• 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 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 2 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 3 New look in the hayfields

  • 4

    Exhibition of school work
  • 5 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 6 Puppet characters introduced

  • 7 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 8

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 9 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 10 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 11 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 12 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 13 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 14 Jumble sale fever

  • 15 Revenge in style

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

  • 17 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 18 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 19 Cruising down the river

  • 20

    Bidefordians
  • 21 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 22 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 23

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 24 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 25 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 26 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 27

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 28 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 29 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 30 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 31 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

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

  • 33 Torrington in 1967

  • 34 New Estate's view of estuary activities

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

  • 36 New choral society's growing response

  • 37 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 38 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 39 First ship in 8 years

  • 40 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 41

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 42

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 43 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 44

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 45 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 46 Simple Item 138
  • 47 Circus comes to town

  • 48 Capers on the cobbles

  • 49 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 50 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 51 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 52 Sight of a lifetime

  • 53

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 54 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 55 What's the time?

  • 56 Artisans' Club

  • 57 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 58 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 59 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 60 Burnard family reunion

  • 61 He beat the floods

  • 62 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 63 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 64 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 65 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 66 Out of puff!

  • 67 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 68 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 69 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 70 Bideford computer stars

  • 71 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 72 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 73

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 74 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 75 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 76 North Devon Driving School

  • 77 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 78 Polish custom on Pancake Day

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

  • 80 They are parted pro-tem

  • 81 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 82

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 83 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 84 The art of the thatcher

  • 85 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 86 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 87 Bridging the stream

  • 88 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 89 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 90 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 91 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 92 Some mushroom!

  • 93 Hartland's invitation

  • 94

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 95 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 96 Northam footballers of the future

  • 97 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 98 Twenty-one yachts

  • 99 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 100 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 101 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 102 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 103 Littleham family's five generations

  • 104 Riverside mystery

  • 105 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 106 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 107 So this is the mainland!

  • 108 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 109 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 110 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 111 All for the love of a lady!

  • 112 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 113 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 114 Service with a smile

  • 115 Bideford loses training ship

  • 116 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 117 Torrington's new amenity

  • 118 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 119 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 120 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 121 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 122 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

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

  • 124

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 125 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 126 New Post Office

  • 127 113 years at Instow

  • 128 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 129

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 130 New addition to Quay front

  • 131 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 132 Loads of black and white

  • 133 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 134 A roof-top view - where?

  • 135 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 136 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 137 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 138 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 139 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 140 New art gallery opened

  • 141 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 142 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 143 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 144 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 145 New life for Hartland organ

  • 146 In their new robes and hats

  • 147 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 148 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 149

    First prize
  • 150 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 151 Clovelly custom

  • 152 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 153 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 154 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 155 Six footed lamb

  • 156 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 157

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 158 Off on a great adventure

  • 159 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 160

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 161 Appledore's largest

  • 162 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 163 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 164

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 165 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 166 Just over a year old

  • 167 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 168 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 169 Pannier Market's future?

  • 170 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 171 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 172 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 173 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 174 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 175 Picking the pops

  • 176 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 177 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 178 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 179 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 180 Ships at Bideford

  • 181 Happy Days!

  • 182 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 183 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 184

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 185 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 186 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 187 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 188 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 189 A story to tell!

  • 190 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 191 Penny for the guy

  • 192 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 193

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 194 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 195 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 196 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 197 For crying out loud!

  • 198 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 199 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 200 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 201 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 202 Warmington's garage ad

  • 203 Bideford regatta

  • 204 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 205

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 206 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

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

  • 208 Hartland Dancers
  • 209 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 210 Traditions and skills still there

  • 211 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 212

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 213 Devil sent packing

  • 214 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 215 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 216 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 217 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 218 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 219 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 220 New civic medallions

  • 221 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 222 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 223 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 224

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 225 X-ray shoe fitting

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

  • 227 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 228 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 229 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 230 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 231 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 232 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 233 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 234 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 235 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 236 The Geneva marionettes

  • 237 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 238 New shipyard on schedule

  • 239 A bird of their own!

  • 240 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 241 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 242 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 243 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 244 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 245 Recognise this resort?

