• 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
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 2 No sale of Springfield House

  • 3 Some 240 exhibits

  • 4 New addition to Quay front

  • 5 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 6 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 7 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 8 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 9 End of the line

  • 10 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 11 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 12 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 13

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 14

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 15 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 16 Cruising down the river

  • 17 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 18 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 19 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 20 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 21 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 22 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 23 For crying out loud!

  • 24 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 25 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 26 Weare Giffard potato

  • 27 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 28 No laughing matter

  • 29 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 30 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 31 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 32 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 33 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 34

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 35 Clovelly custom

  • 36 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 37 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 38 Jumble sale fever

  • 39 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 40 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 41 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 42 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 43 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 44 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 45 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 46

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 47 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 48 Police station view of Bideford

  • 49 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 50

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 51 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 52 It really was the 'last time'

  • 53 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 54 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 55 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 56 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 57

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 58 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 59 First ship in 8 years

  • 60 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 61 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 62 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 63 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 64 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 65 New Post Office

  • 66 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 67 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 68 Six footed lamb

  • 69 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 70 Out of puff!

  • 71 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 72 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 73 Burnard family reunion

  • 74 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 75 New shipyard on schedule

  • 76 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 77 The art of the thatcher

  • 78 Hartland's invitation

  • 79 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 80 By pony and trap to market

  • 81

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 82 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 83 Pannier Market's future?

  • 84 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 85 The Geneva marionettes

  • 86

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 87 Last train from Torrington

  • 88 The cab at the corner>
  • 89 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 90 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 91 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 92 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 93 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 94 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 95 New Lundy stamps

  • 96 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 97

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 98 Modern living at Bideford

  • 99 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 100 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 101 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 102 Centenary of Gazette

  • 103 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 104 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 105 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 106 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 107

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 108 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 109 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 110 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 111 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 112 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 113 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 114 Just over a year old

  • 115 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 116 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 117 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 118 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 119 All aboard the ark

  • 120 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 121 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 122 Bridging the stream

  • 123 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 124 Twenty-one yachts

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

  • 126

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 127 A roof-top view - where?

  • 128

    First prize
  • 129 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 130 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 131 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

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

  • 133 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 134

    Building works
  • 135 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 136

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 137 Ships at Bideford

  • 138 Puppet characters introduced

  • 139 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 140 Bideford computer stars

  • 141 Mobile missionary

  • 142 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 143 Service with a smile

  • 144 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 145

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 146 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 147 New civic medallions

  • 148 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 149 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 150 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 151 Riverside mystery

  • 152 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 153 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 154 New choral society's growing response

  • 155

    Married in 1908
  • 156 School's link with cargo ship

  • 157 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 158

    New gateway
  • 159 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 160 When horses score over the tractor

  • 161 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 162 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

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

  • 164 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 165 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 166 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 167 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 168 Simple Item 138
  • 169 Finished in 1876

  • 170 Parkham plan realised

  • 171 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 172 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 173 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 174 Some mushroom!

  • 175 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 176 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 177 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 178 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 179 So this is the mainland!

  • 180 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

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

  • 182 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 183 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 184 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 185 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 186 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 187 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 188 North Devon Driving School

  • 189 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 190 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 191 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 192 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 193 Bideford regatta

  • 194 They are parted pro-tem

  • 195 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 196 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 197 Northam footballers of the future

  • 198 Loads of black and white

  • 199 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 200

    Exhibition of school work
  • 201 Northam's almshouse

  • 202 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 203 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 204 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 205 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 206 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 207 Variety in summer weather

  • 208 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 209 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 210 Emergency ferry services

  • 211 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 212 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 213 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 214 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

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

  • 216 Private home for public pump

  • 217 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 218 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 219 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 220 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 221 Recognise this resort?

  • 222 A bird of their own!

  • 223

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 224 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 225 Decontrol of meat

  • 226 School crossing patrol begins

  • 227 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 228 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 229 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 230 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 231 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 232 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 233 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 234 New look in the hayfields

  • 235 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 236 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 237 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 238 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 239 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 240 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 241 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 242 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 243 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 244 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 245 Picking the pops

  • 246 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 247 Capers on the cobbles

  • 248 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 249 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 250 Devil sent packing

  • 251 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 252 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 253 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 254 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 255 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 256 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 257 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 258 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 259 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 260 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 261 Filming at Hartland

  • 262 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 263 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 264 What's the time?

  • 265

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 266 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 267 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 268 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 269 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 270 Bideford - as Rowlandson saw it about 1810-15

  • 271 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 272 In their new robes and hats

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

  • 274 All for the love of a lady!

