• 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 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 2 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 3 Off on a great adventure

  • 4

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 5 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 6

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 7 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 8 School's link with cargo ship

  • 9

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 10

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 11 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 12 End of the line

  • 13 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 14 Sweet success at Langtree School

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

  • 16 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

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

  • 18

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 19 Puppet characters introduced

  • 20 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 21 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 22 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 23 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 24 New look in the hayfields

  • 25 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 26 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 27 The Geneva marionettes

  • 28 New shipyard on schedule

  • 29 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 30 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 31 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 32 Hartland Dancers
  • 33 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 34 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 35 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 36 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 37 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 38 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 39 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 40 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 41 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 42 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 43

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 44 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 45 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 46 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 47 Six footed lamb

  • 48 A roof-top view - where?

  • 49 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 50

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 51 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 52 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 53 Circus comes to town

  • 54 School crossing patrol begins

  • 55 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 56 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 57 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 58 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 59 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 60 New civic medallions

  • 61 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

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

  • 63 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 64 113 years at Instow

  • 65 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 66 Can spring be far away?

  • 67 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 68 No laughing matter

  • 69 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 70 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 71 All for the love of a lady!

  • 72 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 73 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 74 Cruising down the river

  • 75 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 76 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

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

  • 78 Clovelly custom

  • 79 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 80 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 81 Decontrol of meat

  • 82 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 83 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 84 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 85 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 86 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 87 Ships at Bideford

  • 88 Colour TV salesman at eight

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

  • 90 Penny for the guy

  • 91 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 92 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 93 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 94 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 95 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 96 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 97 North Devon Driving School

  • 98 Northam's almshouse

  • 99 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 100 Appledore's largest

  • 101 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

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

  • 103 They are parted pro-tem

  • 104 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 105 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 106 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 107 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 108 Happy Days!

  • 109 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 110 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 111 First ship in 8 years

  • 112 It really was the 'last time'

  • 113 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 114 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 115 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 116 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 117 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 118 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 119 Torrington in 1967

  • 120 In their new robes and hats

  • 121 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 122 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 123 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 124 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 125 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 126 Weare Giffard potato

  • 127 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 128 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 129 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 130 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 131 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 132 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 133 Hartland postman retires

  • 134

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 135 A bird of their own!

  • 136 By pony and trap to market

  • 137 Train returns to Westleigh straight

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

  • 139 New art gallery opened

  • 140 Picking the pops

  • 141 Warmington's garage ad

  • 142 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 143 New Lundy stamps

  • 144 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 145 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 146 Out of puff!

  • 147 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 148 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 149 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 150 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 151 Pannier Market's future?

  • 152 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 153 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 154

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 155 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 156 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 157 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 158 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 159 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 160 Devil sent packing

  • 161 Peter poses for TV film

  • 162 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 163 Some 240 exhibits

  • 164 Traditions and skills still there

  • 165 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 166 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 167

    New gateway
  • 168 Water Board mains spread through villages

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

  • 170 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 171 Littleham family's five generations

  • 172 Simple Item 138
  • 173 For crying out loud!

  • 174 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 175 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 176 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 177 He beat the floods

  • 178 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 179 Variety in summer weather

  • 180 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 181

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 182 Life begins at 80

  • 183 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 184 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 185 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 186 New Post Office

  • 187 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 188 Torrington children build igloo
  • 189 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 190 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 191 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 192 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 193 All aboard the ark

  • 194 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 195 Just over a year old

  • 196 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 197 Twenty-one yachts

  • 198 What's the time?

  • 199 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 200 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 201

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 202 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 203 Capers on the cobbles

  • 204 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 205 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 206 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 207 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

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

  • 209

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 210 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 211

    Exhibition of school work
  • 212 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 213 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 214 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 215 Centuries old but today busier than ever

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

  • 217 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 218 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 219 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 220 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 221 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 222 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 223 Ten year old scrambler

  • 224 The art of the thatcher

  • 225 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 226 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 227

    Was a missionary
  • 228 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 229 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 230 Private home for public pump

  • 231 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 232 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 233 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 234 Recognise this resort?

