• 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 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 2 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 3 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 4 Riverside mystery

  • 5 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 6 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 7 Recognise this resort?

  • 8 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 9 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

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

  • 11 Finished in 1876

  • 12 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 13 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 14 Ships at Bideford

  • 15 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 16 New life for Hartland organ

  • 17 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 18 Variety in summer weather

  • 19 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 20 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 21 Torrington's new amenity

  • 22

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 23 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 24

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 25 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 26 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 27 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 28 They are parted pro-tem

  • 29 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 30 Peter poses for TV film

  • 31 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 32 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 33 Torrington children build igloo
  • 34 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 35 School's link with cargo ship

  • 36 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 37 All aboard the ark

  • 38 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 39 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 40 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 41 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 42 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 43 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 44 Capers on the cobbles

  • 45 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 46 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 47

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 48 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 49 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 50 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 51 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 52 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 53

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 54 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 55 Modern living at Bideford

  • 56 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 57 Hartland Dancers
  • 58 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 59 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 60

    Was a missionary
  • 61 Devil sent packing

  • 62 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 63

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 64 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 65 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 66 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 67 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 68 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 69 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 70 Artisans' Club

  • 71 Clovelly nightmare

  • 72 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 73 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 74 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 75 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 76 Clovelly custom

  • 77 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 78 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 79 Twenty-one yachts

  • 80 Bideford regatta

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

  • 82 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 83 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 84 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 85 Waldon Triplets
  • 86 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 87 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 88 Out of puff!

  • 89 Emergency ferry services

  • 90 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 91 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 92 Jumble sale fever

  • 93 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 94 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 95 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 96 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 97

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 98 All for the love of a lady!

  • 99 Off on a great adventure

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

  • 101 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 102 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 103 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 104 Pannier Market's future?

  • 105

    Building works
  • 106 Appledore's largest

  • 107 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 108 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 109 No laughing matter

  • 110 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 111 Six footed lamb

  • 112 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 113 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 114 Dismantling of wireless mast

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

  • 116

    Bidefordians
  • 117 Last train from Torrington

  • 118 113 years at Instow

  • 119 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 120 New look in the hayfields

  • 121

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 122 Littleham family's five generations

  • 123 Weare Giffard potato

  • 124 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 125 No sale of Springfield House

  • 126 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 127 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 128 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 129 Northam footballers of the future

  • 130 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 131 When horses score over the tractor

  • 132 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 133 For crying out loud!

  • 134 Mobile missionary

  • 135 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 136 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 137 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 138

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 139 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 140 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 141 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 142 Burnard family reunion

  • 143 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 144 Ten year old scrambler

  • 145 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 146 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 147 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 148 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 149 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 150 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 151 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 152 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 153 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 154 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 155 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 156 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 157 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 158 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 159 Some 240 exhibits

  • 160 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 161 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 162 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 163 By pony and trap to market

  • 164

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 165 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 166 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 167 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 168 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 169

    Exhibition of school work
  • 170

    First prize
  • 171 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 172 Decontrol of meat

  • 173 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 174 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 175 Sight of a lifetime

  • 176 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 177 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 178 He beat the floods

  • 179 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 180 Simple Item 138
  • 181 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 182 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 183 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

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

  • 185 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 186 End of the line

  • 187 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 188 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 189 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 190 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 191 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 192 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 193 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 194 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 195 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 196 Police station view of Bideford

  • 197 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 198 Bideford loses training ship

  • 199

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 200 New Post Office

  • 201 Happy Days!

  • 202 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 203 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 204 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 205 Bideford computer stars

  • 206 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 207 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 208 Parkham plan realised

  • 209 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 210

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 211 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 212 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 213 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 214 New choral society's growing response

  • 215 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 216 First ship in 8 years

  • 217 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 218 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 219 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 220 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 221 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 222 New Lundy stamps

  • 223 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 224 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 225 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 226 The Geneva marionettes

  • 227 Quads join a Langtree happy family

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

  • 229 Warmington's garage ad

  • 230 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 231 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 232 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 233 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 234

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 235 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 236 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 237 Circus comes to town

  • 238 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 239 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 240 Picking the pops

  • 241 Traditions and skills still there

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

  • 243 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 244 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 245 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 246 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 247 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 248 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 249 Cruising down the river

  • 250 New addition to Quay front

  • 251 Just over a year old

  • 252 Daisy's pride and joy

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

  • 254 New art gallery opened

  • 255 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 256

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 257 A man and his wheel

  • 258 The art of the thatcher

  • 259 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 260 Some mushroom!

