• 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 It really was the 'last time'

  • 2

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 3 A bird of their own!

  • 4 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 5 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 6 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 7 Northam footballers of the future

  • 8 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 9 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 10 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 11 By pony and trap to market

  • 12 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 13 Emergency ferry services

  • 14 Peter poses for TV film

  • 15 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 16 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 17 School's link with cargo ship

  • 18 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 19 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 20 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 21 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 22 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 23 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 24 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 25

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 26 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 27 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 28 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 29 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 30 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 31 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 32 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 33 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 34 Just over a year old

  • 35 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 36 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 37 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 38

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 39 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 40 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 41 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 42 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 43 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 44 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 45 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 46 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 47 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 48 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 49 In their new robes and hats

  • 50 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 51 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 52 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 53 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 54

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 55 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 56 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 57 Devil sent packing

  • 58 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 59 No laughing matter

  • 60 The Geneva marionettes

  • 61 Revenge in style

  • 62 Jumble sale fever

  • 63 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 64 Caught in the act>
  • 65 Up-to-date Bideford!

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

  • 67

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 68 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 69 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 70 New life for Hartland organ

  • 71 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 72 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 73

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 74 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 75 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 76 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 77 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 78 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 79 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 80

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 81 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 82 Loads of black and white

  • 83 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 84

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 85 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 86 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 87 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 88 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

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

  • 90 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 91 Parkham plan realised

  • 92 End of the line

  • 93 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 94 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 95 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 96 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 97 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 98 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 99 A roof-top view - where?

  • 100 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 101 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 102 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 103 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 104 Bridging the stream

  • 105 Capers on the cobbles

  • 106 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 107 First ship in 8 years

  • 108 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 109 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 110 Some 240 exhibits

  • 111 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 112 Off on a great adventure

  • 113

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 114

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 115 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

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

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

  • 118 Pannier Market's future?

  • 119 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 120 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 121 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 122 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 123 New art gallery opened

  • 124 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 125 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 126 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 127 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 128 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 129 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 130 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 131 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 132 A man and his wheel

  • 133 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 134 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 135 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 136

    Bidefordians
  • 137 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

  • 138 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 139 A story to tell!

  • 140

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 141 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 142 New Post Office

  • 143 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 144 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 145 Weare Giffard potato

  • 146 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 147 Filming at Hartland

  • 148 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 149 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 150 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 151 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 152 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 153 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 154 Blanchards ad.>
  • 155 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 156 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 157 Can spring be far away?

  • 158 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 159 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 160 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 161 Happy Days!

  • 162 Ships at Bideford

  • 163 From Bobby to Brian

  • 164 Private home for public pump

  • 165 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 166

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 167 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 168 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 169 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 170 For crying out loud!

  • 171

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 172 New look in the hayfields

  • 173 New Lundy stamps

  • 174 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 175 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 176 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 177 The cab at the corner>
  • 178 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 179 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 180 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 181 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 182 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 183

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 184 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 185 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 186 Traditions and skills still there

  • 187 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 188 Burnard family reunion

  • 189 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 190 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 191 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 192

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 193 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 194 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 195 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 196

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 197 Six footed lamb

  • 198 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 199 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 200 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 201

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 202 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 203 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 204 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 205 Hartland's invitation

  • 206

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 207 Puppet characters introduced

  • 208 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 209 Clovelly custom

  • 210 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 211 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 212 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 213 Picking the pops

  • 214 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 215

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 216 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 217 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 218

    Exhibition of school work
  • 219 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 220 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 221 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 222 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 223 Daisy's pride and joy

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

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

  • 226

    First prize
  • 227 113 years at Instow

  • 228

    New gateway
  • 229 What's the time?

  • 230

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 231 The art of the thatcher

  • 232 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 233 Centenary of Gazette

  • 234 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 235 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 236 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 237 Out of puff!

  • 238 Service with a smile

  • 239 Ten year old scrambler

  • 240 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 241 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 242 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 243 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 244 Over the bank together>
  • 245

    Relatives all over the world
  • 246

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 247 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 248 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 249 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 250 Penny for the guy

  • 251 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 252 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 253 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 254 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 255 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 256 Waldon Triplets
  • 257 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 258 North Devon Driving School

  • 259 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 260 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 261 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 262 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 263 Sweets derationing

  • 264 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 265 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 266 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 267 He beat the floods

  • 268 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 269 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 270 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 271 Northam's almshouse

  • 272 Variety in summer weather

  • 273 Police station view of Bideford

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

  • 275 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 276 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 277 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 278 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 279 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 280 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 281 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 282 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 283 Appledore's largest

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

  • 285 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 286 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 287 Torrington children build igloo
  • 288 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 289 Clovelly nightmare

  • 290 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 291 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 292 Recognise this resort?