  • 246 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 247 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 248

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 249 Hartland postman retires

  • 250 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 251 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 252 Variety in summer weather

  • 253 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 254 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 255

    Building works
  • 256

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 257 Last train from Torrington

  • 258 Parkham plan realised

  • 259 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 260 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 261 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 262 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 263

    Married in 1908
  • 264 Finished in 1876

  • 265 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 266 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 267 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 268 No sale of Springfield House

  • 269 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 270 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 271 It really was the 'last time'

  • 272 Symbol of Lundy independence

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

  • 274 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 275 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 276 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 277 Emergency ferry services

  • 278 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 279 All aboard the ark

  • 280 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 281 Mobile missionary

  • 282 Ten year old scrambler

  • 283 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 284 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 285 Waldon Triplets
  • 286 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 287 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

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

  • 289

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 290 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 291 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 292 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 293 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 294 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 295 Northam's almshouse

  • 296 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 297 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 298 Peter poses for TV film

  • 299 Torrington children build igloo
  • 300 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 301 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 302 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 303 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 304 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 305 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 306 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 307 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 308 By pony and trap to market

  • 309 School's link with cargo ship

  • 310 End of the line

  • 311 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 312 Private home for public pump

  • 313 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 314 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 315 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 316 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 317

    Was a missionary
  • 318 Can spring be far away?

  • 319 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 320 New fire and ambulance stations

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

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

  • 323 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 324 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 325 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 326 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 327 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 328 New Lundy stamps

  • 329 No laughing matter

  • 330 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 331 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 332 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 333

    New gateway
  • 334 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 335 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 336

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 337 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 338 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 339 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 340 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 341 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 342 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 343 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 344 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 345 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 346 Picking the pops

  • 347 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 348 Modern living at Bideford

  • 349 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 350 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 351 Life begins at 80

  • 352 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 353 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 354 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 355 When horses score over the tractor

  • 356 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 357 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 358 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 359 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 360 Clovelly nightmare

  • 361 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 362 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 363 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 364 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 365

    Relatives all over the world
  • 366 Some 240 exhibits

  • 367 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 368 A man and his wheel

  • 369 School crossing patrol begins

  • 370 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 371 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 372 Weare Giffard potato

  • 373 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 374 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 375 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 376 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 377 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 378 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 379 Police station view of Bideford

  • 380 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 381

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 382 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 383 Centenary of Gazette

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

  • 385 Decontrol of meat

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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Maternity Home Future Threatened?

Maternity home during WW2

12.1.1973 Bideford maternity home

The existence of Bideford’s only maternity home may be threatened if the South Western Regional Hospital Board go ahead with plans to end the arrangement whereby National Health Service patients are admitted to it.

The Board, who have invited comments on their proposal before February 5th, point out that the agreement with the Grenville Nursing Home Ltd was entered into by Devon County Council in 1946 and was taken over by the Board two years later. Under it general practitioners in Bideford have the use of 10 beds at the home for obstetrics. Use of the home, say the Board, has greatly diminished since the opening of the new maternity unit in Barnstaple and on average only three beds have been occupied at any one time.

The few patients delivered in the Grenville home, the Board add, could be accommodated at Barnstaple at substantially lower cost and in a modern building.

Originally Bideford General Hospital, the Grenville became a maternity home during World War II.

The managing director, Mr F Meadows, is in Spain and unavailable for comment.

At the home, which is overbooked in February and March, no official intimation has been received.

Gazette article dated 12 January 1973

Children Sent to Wrong Homes

Unfortunate mistake says hospital

19.2.1960 Wrong children

Mrs W J Gifford, of Buneham Cottage, Hartland, eagerly awaited the return of her two year old son, Andrew, from the North Devon Infirmary, Barnstaple, where he had been a patient.
When a car drew up outside the house she rushed to the door and opened it only to find the car driver and a small boy she had never seen before.
While Mrs Gifford was explaining to the driver it was not her son, a neighbour arrived to say that the hospital had telephoned that a mistake had been made.
The boy who had been taken to Hartland – 5 year old Kevin Veale, of the Cottage, Botreaux Mill, South Molton – had been driven 50 miles in the wrong direction.
Mr J C Woolley (secretary of the North Devon Hospital Committee) described the mistake in identities as ‘most unfortunate’.
The full Gazette article is dated 19 February 1960

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Please come back soon there will be lots to see here !!

 

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