• 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 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 2

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 3 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 4 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 5 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 6 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 7 Clovelly custom

  • 8 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 9 Six footed lamb

  • 10 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 11 New choral society's growing response

  • 12 Decontrol of meat

  • 13 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 14 First ship in 8 years

  • 15 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 16 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 17 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

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

  • 19 Emergency ferry services

  • 20 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 21 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 22 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 23 In their new robes and hats

  • 24 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 25 New art gallery opened

  • 26 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 27 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 28 Variety in summer weather

  • 29 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 30 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 31 New life for Hartland organ

  • 32 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 33 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 34 Simple Item 138
  • 35 Twenty-one yachts

  • 36 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 37 No sale of Springfield House

  • 38 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 39 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 40 New look in the hayfields

  • 41 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 42 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 43 Mobile missionary

  • 44 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 45 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 46 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 47 A story to tell!

  • 48 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 49 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 50 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 51 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 52 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 53 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 54 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 55 Can spring be far away?

  • 56 Out of puff!

  • 57 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 58 Off on a great adventure

  • 59 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 60 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 61 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 62 Appledore's largest

  • 63 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 64 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 65 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 66 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 67 Some 240 exhibits

  • 68 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 69 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 70 Colour TV salesman at eight

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

  • 72 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

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

  • 74 Picking the pops

  • 75 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 76 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 77 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 78 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 79

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 80 Loads of black and white

  • 81 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 82 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 83 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 84 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 85 Torrington in 1967

  • 86 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 87 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 88 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 89 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 90 New Lundy stamps

  • 91 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 92 What's the time?

  • 93 Circus comes to town

  • 94 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 95 Weare Giffard potato

  • 96 Hartland's invitation

  • 97 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

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

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

  • 100 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 101 He beat the floods

  • 102 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 103 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 104 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 105

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 106 Artisans' Club

  • 107 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 108 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 109 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 110 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 111 The art of the thatcher

  • 112 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 113 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 114

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 115 Penny for the guy

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

  • 117 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 118 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 119 Hartland postman retires

  • 120 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 121 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 122 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 123 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 124 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

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

  • 126 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 127 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 128 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 129 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 130

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 131 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 132 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 133 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 134 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 135 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 136 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 137 Puppet characters introduced

  • 138 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 139 Burnard family reunion

  • 140 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 141 Ships at Bideford

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

  • 143 Revenge in style

  • 144 New addition to Quay front

  • 145 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 146 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 147 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 148 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 149

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 150 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 151 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 152 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 153 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 154 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 155 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 156 The Geneva marionettes

  • 157 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 158

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 159 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 160 Service with a smile

  • 161 A man and his wheel

  • 162

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 163 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 164 A roof-top view - where?

  • 165 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 166

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 167 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 168 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 169 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 170 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 171 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

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

  • 173 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 174 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 175 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 176 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 177 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 178 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 179 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 180 So this is the mainland!

  • 181 New civic medallions

  • 182 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 183 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 184 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 185 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 186 New Post Office

  • 187 Picking the pops

  • 188 Littleham family's five generations

  • 189 Riverside mystery

  • 190 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 191 Bridging the stream

  • 192 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 193

    Bidefordians
  • 194

    New gateway
  • 195 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 196 School crossing patrol begins

  • 197 Torrington's new amenity

  • 198

    Married in 1908
  • 199 Clovelly nightmare

  • 200 Modern living at Bideford

  • 201 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 202 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 203

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 204 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 205 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 206 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 207 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 208 Last train from Torrington

  • 209 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 210 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 211 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 212

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 213 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 214 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 215 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 216 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 217 Life begins at 80

  • 218 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 219 North Devon Driving School

  • 220 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 221 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 222 Warmington's garage ad

  • 223 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 224 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 225 Some mushroom!

  • 226 Northam's almshouse

  • 227 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 228 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 229 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 230

    Building works
  • 231 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 232 Centenary of Gazette

  • 233 Finished in 1876

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

  • 235

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 236 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 237 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 238 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 239 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 240 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 241 Just over a year old

  • 242 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 243 It really was the 'last time'

  • 244 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 245

    Was a missionary
  • 246 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 247 Bideford regatta

  • 248 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 249 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 250 Recognise this resort?

  • 251 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 252 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 253 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 254 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 255 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 256 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 257 A bird of their own!

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

  • 259

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 260 Devil sent packing

  • 261

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 262 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 263 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 264 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 265 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 266 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 267

    Exhibition of school work
  • 268 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 269 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 270 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 271 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 272 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 273 113 years at Instow

  • 274

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 275 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 276 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 277 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 278 By pony and trap to market

  • 279 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 280 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 281

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 282 They are parted pro-tem

  • 283 Police station view of Bideford

  • 284 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 285 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 286 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 287 Private home for public pump

  • 288 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 289 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 290 Jumble sale fever

  • 291

    Relatives all over the world
  • 292 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 293

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 294 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 295 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 296 For crying out loud!

  • 297 School's link with cargo ship

  • 298 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 299 Cruising down the river

  • 300 All for the love of a lady!

  • 301 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 302 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 303 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 304 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 305 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 306 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 307 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 308 Pannier Market's future?

  • 309 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 310 Bideford computer stars

  • 311 Bideford loses training ship

  • 312

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 313 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 314 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 315 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 316 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 317

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 318 Waldon Triplets
  • 319

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 320 Northam footballers of the future

  • 321 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 322 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 323 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 324 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 325

    First prize
  • 326 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 327 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 328 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 329 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 330 Peter poses for TV film

  • 331 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 332 Happy Days!

  • 333 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 334 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 335 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 336 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 337 When horses score over the tractor

  • 338 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 339 Sight of a lifetime

  • 340 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 341 Capers on the cobbles

  • 342 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 343 Ten year old scrambler

  • 344 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 345 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 346 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 347 Torrington children build igloo
  • 348 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 349 What is future of railway goods yard?

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

  • 351 Parkham plan realised

  • 352

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 353

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 354

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 355 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 356 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 357 End of the line

  • 358 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 359

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 360

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 361 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 362 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 363 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 364 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 365 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 366 Traditions and skills still there

  • 367 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 368 Hartland Dancers
  • 369 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 370 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 371 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 372 All aboard the ark

  • 373 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 374 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 375 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 376 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 377 New shipyard on schedule

  • 378 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 379 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 380 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 381 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 382 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 383 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 384 No laughing matter

  • 385 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

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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  • 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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  • 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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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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New Gateway To King George’s Fields

This handsome new gateway to the Bideford Park extension, to be known as King George’s Fields, has recently made its appearance.

21.9.1951 Bideford new gates

It is perhaps not generally known that one of the conditions of the grant from the King George’s Fields Foundation towards the development of the park extension was that a suitable gateway to the fields should be erected bearing two approved plaques.

All the land to the north of this gateway and the one to the river bank opposite is King George’s Fields.

Gazette article dated 21 September 1951

About Us

Where Is It & Who Is It For?

Based in offices at Northam Town Council, 1 Windmill Lane, Northam, the Archive rents rooms on three floors which enables access for all members of the public. The addition of two fireproof safes enables the Archive to securely store films and microfiche. The Archive is open on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday between 9:30 - 1pm

Our visitors’ records identify hundreds of people including family and property historians, students preparing dissertation material, local writers and researchers, and social history groups. The Archive gives presentations to associations and clubs on local interest topics, and volunteers attend fairs and heritage days such as Bideford and Northam Fairs. We use social media and have a website, all of which are updated on a weekly basis.

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