  • 261 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 262 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 263 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 264 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 265 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 266 Private home for public pump

  • 267 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 268 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 269 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 270 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 271 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 272 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 273 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 274 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 275 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 276 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 277 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 278 Hartland postman retires

  • 279 School crossing patrol begins

  • 280 Life begins at 80

  • 281 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 282 Can spring be far away?

  • 283 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 284 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 285 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 286 Puppet characters introduced

  • 287 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 288

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 289 New civic medallions

  • 290 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 291 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 292 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 293 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 294 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 295 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 296

    Relatives all over the world
  • 297 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 298 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 299 Loads of black and white

  • 300 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 301 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 302 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 303

    New gateway
  • 304 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 305

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 306 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 307 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 308 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 309 Record player of 80 years ago

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

  • 311 North Devon Driving School

  • 312 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 313 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 314 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 315 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 316 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 317 Torrington in 1967

  • 318 Revenge in style

  • 319 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 320 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 321 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 322 In their new robes and hats

  • 323 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 324 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 325 Northam's almshouse

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

  • 327

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 328 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 329 What's the time?

  • 330 Hartland's invitation

  • 331 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 332 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 333 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 334 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 335 A roof-top view - where?

  • 336 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 337 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 338 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 339

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 340 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 341 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 342 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 343 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 344 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 345 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 346

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 347 Penny for the guy

  • 348 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 349 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 350 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 351 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 352 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 353 A bird of their own!

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

  • 355 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 356 X-ray shoe fitting

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

  • 358

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 359 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 360 A story to tell!

  • 361 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 362 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 363

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 364 Service with a smile

  • 365 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 366 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 367 It really was the 'last time'

  • 368

    Married in 1908
  • 369 Centenary of Gazette

  • 370 Picking the pops

  • 371 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 372

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 373 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 374 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 375 So this is the mainland!

  • 376 New shipyard on schedule

  • 377 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 378

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 379

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 380 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 381 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 382 Bridging the stream

  • 383

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

  • 385

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
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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Torrington Hospital Appointment

Miss A Faulkener has been appointed matron of Torrington Cottage Hospital

14.1.1955 Miss A Faulkener Torrington

and has taken up her duties.

In the three months the hospital has been without a matron, Sister B Atchison has been in charge. She has now taken charge of the hospital’s maternity ward which re-opened last week.

Miss Faulkener, who comes to Torrington from Elgin (Morayshire) Maternity Hospital, trained at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and later worked at Glasgow Royal Maternity Hospital.

Gazette article dated 14 January 1955

Instow Retirement

Retiring on March 17th after 43 of nursing,

the last 16 at Instow, is Miss E Rees, a Queen’s Nursing Sister of 10 Venn Close, Instow.

Miss Rees Instow Nurse

She has helped to bring well over 2,000 babies into the world, and herself legally adopted two babies, Peter, now a police constable, and Rosemary (who died at the age of 17 two years ago).

Miss Rees, originally from Yorkshire, has never been out of nursing work throughout her busy life except for a few weeks sickness. She received a long service medal at a gathering at St James’ Palace. In retirement she will live with her sister in a caravan at Westward Ho!

Her colleagues are planning to mark her retirement with a party and a presentation.

Gazette article dated 5 March 1965

Bideford Nurse Is Silver Medallist

Nurse Margaret Shute,

daughter of Mr and Mrs Arthur Shute, of 1 Northam Road, was awarded the silver medal at the annual prize giving at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

15.5.1964 Nurse Shute

She received the medal from the hands of the Bishop of Exeter, Dr R C Mortimer.

Miss Shute began her nursing training at Bideford Hospital, where she also won a medal – for the best all round nurse.

Staff Nurse Shute is an Old Girl of Edgehill College.

Gazette article dated 15 May 1964

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