• 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 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 2 North Devon Driving School

  • 3 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 4 Torrington children build igloo
  • 5 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 6 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 7 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 8 Huntshaw TV mast

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

  • 10 Circus comes to town

  • 11 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 12 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 13 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 14 Devil sent packing

  • 15 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 16 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 17 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 18 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 19 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 20 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 21 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 22 Out of puff!

  • 23 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 24 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 25 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 26 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 27 New life for Hartland organ

  • 28 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 29 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 30 Ships at Bideford

  • 31 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 32 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 33 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 34 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 35 Variety in summer weather

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

  • 37 New Post Office

  • 38 Picking the pops

  • 39 Police station view of Bideford

  • 40 Torrington's new amenity

  • 41 Finished in 1876

  • 42 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 43 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 44 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 45 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 46 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 47 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 48 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 49

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 50 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 51 Weare Giffard potato

  • 52 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 53 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 54 Sight of a lifetime

  • 55

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 56 They never miss a game at Torrington

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

  • 58 Six footed lamb

  • 59 Picking the pops

  • 60 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 61 Riverside mystery

  • 62 It really was the 'last time'

  • 63 In their new robes and hats

  • 64 Simple Item 138
  • 65 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 66 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 67 Warmington's garage ad

  • 68 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 69 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 70 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 71 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 72 Decontrol of meat

  • 73 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 74 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 75 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 76

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 77 Off on a great adventure

  • 78 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 79 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 80 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 81 He beat the floods

  • 82 New art gallery opened

  • 83 New addition to Quay front

  • 84 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 85 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 86 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 87 Hartland postman retires

  • 88 Artisans' Club

  • 89 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 90 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 91 By pony and trap to market

  • 92 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 93 Centenary of Gazette

  • 94 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 95 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 96

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 97 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 98 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 99 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 100 Parkham plan realised

  • 101 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 102 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 103 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 104 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 105 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 106 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 107 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 108 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 109 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 110

    Relatives all over the world
  • 111 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 112 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 113 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 114 Happy Days!

  • 115 Traditions and skills still there

  • 116 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 117 Peter poses for TV film

  • 118 New choral society's growing response

  • 119 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 120 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 121 Can spring be far away?

  • 122 They are parted pro-tem

  • 123 A story to tell!

  • 124 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

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

  • 126 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 127

    First prize
  • 128 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 129 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 130 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 131 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 132 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 133 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 134 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 135 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 136 Bridging the stream

  • 137 Bideford Bridge re-opens

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

  • 139 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 140 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 141 Torrington in 1967

  • 142 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 143 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 144 Private home for public pump

  • 145 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 146 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 147 Revenge in style

  • 148 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 149 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 150 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 151 Jumble sale fever

  • 152 Cruising down the river

  • 153 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 154 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 155 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 156 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 157 Appledore's largest

  • 158 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 159 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 160 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 161

    Exhibition of school work
  • 162 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 163 Littleham family's five generations

  • 164 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 165 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 166 When horses score over the tractor

  • 167 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 168 Northam's almshouse

  • 169 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 170

    New gateway
  • 171 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 172 Capers on the cobbles

  • 173 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 174 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 175 New shipyard on schedule

  • 176 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 177 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 178 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 179 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 180 Pannier Market's future?

  • 181 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 182 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 183 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 184 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 185 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 186 All for the love of a lady!

  • 187 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 188 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 189 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 190

    Was a missionary
  • 191 First ship in 8 years

  • 192 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 193 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 194 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 195 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 196 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 197 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 198 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 199 Just over a year old

  • 200 Burnard family reunion

  • 201 Loads of black and white

  • 202

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 203 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 204 Recognise this resort?

  • 205 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 206 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 207 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 208

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 209

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 210 113 years at Instow

  • 211 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 212 Ten year old scrambler

  • 213

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 214 Bideford loses training ship

  • 215 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 216 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 217 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 218 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 219

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 220 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 221

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 222 New Lundy stamps

  • 223

    Bidefordians
  • 224 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 225 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 226 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 227 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 228

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 229 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 230 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 231 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 232 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 233 Service with a smile

  • 234 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 235 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 236 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 237

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 238 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 239 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 240 Clovelly nightmare

  • 241 Some 240 exhibits

  • 242 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 243 School's link with cargo ship

  • 244 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 245 All aboard the ark

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

  • 247 The Geneva marionettes

  • 248 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 249 Emergency ferry services

  • 250 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 251 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 252 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 253 For crying out loud!

