• 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 Centenary of Gazette

  • 2 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 3 Last train from Torrington

  • 4 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 5 113 years at Instow

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

  • 7 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 8

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 9 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 10 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 11 He beat the floods

  • 12 The Geneva marionettes

  • 13 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 14 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 15 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

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

  • 17 Modern living at Bideford

  • 18 Clovelly custom

  • 19 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 20

    Exhibition of school work
  • 21 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 22 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 23 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 24 New life for Hartland organ

  • 25 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 26 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 27 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 28 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 29 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 30 Variety in summer weather

  • 31 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 32 Appledore's largest

  • 33

    Was a missionary
  • 34 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 35 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 36 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 37 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 38 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 39 Northam's almshouse

  • 40 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

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

  • 42 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 43 Sight of a lifetime

  • 44 From Bobby to Brian

  • 45 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 46 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 47

    Building works
  • 48 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 49 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 50 Torrington in 1967

  • 51 So this is the mainland!

  • 52 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 53 Warmington's garage ad

  • 54

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 55 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 56 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 57 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 58 Northam footballers of the future

  • 59 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 60 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 61 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 62 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 63

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 64 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 65 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 66 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 67 Bideford loses training ship

  • 68

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 69 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 70 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 71 Twenty-one yachts

  • 72

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 73 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 74 All for the love of a lady!

  • 75 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 76 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 77 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 78 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 79 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 80

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 81 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 82 The cab at the corner>
  • 83 Some mushroom!

  • 84 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 85

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 86 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 87 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 88 New civic medallions

  • 89 In their new robes and hats

  • 90 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 91 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 92 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 93 All aboard the ark

  • 94

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 95 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 96 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 97 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 98 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 99 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 100

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 101 First ship in 8 years

  • 102 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 103 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 104 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 105 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 106 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 107 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 108 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 109 Devil sent packing

  • 110

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 111 Can spring be far away?

  • 112 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 113 Six footed lamb

  • 114 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 115 Hartland postman retires

  • 116 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 117 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 118 Revenge in style

  • 119 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 120

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 121

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 122 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 123 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 124 Ten year old scrambler

  • 125 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 126 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 127 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 128 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 129 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 130 Just over a year old

  • 131 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 132 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 133 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 134 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 135 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 136 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 137 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 138 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 139 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 140 Peter poses for TV film

  • 141 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 142 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 143 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 144 New shipyard on schedule

  • 145 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 146 New look in the hayfields

  • 147 Filming at Hartland

  • 148 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 149 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 150 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 151 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 152 No sale of Springfield House

  • 153 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 154

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 155 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 156 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 157 Recognise this resort?

  • 158 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 159

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 160

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 161 Circus comes to town

  • 162 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 163 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 164 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 165 Police station view of Bideford

  • 166 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 167 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 168 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 169 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 170 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 171 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 172 Clovelly donkey film star

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

  • 174 Traditions and skills still there

  • 175 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 176 Burnard family reunion

  • 177 New addition to Quay front

  • 178 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 179 Hartland Dancers
  • 180 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 181 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 182 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 183 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 184 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 185 No laughing matter

  • 186 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 187 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 188 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 189 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 190 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 191 New gateway to King George's Fields

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

  • 193 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 194 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 195 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 196 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 197 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 198 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 199 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 200 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 201 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 202 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 203

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 204 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 205 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 206 Hartland's invitation

  • 207

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 208 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 209 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 210 Jumble sale fever

  • 211 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 212 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 213 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 214 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 215 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 216 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 217 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 218 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

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

  • 220 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 221 A bird of their own!

  • 222 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 223 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 224 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 225 Life begins at 80

  • 226 They are parted pro-tem

  • 227 North Devon Driving School

  • 228 Emergency ferry services

  • 229 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

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

  • 231 Waldon Triplets
  • 232 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 233 Riverside mystery

  • 234 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 235 Bideford computer stars

  • 236 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 237 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 238 New Post Office

  • 239 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 240 New art gallery opened

  • 241 Private home for public pump

  • 242 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 243 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 244 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 245 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 246 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 247 School crossing patrol begins

  • 248 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 249 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 250 Clovelly nightmare

  • 251 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 252

    Relatives all over the world
  • 253 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 254 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 255

    Married in 1908
  • 256 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 257 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 258 The art of the thatcher

  • 259 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 260 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 261 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 262 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 263 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 264

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 265 Service with a smile

  • 266 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 267 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 268 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 269 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 270 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 271 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 272 End of the line

  • 273 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 274 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 275 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 276 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 277 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 278 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 279 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 280 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 281

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 282 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 283 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 284 Parkham plan realised

  • 285 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 286 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 287 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 288 New choral society's growing response

  • 289 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 290 By pony and trap to market

  • 291

    Bidefordians
  • 292 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 293 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 294 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 295 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 296 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 297 Pannier Market's future?

  • 298 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 299 Ships at Bideford

  • 300 A story to tell!

  • 301 Off on a great adventure

  • 302 Sweets derationing

  • 303 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 304 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 305 Train returns to Westleigh straight

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

  • 307 Bideford regatta

  • 308 Mobile missionary

  • 309 Puppet characters introduced

  • 310 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 311 Artisans' Club

  • 312 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 313 A roof-top view - where?

  • 314 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 315

    First prize
  • 316 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 317 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 318 Torrington's new amenity

  • 319 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 320 Torrington children build igloo
  • 321

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 322 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 323 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 324 Penny for the guy

  • 325 Loads of black and white

  • 326 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 327

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 328 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 329 What's the time?

  • 330 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 331 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 332 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 333 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 334

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 335 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 336 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 337 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 338 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 339 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 340 Some 240 exhibits

  • 341

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 342 Bridging the stream

  • 343 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 344 Happy Days!

  • 345 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 346 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 347

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 348 Out of puff!

  • 349 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 350 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 351 Finished in 1876

  • 352 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 353 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 354 Cruising down the river

  • 355 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 356 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 357 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 358

    New gateway
  • 359 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 360 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 361 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 362 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 363 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

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

  • 365 Decontrol of meat

  • 366 Littleham family's five generations

  • 367 Picking the pops

  • 368 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 369 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 370 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 371

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 372 Picking the pops

  • 373 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 374 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 375 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 376 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 377 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 378 It really was the 'last time'

  • 379 When horses score over the tractor

  • 380 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 381 Panto time at Westward Ho!

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

  • 383 For crying out loud!

  • 384 A man and his wheel

  • 385 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 386 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 387 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 388 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 389 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 390 Torrington to have first woman mayor

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

  • 392 New Lundy stamps

  • 393 Capers on the cobbles

  • 394 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 395 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 396 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 397 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 398 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 399 School's link with cargo ship

  • 400 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 401 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 402 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 403 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 404 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 405 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 406 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 407 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 408 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 409 Weare Giffard potato

  • 410 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 411 Simple Item 138
  • 412 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 413 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

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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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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