• 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 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 2 Northam footballers of the future

  • 3 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 4 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 5 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 6 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 7 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 8 Clovelly nightmare

  • 9 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 10 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 11 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 12 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 13 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 14 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 15 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 16 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 17 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 18 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 19

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 20 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 21 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 22 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 23 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 24 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 25 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 26 For crying out loud!

  • 27 Bideford regatta

  • 28 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

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

  • 30 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 31 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 32 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 33 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 34 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 35 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 36 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 37 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 38 Picking the pops

  • 39 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 40 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 41

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 42 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 43 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 44 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 45 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 46 113 years at Instow

  • 47 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 48 Six footed lamb

  • 49 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 50 New Post Office

  • 51 Jumble sale fever

  • 52 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 53 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 54 Picking the pops

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

  • 56

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 57 Recognise this resort?

  • 58 No sale of Springfield House

  • 59 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 60 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 61 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 62

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 63 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 64 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 65 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 66 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 67 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 68 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 69 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 70 Ten year old scrambler

  • 71 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 72 No laughing matter

  • 73 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 74 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 75 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 76 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 77 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 78 Finished in 1876

  • 79 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 80 Centenary of Gazette

  • 81 Happy Days!

  • 82 New addition to Quay front

  • 83

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 84 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 85 New Lundy stamps

  • 86 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 87 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 88

    First prize
  • 89 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 90 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 91 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 92 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 93 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 94 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 95 Some 240 exhibits

  • 96

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 97 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 98 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 99

    Bidefordians
  • 100 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 101 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 102 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 103 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 104 Appledore's largest

  • 105 Weare Giffard potato

  • 106 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 107 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 108 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 109 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 110 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 111 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 112 Can spring be far away?

  • 113 The Geneva marionettes

  • 114 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 115

    Married in 1908
  • 116 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 117

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 118 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 119 All for the love of a lady!

  • 120 A man and his wheel

  • 121 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 122

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 123 New shipyard on schedule

  • 124 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 125 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 126 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 127 They are parted pro-tem

  • 128 Born 1883 - still going strong

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

  • 130 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 131 Peter poses for TV film

  • 132 Bideford computer stars

  • 133 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 134 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 135 Northam's almshouse

  • 136 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 137 Out of puff!

  • 138 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 139 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 140 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

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

  • 142 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 143 Traditions and skills still there

  • 144 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 145

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

  • 147 Variety in summer weather

  • 148 Hartland Dancers
  • 149 Bideford loses training ship

  • 150 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 151 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 152 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 153 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 154 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 155 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 156 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 157 Police station view of Bideford

  • 158 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 159 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 160

    New gateway
  • 161 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 162 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 163 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 164 The cab at the corner>
  • 165 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 166 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 167 Emergency ferry services

  • 168 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 169 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 170

    Building works
  • 171 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 172 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 173 Pannier Market's future?

  • 174

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 175 Revenge in style

  • 176 Some mushroom!

  • 177 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 178 Service with a smile

  • 179 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 180

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 181 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 182 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 183 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 184 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 185 Bridging the stream

  • 186 Circus comes to town

  • 187 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 188 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 189 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 190 It really was the 'last time'

  • 191 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

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

  • 193 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 194 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 195 New look in the hayfields

  • 196 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

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

  • 198 End of the line

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

  • 200 Decontrol of meat

  • 201 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 202 New choral society's growing response

  • 203 Littleham family's five generations

  • 204 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 205 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 206 New life for Hartland organ

  • 207 Filming at Hartland

  • 208 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 209 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 210

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 211 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 212 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 213 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 214 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 215

    Exhibition of school work
  • 216 A story to tell!

  • 217 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 218 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 219 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 220 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 221 Simple Item 138
  • 222 From Bobby to Brian

  • 223 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 224 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 225 Torrington in 1967

  • 226

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 227 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 228 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 229 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 230 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 231 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 232 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 233

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 234 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 235

    Was a missionary
  • 236 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 237 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 238 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 239 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 240 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 241 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 242 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 243 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 244 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 245 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 246 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 247 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 248 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 249 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 250 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 251 Modern living at Bideford

  • 252 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 253 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 254 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 255 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 256 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 257 A roof-top view - where?

  • 258 Clovelly custom

  • 259 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 260 In their new robes and hats

  • 261 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 262

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 263 New art gallery opened

  • 264

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 265

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 266 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 267

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 268 Torrington's new amenity

  • 269 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 270 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 271 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 272 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 273 Last train from Torrington

  • 274 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 275 Just over a year old

  • 276 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 277 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 278 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 279 Devil sent packing

  • 280 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 281 By pony and trap to market

  • 282 First ship in 8 years

  • 283 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 284 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 285 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 286

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 287

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 288 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 289 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 290 Riverside mystery

  • 291 What's the time?

  • 292 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 293 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 294 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 295 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 296 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 297 So this is the mainland!

  • 298 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 299 Penny for the guy

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

  • 301

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 302 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 303 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 304

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 305 Capers on the cobbles

  • 306 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 307 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 308 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

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

  • 310 Watch the dicky bird!

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

  • 312 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 313 The art of the thatcher

  • 314

    Relatives all over the world
  • 315 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 316 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 317 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 318 Torrington children build igloo
  • 319 Twenty-one yachts

  • 320 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 321 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 322 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 323 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 324 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 325 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 326 Waldon Triplets
  • 327 Sight of a lifetime

  • 328 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 329 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 330 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 331 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 332 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 333 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 334 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 335 A bird of their own!

  • 336 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 337 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 338 Burnard family reunion

  • 339 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 340 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 341 When horses score over the tractor

  • 342 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 343 Puppet characters introduced

  • 344 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 345 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 346 Ships at Bideford

  • 347 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 348 School crossing patrol begins

  • 349 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 350 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

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

  • 352 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 353 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 354 Life begins at 80

  • 355 Warmington's garage ad

  • 356 Parkham plan realised

  • 357 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 358 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 359 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 360 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 361 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 362 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 363 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 364

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

  • 366 School's link with cargo ship

  • 367 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 368 All aboard the ark

  • 369 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 370 Mobile missionary

  • 371 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 372 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 373 Hartland's invitation

  • 374 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 375 Cruising down the river

  • 376 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 377 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 378 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 379 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 380 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 381 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 382 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 383

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 384 Artisans' Club

  • 385 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 386 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 387 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 388 He beat the floods

  • 389 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 390 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 391 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 392 Loads of black and white

  • 393 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 394 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 395 Private home for public pump

  • 396 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 397 New civic medallions

  • 398 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 399 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 400 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 401 Hartland postman retires

  • 402 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

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

  • 404

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 405 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 406 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 407 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 408 North Devon Driving School

  • 409 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 410 Sweets derationing

  • 411 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 412 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 413 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

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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  • 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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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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