  • 235 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 236 Loads of black and white

  • 237 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 238 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 239 Clovelly nightmare

  • 240 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 241

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 242 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 243 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 244 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 245 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 246 Bideford regatta

  • 247 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 248 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 249 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 250 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 251 Picking the pops

  • 252 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 253 Bideford loses training ship

  • 254

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 255 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 256

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 257 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 258 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 259 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 260 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 261 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 262

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 263 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 264 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 265 Jumble sale fever

  • 266 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 267 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 268 Bridging the stream

  • 269

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 270 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 271 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 272 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 273 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 274 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 275 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 276 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 277

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 278 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 279

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 280 Hartland's invitation

  • 281 Police station view of Bideford

  • 282 Last train from Torrington

  • 283 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 284 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 285 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 286 Centenary of Gazette

  • 287 A man and his wheel

  • 288 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 289 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 290 Mobile missionary

  • 291

    Relatives all over the world
  • 292 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 293 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 294

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 295 New addition to Quay front

  • 296 Eight to strike and a race to win

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

  • 298 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 299 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 300 Parkham plan realised

  • 301 Modern living at Bideford

  • 302 Service with a smile

  • 303 Sight of a lifetime

  • 304

    Married in 1908
  • 305 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 306 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 307 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 308 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 309 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 310 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 311 Burnard family reunion

  • 312 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 313 New life for Hartland organ

  • 314 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 315 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 316

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 317 Some mushroom!

  • 318

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 319 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 320 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 321 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 322 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 323 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 324 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 325 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 326 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 327 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 328 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 329 So this is the mainland!

  • 330

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 331 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 332 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 333 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 334 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 335 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 336 Riverside mystery

  • 337

    First prize
  • 338 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 339 Revenge in style

  • 340 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 341 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 342 Emergency ferry services

  • 343 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 344 Bideford computer stars

  • 345 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 346 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 347 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 348 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 349

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 350

    Bidefordians
  • 351 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 352 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 353 Artisans' Club

  • 354 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 355 Waldon Triplets
  • 356

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 357 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 358 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 359 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 360 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 361

    Building works
  • 362 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 363 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 364 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 365 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 366 A story to tell!

  • 367 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 368 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 369 When horses score over the tractor

  • 370 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 371 Northam footballers of the future

  • 372 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 373 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 374 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 375 New choral society's growing response

  • 376 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 377 No sale of Springfield House

  • 378 Finished in 1876

  • 379 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 380 Torrington's new amenity

  • 381 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 382 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 383 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 384 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 385 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

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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Church Youth Fellowship

Witches and Ghost at Party

Witches and ghost 7.11.1958

Twenty-nine young people attended a Halloween party at Torrington Church Hall on Friday night.

The party was organised by the Church Youth Fellowship, under Mr E Smith and Mr Walter Webber (Church Sunday School Supt) helped by other members of the club’s adult advisory committee.

Games were run by Mr Smith and Miss L Matthews. There were two girls, Janet Squire and Jennifer Short, wearing ‘witches’ costumes and another, Helen Smale, dressed as a ‘ghost’.

Refreshments were provided by the young people themselves and served by the older committee members.

Gazette article dated 7 November 1958

Three Years On Its Way

Postal order at Appledore

9.1.1959 Appledore postal order

It took three years for a postal order gift to travel from Irsha Street to Meeting Street, Appledore.
The postal order of five shillings was sent in 1955 by Miss M Arnold, of Irsha Street, to the two children of Mrs Whitlock of Cullompton. Mrs Whitlock spends Christmas with her aunt, Mrs D Slade, at Meeting Street, and it was to this address that the postal order was sent.
It arrived with another postal order of five shillings – this year’s gift to the children from Miss Arnold – on the Monday after Christmas.
It was not until Mrs Whitlock had seen Miss Arnold to thank her for the two postal orders that this was discovered.
As it is not possible to cash a postal order which is so old, Mrs Whitlock is to see the Bideford Head Postmaster about it.
Gazette article dated 9 January 1959

Gelignite Found At Woolsery

Army bomb disposal experts from Salisbury on Saturday removed 30 three-inch sticks of gelignite discovered in a shed adjoining a house at Cross Park, Woolsery.

17.11.1972 gelignite

The explosive was found by Mr A C Perkins, who told the Gazette he had lived in the house all his life. "I have an idea how it got there, but I don't want to comment" he said.
Said to be about 10 years old and in a damp state, the gelignite was on a shelf.
Gazette article dated 17 November 1972

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