• 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 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 2 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 3

    First prize
  • 4 Over the bank together>
  • 5 Bideford loses training ship

  • 6 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 7 Hartland postman retires

  • 8 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 9 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 10 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 11 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 12 Peter poses for TV film

  • 13 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

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

  • 15 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 16 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 17 Traditions and skills still there

  • 18 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 19 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 20 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

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

  • 22 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 23 Penny for the guy

  • 24 He beat the floods

  • 25 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 26 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 27 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 28 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 29 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 30 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 31 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 32 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 33 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 34 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 35 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 36 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 37

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 38 Some mushroom!

  • 39 No laughing matter

  • 40 Ships at Bideford

  • 41 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 42 Pannier Market's future?

  • 43

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 44 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 45 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 46 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 47 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 48 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 49 They are parted pro-tem

  • 50 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 51

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 52

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 53 Life begins at 80

  • 54 Cruising down the river

  • 55 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 56

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 57 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 58 Emergency ferry services

  • 59 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 60 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 61 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 62 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 63 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 64 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 65 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 66 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 67 Filming at Hartland

  • 68 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 69 The Geneva marionettes

  • 70 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 71 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 72 Hartland Dancers
  • 73

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 74 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 75 Sight of a lifetime

  • 76 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 77 Riverside mystery

  • 78 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 79 For crying out loud!

  • 80 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 81 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 82 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 83 Clovelly nightmare

  • 84 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 85 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 86 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 87 Artisans' Club

  • 88 A story to tell!

  • 89 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 90 New Lundy stamps

  • 91 Caught in the act>
  • 92 Out of puff!

  • 93 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 94 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 95 Burnard family reunion

  • 96 Loads of black and white

  • 97 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 98 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 99 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 100 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 101 Decontrol of meat

  • 102 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 103 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 104 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 105 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 106 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 107 Ten year old scrambler

  • 108 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

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

  • 110 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 111 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 112 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 113 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 114

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 115 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 116 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 117 New life for Hartland organ

  • 118

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 119 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 120 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 121

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 122 Jumble sale fever

  • 123 The cab at the corner>
  • 124 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 125 Centenary of Gazette

  • 126 Off on a great adventure

  • 127 Six footed lamb

  • 128 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 129

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 130 A man and his wheel

  • 131 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 132 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 133

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 134 Torrington's new amenity

  • 135 Puppet characters introduced

  • 136 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 137 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 138 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 139

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 140 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 141 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 142 New Post Office

  • 143 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 144 Capers on the cobbles

  • 145 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 146 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 147 What's the time?

  • 148 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 149 Sweets derationing

  • 150 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 151 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 152 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 153

    Married in 1908
  • 154 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 155 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 156 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 157 Warmington's garage ad

  • 158 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 159 Waldon Triplets
  • 160 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 161 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 162 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 163 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

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

  • 165 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 166 Hartland's invitation

  • 167 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 168 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 169 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 170 From Bobby to Brian

  • 171 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

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

  • 173 Appledore's largest

  • 174 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

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

  • 176 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 177 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 178 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 179 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 180 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 181 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 182 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 183 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 184 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 185 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 186 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 187 Bridging the stream

  • 188 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 189 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 190 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 191 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 192

    Bidefordians
  • 193 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 194 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 195 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 196 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 197 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 198 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

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

  • 200 Torrington children build igloo
  • 201 Littleham family's five generations

  • 202 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 203 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 204 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 205 Westward Ho! combined op

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

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

  • 208 New shipyard on schedule

  • 209 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 210 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 211 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 212 Bideford computer stars

  • 213 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 214 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 215 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 216 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 217 Finished in 1876

  • 218 Just over a year old

  • 219 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 220 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 221 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 222 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 223 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 224 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 225 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 226 All aboard the ark

  • 227

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 228 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 229 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 230 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 231 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 232 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 233 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 234 School's link with cargo ship

  • 235 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 236 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 237 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 238 Clovelly custom

  • 239 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 240 A roof-top view - where?

  • 241 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 242 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 243 Picking the pops

  • 244 Bideford regatta

  • 245 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 246

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 247 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 248 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 249 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 250 New civic medallions

  • 251 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 252 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 253

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 254 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 255 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 256

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 257 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 258 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 259 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 260 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 261 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 262 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 263 Northam footballers of the future

  • 264 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 265 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 266 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 267 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 268 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 269 Torrington in 1967

  • 270 It really was the 'last time'

  • 271 Modern living at Bideford

  • 272 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 273 Private home for public pump

  • 274 Simple Item 138
  • 275 When horses score over the tractor

  • 276 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 277 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 278 No sale of Springfield House

  • 279 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 280 New gateway to King George's Fields

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

  • 282 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 283 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 284

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 285 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 286

    Building works
  • 287 New look in the hayfields

  • 288 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 289 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 290 Circus comes to town

  • 291 Twenty-one yachts

  • 292 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 293 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 294 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 295 Service with a smile

  • 296 Blanchards ad.>
  • 297 Northam's almshouse

  • 298 Mobile missionary

  • 299 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 300 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 301 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 302 Devil sent packing

  • 303

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 304 Can spring be far away?

