• 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 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 2 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 3 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 4 Polish custom on Pancake Day

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

  • 6 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 7 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 8 Burnard family reunion

  • 9 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 10 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 11 New look in the hayfields

  • 12 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 13 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 14 Circus comes to town

  • 15 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 16 Just over a year old

  • 17 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 18 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 19 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 20 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 21 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 22 Off on a great adventure

  • 23 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 24 Twenty-one yachts

  • 25 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 26 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 27 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 28 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 29 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 30 Devil sent packing

  • 31 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 32 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 33 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 34 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 35

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 36 Six footed lamb

  • 37 Littleham family's five generations

  • 38

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 39

    Exhibition of school work
  • 40 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 41 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 42 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 43

    Was a missionary
  • 44 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 45 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 46 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 47 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 48 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 49 Torrington children build igloo
  • 50 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 51 Hartland's invitation

  • 52 Some 240 exhibits

  • 53 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 54 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 55 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 56 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 57 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 58 New Post Office

  • 59 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 60 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 61 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 62 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 63 All aboard the ark

  • 64 Picking the pops

  • 65 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 66 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 67 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 68 Bideford loses training ship

  • 69 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 70 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 71 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 72 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 73 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 74 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 75

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 76 Northam footballers of the future

  • 77 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 78 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 79 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 80 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 81 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 82 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 83

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 84 First ship in 8 years

  • 85 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 86 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 87 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 88 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 89 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 90 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 91 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 92 Puppet characters introduced

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

  • 94 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 95

    Relatives all over the world
  • 96 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 97 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 98 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 99 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 100 Recognise this resort?

  • 101 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 102 From Bobby to Brian

  • 103

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

  • 105 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 106 Torrington in 1967

  • 107 Cruising down the river

  • 108 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 109

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 110 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 111 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 112 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 113 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 114 Bridging the stream

  • 115 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 116 Life begins at 80

  • 117 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 118

    Building works
  • 119 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 120 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 121 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 122 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 123 What's the time?

  • 124 So this is the mainland!

  • 125 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 126

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 127

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 128 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 129 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 130 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 131 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 132 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 133 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 134 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 135 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 136 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 137 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 138 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 139 Riverside mystery

  • 140 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 141 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 142 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 143 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 144 Clovelly nightmare

  • 145 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 146 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 147 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 148 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 149 The art of the thatcher

  • 150 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 151 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 152 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 153 Last of Bideford factory chimney

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

  • 155 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 156 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 157

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 158 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 159 The cab at the corner>
  • 160

    Bidefordians
  • 161 Hartland Dancers
  • 162 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 163 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 164 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 165 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 166

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 167 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 168 A story to tell!

  • 169 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 170 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 171 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 172 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 173 Parkham plan realised

  • 174 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 175 Loads of black and white

  • 176 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 177 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 178 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 179 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 180 Clovelly custom

  • 181 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 182 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 183 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 184 Variety in summer weather

  • 185 He beat the floods

  • 186 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 187 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 188

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 189

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 190 Modern living at Bideford

  • 191 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 192 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 193 Private home for public pump

  • 194 A roof-top view - where?

  • 195 Weare Giffard potato

  • 196 Mural in the whimsical fashion

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

  • 198 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 199 It really was the 'last time'

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

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

  • 202 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 203 Happy Days!

  • 204

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 205 No laughing matter

  • 206 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 207 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 208 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 209 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

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

  • 211 Sweets derationing

  • 212 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 213 A man and his wheel

  • 214 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 215 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 216 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 217 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 218 New shipyard on schedule

  • 219 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 220 School crossing patrol begins

  • 221 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 222

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 223 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 224

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 225 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 226 Capers on the cobbles

  • 227 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 228 Peter poses for TV film

  • 229 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 230 A bird of their own!

  • 231 Decontrol of meat

  • 232 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 233

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 234 For crying out loud!

  • 235 Revenge in style

  • 236 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 237 North Devon Driving School

  • 238 Centenary of Gazette

  • 239 Warmington's garage ad

  • 240 Penny for the guy

  • 241 Northam's almshouse

  • 242 Service with a smile

  • 243 Ships at Bideford

  • 244 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 245 Hartland postman retires

  • 246 Waldon Triplets
  • 247 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 248 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 249 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 250 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 251

    First prize
  • 252 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 253 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 254 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 255 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 256 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 257 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 258 New life for Hartland organ

  • 259 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

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

  • 261 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 262 By pony and trap to market

  • 263

    New gateway
  • 264

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 265 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 266 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 267 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 268 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 269 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 270 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 271 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

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

  • 273 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 274 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 275 Filming at Hartland

  • 276 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 277 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 278 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 279 Finished in 1876

  • 280

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 281

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 282 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 283 Sailing to victory at Appledore

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

  • 285 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 286 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 287 Pannier Market's future?