  • 254 New civic medallions

  • 255 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 256 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 257 Penny for the guy

  • 258 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 259 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 260 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 261 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 262 Northam footballers of the future

  • 263 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 264 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 265 End of the line

  • 266 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 267 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 268 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 269

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 270 Hartland's invitation

  • 271 Waldon Triplets
  • 272 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 273 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 274 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 275 Last train from Torrington

  • 276 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 277 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

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

  • 279 A roof-top view - where?

  • 280 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 281 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 282 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 283 Bideford regatta

  • 284 New look in the hayfields

  • 285

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 286 A bird of their own!

  • 287 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 288 No laughing matter

  • 289 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 290 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 291 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 292

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 293 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 294 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 295 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 296 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 297 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 298 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 299 So this is the mainland!

  • 300 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 301 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 302 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 303 A man and his wheel

  • 304

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 305 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

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

  • 307 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 308

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 309 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 310 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 311 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 312 Life begins at 80

  • 313 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 314 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 315 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 316

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 317 Puppet characters introduced

  • 318 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 319 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 320

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 321

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 322 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 323 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 324 Modern living at Bideford

  • 325 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 326 Twenty-one yachts

  • 327 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 328 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 329 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 330 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 331 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 332 Mobile missionary

  • 333 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 334

    Building works
  • 335 What's the time?

  • 336 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 337 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 338 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 339 Bideford computer stars

  • 340 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 341

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 342 School crossing patrol begins

  • 343 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 344 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 345 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 346 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

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

  • 348 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 349 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 350 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 351 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 352 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 353 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 354 The art of the thatcher

  • 355

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 356 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 357 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 358 Some mushroom!

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

  • 360 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 361 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 362 Clovelly custom

  • 363

    Married in 1908
  • 364 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 365 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 366 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 367

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 368 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 369 Hartland Dancers
  • 370 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 371 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 372 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

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

  • 374

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 375 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 376 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 377 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 378 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 379 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 380 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 381

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 382 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 383 No sale of Springfield House

  • 384 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 385 Success to Festival of the Arts

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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  • 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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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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Who painted the Appledore donkey?

Who painted this donkey on Appledore Park wall?

9.8.1952 Appledore donkey

It seems a mystery, but perhaps a jovial fisherman taking time off from painting his boat dashed off this free and easy work of art as light relief.

No doubt there are many readers, including Appledorians, who have never seen this donkey for it is really only visible from the beach (hard and stoney here), the river and, with a pair of binoculars, from the Instow side of the river.

8 August 1952

Eisteddfod Win For Hartland

Hartland Methodist Sunday school scored the highest number of points

at the Bude Methodist circuit youth eisteddfod

25.3.1977 Eisteddfod Hartland

After the marks had been adjusted to take into account the differences between large and small Sunday schools in the circuit Hartland had 2,405 points. Second were Kilkhampton with 1,786 points and third Morwenstow with 1,515 points.

Winners of the trophies for most points in the senior section were Ian Petvin, of Bude, and Carolyn Vanstone, of Kilkhampton, Wendy Heard, Hartland won the trophy in the 9-11 years section and Dwayne Heard, also of Hartland, was runner up in the 12-14 years section to David Cleave. The trophy for the 6-8 years olds went to Kay Wise of Flexbury.

First prize winners from Hartland were: Dwayne Heard, Andrew Prouse, Lisa Manley, Tracey Thorne, Denis Short, Maria Prouse, and Wendy Heard.

The full Gazette article is dated 25 March 1977

Northam Twinning Links With Mondeville Renewed

Guests and hosts taught one another dances of their countries at a dinner-dance that was the highlight of a weekend visit to Northam by a party of a dozen from the twin towns of Mondeville.

15.4.1977 Northam twinning

The venue was the Port Quarter at Appledore where the chairman of the local committee, Mr Gordon Dell, thanked Mr Rupert Hill who arranged the visit. Mlle Lydie Coupard, who was paying her third visit, sang songs in English and French and music was provided by Terry Triggs and Larry Bignell.
The new Mayor of Mondeville and his wife were unable to make the visit but they were represented by their son, Mons Jean-Yves Gasnier.
Others in the group were Mons Bernard Henriot of the Mondeville Twinning Committee and Mons Bernard Pezaril.
The full Gazette article is dated 15 April 1977

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