  • 305 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 306 New art gallery opened

  • 307 By pony and trap to market

  • 308 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 309 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 310 All for the love of a lady!

  • 311

    Exhibition of school work
  • 312 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 313 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 314 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 315

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 316 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 317 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 318 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 319 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 320 In their new robes and hats

  • 321 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 322 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 323 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 324 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 325 First ship in 8 years

  • 326 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 327 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 328 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 329 School crossing patrol begins

  • 330 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 331 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 332 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 333 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 334 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 335 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 336 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 337

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 338 Police station view of Bideford

  • 339 North Devon Driving School

  • 340 Weare Giffard potato

  • 341 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 342 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 343 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 344

    Was a missionary
  • 345 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 346 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 347

    New gateway
  • 348 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

  • 349 Revenge in style

  • 350 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 351 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 352 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 353 Recognise this resort?

  • 354 End of the line

  • 355 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 356 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 357 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 358 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 359

    Relatives all over the world
  • 360 So this is the mainland!

  • 361 Some 240 exhibits

  • 362 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 363 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 364

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 365 Safe door weighing two tons

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

  • 367 Picking the pops

  • 368 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 369 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 370 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 371 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 372 New choral society's growing response

  • 373 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 374 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 375 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 376 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 377 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 378 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 379 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 380 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 381 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 382 New addition to Quay front

  • 383 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 384 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 385 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 386 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 387 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 388

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 389 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 390 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 391 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 392 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 393 Variety in summer weather

  • 394 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 395 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 396 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 397 The art of the thatcher

  • 398 A bird of their own!

  • 399

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 400 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 401

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 402 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 403 113 years at Instow

  • 404 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 405 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 406 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 407 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 408 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 409 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 410 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 411 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 412 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 413 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 414 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 415 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 416 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 417 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 418 Happy Days!

  • 419 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 420 Parkham plan realised

  • 421 Last train from Torrington

  • 422

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
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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‘Thunderbird’ Model-Maker is Instow 21 Year Old

Thunderbirds are not the only ones who are ‘Go’ ing places – so is 21 year old Terry Curtis of Instow! 

23.6.1967 thunderbirds

As was mentioned in a recent issue of the ‘Gazette’, most of the models in the £350,000 film ‘Thunderbirds are go’ based on the ITV series ‘Thunderbirds’ are made by him.

Son of Mr and Mrs E J Curtis, of Clay Banks, Instow, formerly of Bideford, Terry attended Bideford School of Art and the North Devon Technical College. About three years ago he took samples of his work to the AP Film Company, of Slough, and landed a job on the spot.

The head on the left, wearing spectacles, is that of Hank Marvin, of ‘Shadows’ fame, made for the ‘Swinging Star’ night club scene in the film in which models of ‘Cliff and the Shadows’ appear.

Next to Hank is Paul Travers, captain of spacecraft ‘Zero X’, and on the right Co-Pilot Greg Martin.

The full Gazette article is dated 23 June 1967

Gymkhana Rodeo Aids Abbotsham Hall

Wild West Rodeo

Whip-cracking, steer roping, side shows and skittling for a pig, were the attractions offered to visitors at Coombe, Abbotsham, on Saturday, in an attempt by the Parish Hall Committee to raise £150. The money is needed for repairs to Abbotsham Parish Hall.

Good weather favoured the gymkhana, held in the grounds belonging to Mrs Richards, one of the chief organisers.

Great attraction of the afternoon was a Wild West Rodeo display given by Dick Brooks, a farmer, of Down Farm, Dolton.

There were 26 entries in the gymkhana. Results – Jane Hartnoll, Anthony Brogan, Tessa Stokes, Helen Brooks, Caroline Rous, Dianna Herrick, Bridget Oke, Virginia Richards, Victor Evans, Patricia Ker, Simon Tomlinson, Rosalind Tucker, Peter Herrick. Most ribbons in the afternoon were won by Helen Brooks and Caroline Rous jointly, followed by Virginia Richards, Jane Hartnoll and Tessa Stokes.

22.8.1958 Abbotsham gymkhana

The full Gazette article is dated 22 August 1958

Baby Show

Babies From Strawberry Village

20.8.1954 Weare Giffard Strawberry Village

Whatever their diet – it can hardly be strawberries and cream at their tender age – these three bonny babies from Weare Giffard seen at the Baby Show at Alverdiscott Gymkhana last week certainly make a charming trio.

At the top is Malcolm Moore who won first prize in the under one year class and below are Rachel Stedwell and Hazel Congaran who were placed second and third respectively.

Gazette article dated 20 August 1954

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