  • 288 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 289 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 290 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 291 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 292

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 293

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 294 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 295 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 296 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 297 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 298 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 299 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 300 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 301 Mobile missionary

  • 302 No sale of Springfield House

  • 303 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 304 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 305 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 306 Ten year old scrambler

  • 307 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 308 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 309 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 310 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 311 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 312 New art gallery opened

  • 313 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 314 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 315 Jumble sale fever

  • 316 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 317 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 318 Torrington's new amenity

  • 319 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 320 Last train from Torrington

  • 321 School's link with cargo ship

  • 322 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 323 Some mushroom!

  • 324 Police station view of Bideford

  • 325 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 326 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 327 The Geneva marionettes

  • 328 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 329 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 330 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 331 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 332 New civic medallions

  • 333 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 334 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 335 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 336

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 337 End of the line

  • 338 All for the love of a lady!

  • 339 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 340 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 341 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 342 113 years at Instow

  • 343 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 344 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 345 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 346 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 347 New Lundy stamps

  • 348 Emergency ferry services

  • 349 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 350 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 351 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 352 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 353 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 354 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 355 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 356 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 357 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 358

    Married in 1908
  • 359 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 360 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 361 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 362 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 363 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 364 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 365 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 366 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 367 Bideford regatta

  • 368 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 369 Simple Item 138
  • 370 When horses score over the tractor

  • 371 Picking the pops

  • 372 In their new robes and hats

  • 373 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 374

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 375 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 376 They are parted pro-tem

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

  • 378 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 379 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 380 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 381 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 382 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 383 Traditions and skills still there

  • 384 New addition to Quay front

  • 385 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 386 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 387 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 388 New choral society's growing response

  • 389 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 390 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 391 Artisans' Club

  • 392 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 393 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 394 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 395 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 396

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 397 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 398 Appledore's largest

  • 399

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 400 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 401 Out of puff!

  • 402 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 403 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 404 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 405 Sight of a lifetime

  • 406 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 407 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 408 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 409 Bideford computer stars

  • 410 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 411 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 412 Can spring be far away?

  • 413 Daisy's pride and joy

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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  • 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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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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Mr Stork busy

Holds Up Hospital’s Decoration Plans

To and from Torrington Cottage Hospital, in the Christmas rush, went Mr Stork last week.

He made so many calls that he held up the hospital’s plans for Christmas decorations and entertainment.

The recently re-opened maternity ward at the hospital had been so busy that the festoons of decorations, usually put up in the windows of the hospital some time before Christmas, were delayed and had been missed by passers-by.

When a Bideford Gazette reporter called at the hospital at the weekend he found staff members hurrying to decorate the hospital in time for Christmas.
Commented Maternity Sister E Kave “I have been up since three o’clock this morning on duty in the maternity ward. Three babies have been born in the last few days and now four more are expected. So you can see we haven’t had a lot of time for the usual festive plans”.

24.12.1958 Torrington Cottage Hospital

Gazette article dated 24 December 1958

Gold Badge For 50-Pint Bideford Blood Donor

A Gold Badge for having given 50 pints of his blood

is presented to Mr Jack Sinclair at a blood transfusion service session at Bideford.

1.2.1974 Bideford Sinclair blood1

In the picture the Mayor of Bideford, Major E Hill, is seen presenting the badge, together with a certificate, to Mr Sinclair

Mr Sinclair, who lives in Geneva Place, Bideford, is caretaker of Bideford County Secondary School. He is a former Scoutmaster of the 2nd Bideford Group.

Fifty of the 168 donors at this latest session were new ones. Never before had they had so many new donors, said Miss P Durant, commandant of Devon 48 detachment of the Red Cross and for many years a local organiser for blood-doning sessions. “It is a most encouraging response, but we are looking for more” she added. “There is an opportunity for other new donors to come forward at Bideford at a session on March 7”.

In Red Cross uniform are Miss D Thomas, one of the local blood-doning session organisers, Miss P Durant and Miss P Gammon, North Devon area organiser.

Gazette article dated 1 February 1974

Mass Radiography Service

SAFEGUARD YOUR HEALTH

Chest x ray 10.9.1965

Have a chest x-ray
AT BIDEFORD – THE PILL CAR PARK
(By Strand Cinema)

THURSDAY 16TH SEPT. AND THURSDAY 30 SEPT.
From 2pm to 3pm every day

FREE CHEST X-RAYS FOR ALL OVER 15 YEARS

Gazette article dated 10 September 1965

 

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