  • 275 Hartland Dancers
  • 276 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 277 He beat the floods

  • 278 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 279 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

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

  • 281 Bideford loses training ship

  • 282 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 283 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 284 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 285 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 286 Penny for the guy

  • 287 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 288 Waldon Triplets
  • 289 New life for Hartland organ

  • 290 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 291 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 292 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 293 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 294 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 295 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 296 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 297 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 298 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 299

    Relatives all over the world
  • 300 Artisans' Club

  • 301 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 302 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 303 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 304 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 305

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 306 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 307 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 308 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 309 A man and his wheel

  • 310 Hartland postman retires

  • 311 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 312 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 313 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 314 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 315 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 316 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 317 Sight of a lifetime

  • 318 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 319

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 320 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 321 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 322 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 323 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 324 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 325 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 326 Revenge in style

  • 327

    Bidefordians
  • 328 Torrington children build igloo
  • 329 Littleham family's five generations

  • 330 New art gallery opened

  • 331 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 332 What is future of railway goods yard?

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

  • 334 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 335 Warmington's garage ad

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

  • 337 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 338 Torrington in 1967

  • 339 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 340 Circus comes to town

  • 341 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 342 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 343

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 344 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 345 Peter poses for TV film

  • 346

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 347 Clovelly nightmare

  • 348 113 years at Instow

  • 349 Second Monte Carlo Rally

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

  • 351 From Bobby to Brian

  • 352 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 353 Appledore's largest

  • 354 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 355 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

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

  • 357 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 358 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 359 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 360 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 361 A story to tell!

  • 362 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 363 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 364

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 365 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 366 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 367

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 368 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 369

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 370

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 371 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 372 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 373 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 374 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 375 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 376 Traditions and skills still there

  • 377

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 378 Happy Days!

  • 379 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 380 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 381 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 382 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 383 Picking the pops

  • 384 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 385 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 386 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 387 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 388 Sweets derationing

  • 389 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 390 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 391 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 392 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 393 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 394 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 395 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 396 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 397 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 398 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 399 Life begins at 80

  • 400 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 401 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 402 Ten year old scrambler

  • 403

    Was a missionary
  • 404 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 405 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 406 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 407 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 408 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 409 Off on a great adventure

  • 410 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 411 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 412 Can spring be far away?

  • 413 Torrington's new amenity

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

Read More
and suddenly it's spring

Cadds Down Farm

1 March 1974

Joined by Trixie, the pony

READ MORE

  • 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.

    Read More

  • 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;

    Read More

  • 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.

    Read More
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
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...

Read More
 

Shipyard goes into liquidation 1963

Liquidator appointed

4 January 1963

Difficulty in retaining labour...

Read More

N Devon’s Peak Holiday Week

Last weekend brought the peak of the year’s holiday traffic to North Devon.

8.8.1958 peak holiday week1

By rail and road, thousands of visitors arrived to take up their booking at hotels, guest houses and holiday centres, and large numbers were passing through in the course of tours of the SW.
Traffic reached record proportions on all main roads, with inevitable delays
Inquiries among Bideford hoteliers indicated that they were ‘fully booked’. At the New Inn Hotel, Mr Tom Pennington said “The town is certainly full of visitors, many of them inquiring for accommodation but we’ve nothing to offer except for the odd room between reservations”.
Mrs Middleton of the Royal Hotel also anticipated ‘capacity business from now on’. Generally it was the same story from other districts. At Hartland Quay Hotel it was stated that business had been building up over the past weeks, with people seeking accommodation having to be refused.
At the West Country Inn, on the trunk road, a spokesman said that one night last week at many as 50 people had to be turned away as all accommodation there was taken.
In Torrington, Mrs Harman of the Globe Hotel also confirmed that business was increasing rapidly, with demand for rooms exceeding supply.
The manager of the Torville Camp, Westward Ho! while also reporting that he was fully booked, thought that the influx was not quite so great as last year, estimating he was having to refuse about 70 a week as against 150 twelve months ago.
At the Seagate Hotel, Appledore, the arrival on Saturday morning of a telegram cancelling reservations for five people did not present the proprietor with any difficulty in filling the vacancies.

8.8.1958 peak holiday week

The full Gazette article is dated 8 August 1958

Visit from the Cardiff Queen

Saturday afternoon brought the first of the summer season visits to Bideford of Messrs P and A Campbell’s pleasure steamers.

8.7.1955 Cardiff Queen

It was the Cardiff Queen, and the warm welcome accorded was reminiscent of the occasion last year when she came to reintroduce pleasure trips by the firm from Bideford after a lapse of some thirty years.
Bideford Town Band played on the Quayside and many of the crowd went aboard for a trip down the Torridge around Bideford Bay and back. Later she again left Bideford for Ilfracombe and her cross-Channel schedule. A series of similar trips is arranged for the summer season.
Gazette article dated 8 July 1955

Coming soon!

  • 1

Login Form