  • 293 New civic medallions

  • 294 Circus comes to town

  • 295 Last train from Torrington

  • 296 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 297 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 298 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 299 Picking the pops

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

  • 301

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 302 Decontrol of meat

  • 303 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 304 Torrington in 1967

  • 305 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 306 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 307 Artisans' Club

  • 308 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 309 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 310 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 311 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 312 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 313 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 314 New shipyard on schedule

  • 315 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 316 Finished in 1876

  • 317 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 318 Mobile missionary

  • 319 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 320 All aboard the ark

  • 321 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 322 Bideford computer stars

  • 323 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 324 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 325 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 326 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 327 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

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

  • 329 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 330 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 331

    Building works
  • 332 Modern living at Bideford

  • 333

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 334 Torrington's new amenity

  • 335 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 336

    Was a missionary
  • 337 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 338 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 339 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 340 New choral society's growing response

  • 341 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 342 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 343 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 344 When horses score over the tractor

  • 345 Bideford regatta

  • 346 All for the love of a lady!

  • 347 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 348

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 349 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 350 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 351 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 352 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 353 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 354 Some mushroom!

  • 355 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 356 Bideford loses training ship

  • 357 New addition to Quay front

  • 358 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 359 Hartland Dancers
  • 360 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 361 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 362 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 363 Riverside mystery

  • 364 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 365 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 366 Twenty-one yachts

  • 367 So this is the mainland!

  • 368 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 369 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 370

    Married in 1908
  • 371 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 372 Revived market off to splendid start

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

  • 374 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 375 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 376 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 377 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 378 They are parted pro-tem

  • 379 Cruising down the river

  • 380 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 381 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 382 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 383 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 384 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

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

  • 386 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 387 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 388 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 389 School crossing patrol begins

  • 390 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 391 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 392 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 393 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 394 Sight of a lifetime

  • 395 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 396 Simple Item 138
  • 397 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 398 Life begins at 80

  • 399 Hartland postman retires

  • 400 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 401 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 402 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 403 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 404 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 405 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 406 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 407 No sale of Springfield House

  • 408 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 409 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 410 Warmington's garage ad

  • 411 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 412 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 413 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 414

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 415 Littleham family's five generations

  • 416 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 417 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 418 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 419 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 420 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 421 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 422 Polish custom on Pancake Day

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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  • 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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  • 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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Traffic Thrills

Clovelly Road 'Hold-Up'

Passengers leaving Bideford by bus on Saturday morning for Clovelly, Hartland and Bude little dreamt the Army had an assault course all prepared for them en route!

On Fairy Cross hill a Matador 10-ton Army truck completely blocked the road and passengers had to alight from one bus, climb through the truck, and board a second bus waiting on the Hartland side.

15.8.1952 Traffic thrills

It appears the truck, towing a 3.7 A.A gun, had left Cleave Camp, Morwenstowe, with a party of six men of the 37th Regt. R.A. returning from a practice camp to their unit at Tonfanau, North Wales. As the truck was proceeding down the hill at about 10am traffic lights controlling single-line traffic past cable-laying works changed to ‘Stop.’ The driver applied his brakes, but those on the gun did not respond and the lorry was swung across the road.

Prompt action by police and A.A and R.A.C motor patrols quickly had traffic diverted on to the main Bradworthy road, sealing off the blocked section of the trunk road. The proprietor of Fowlers Piece petrol filling station reported ‘a very busy day!’

15 August 1952

Ready for the 'open road'

A typical group of cyclists

28 June 1938 Ready for the open road bicycles

Left to right – C Jewell, Mr J D Grant (vice-president, Bideford Wheelers), G Short, Miss E Viersee, H Tithecott, Mr H C Lay (president, Bideford Wheelers), Miss E Johns, Miss D Slee, J Heywood, Miss E Beer, A Sherborne, Mrs A Sherborne, M Jenkins, W Cox, T Thompson, G Vanstone, C C Prust, A Lay, R Halbert, G Hill (hon. secretary, Bideford Wheelers), Miss D Sluman, G Popham, G Bray, P Squire, J Bray, A Lillicrap (Minehead), L Page, S Moor, W T Lloyd (hon. secretary, NCU, Devon and Cornwall).

Gazette article dated 28 June 1938

Long-serving busmen are honoured

Among 75 employees of the Western National Bus Co honoured

for more than 40 years with the firm, at a dinner at Exeter, were a number from Bideford district.

2 April 1971 Busmen honoured

The dinner was the first of its kind organised by the company, and the long-serving staff members were presented with inscribed watches by a director and general manager, Mr Henry Ellis.

Award winners included: R A Parker, A M Beer, A E Cole, G E Kelly, S Lamey, W H Braund, E Daniel, R M England, W H Parkhouse.

Mr Ellis said the award earned by Mr S Lugg, who died last October, would be presented to his widow.

Gazette article dated 2 April 1971

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