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 400 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 401 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 402 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 403 New civic medallions

  • 404

    Building works
  • 405 First ship in 8 years

  • 406 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 407

    Relatives all over the world
  • 408 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 409 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 410 Some 240 exhibits

  • 411 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 412 Loads of black and white

  • 413 New addition to Quay front

  • 414 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 415 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 416 Devil sent packing

  • 417 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 418 When horses score over the tractor

  • 419

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 420 End of the line

  • 421 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 422 Sooty is quick on the draw

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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  • 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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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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Damaged homes left behind 17th September 1940

Damaged homes left behind

17th September 1940

damaged homes left behindFrom the bombed areas of London and the south-east coast have come in scores of people to seek haven in this part of the Westcountry.

Some have come under the official schemes - such as mothers with young children - others have come because they have relations or friends in these parts, and there are also those who have come quite unofficially.

Offers of shelter should be addressed to the Mayor of Bideford through the Chief Billeting Officer (Mr W J Langford), Town Hall, Bideford.

Mrs R I Smith, of Peckham, has come with her family of five, two of whom were already in Bideford as evacuees under the government scheme.  "Its not war-fare, its murder" declares Mrs Deverill, also of Peckham, who is staying at Chircombe, Northam.

From West Ham, Mrs I Jude, staying at 4, Church Walk, Bideford, said just at the back of her house, which had its windows blown out, there was a time bomb.  When they left it had not gone off.  They had had no real sleep for nearly a fortnight.

Thrill for Youth, Bideford Evacuees keep fit 1st July 1941

Thrill for Youth, Bideford Evacuees keep fit

1st July 1941

Bideford evacuees keep fit"Mens sana in sano corpore" (a sound mind in a sound body) is a motto taken to heart by Peckham Central School, nearly 250 pupils of which were evacuated to Bideford a year ago and have found wartime school premises at Bideford Baptist Schoolrooms.

Photograph above show a practice on the lawn outside the Baptish School buildings, and it will be seen that movement and thrill are inseparable from their exercises.

Happy Plymouth Toddlers at Instow 14th October 1941

Happy Plymouth Toddlers at Instow 14th October 1941

happy plymouth toddlers at InstowDevon 72 Detachment of the British Red Cross Society which is the Instow branch of that organisation, has been busily engaged for some months in assisting with the care of some fifty children whose ages range up to 5 years and whose homes have been bombed in Plymouth.  In the charming settings of Tapely Park, the residence of Mr John Christie, these children are receiving care and attention watched over by a matron and trained sisters.

The Instow Red Cross nurses, under the capable supervision of Miss W Dobbs, Commandant, have given valuable assistance, not only in the essentials of nursing but in the less spectacular, but none of the less important, tasks in the kitchen when staff has been depleted.

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