• 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 A man and his wheel

  • 2 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 3 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 4 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 5 School crossing patrol begins

  • 6 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 7 Bideford regatta

  • 8 No sale of Springfield House

  • 9 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 10 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 11 Torrington in 1967

  • 12 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 13

    Married in 1908
  • 14 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 15 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 16 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 17 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 18 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 19

    New gateway
  • 20 Littleham family's five generations

  • 21 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 22 Hartland Dancers
  • 23 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 24 Clovelly custom

  • 25 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 26

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 27 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 28 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 29 First ship in 8 years

  • 30 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 31 Jumble sale fever

  • 32 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 33 Private home for public pump

  • 34 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 35 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 36 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 37 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 38 It really was the 'last time'

  • 39 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 40 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 41 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 42

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 43 New civic medallions

  • 44 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 45 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 46 Clovelly nightmare

  • 47 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 48 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 49 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 50 Weare Giffard potato

  • 51 So this is the mainland!

  • 52 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

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

  • 54 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 55 Warmington's garage ad

  • 56 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 57 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 58 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 59 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 60 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 61 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 62 Decontrol of meat

  • 63 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 64 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 65 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 66 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 67 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 68 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 69 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 70 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 71 Some 240 exhibits

  • 72 Police station view of Bideford

  • 73 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 74 Happy Days!

  • 75 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 76 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 77 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 78

    Bidefordians
  • 79

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 80 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 81 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 82 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 83 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 84 Peter poses for TV film

  • 85 Off on a great adventure

  • 86 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 87 New Post Office

  • 88 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 89 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 90 Recognise this resort?

  • 91 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 92 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 93

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 94 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 95 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 96 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 97 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 98 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 99 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 100 They are parted pro-tem

  • 101 In their new robes and hats

  • 102 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 103 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 104 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 105 Centenary of Gazette

  • 106 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 107 North Devon Driving School

  • 108 For crying out loud!

  • 109 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 110 Northam's almshouse

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

  • 112 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 113 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 114 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 115 Burnard family reunion

  • 116 New addition to Quay front

  • 117 Life begins at 80

  • 118 He beat the floods

  • 119 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 120 Bideford computer stars

  • 121 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 122 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 123 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 124 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 125 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 126 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 127 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 128 Loads of black and white

  • 129 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 130 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 131 Revenge in style

  • 132 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 133 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 134

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 135 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 136

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 137 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 138 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 139 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 140 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 141 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 142 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 143 Some mushroom!

  • 144 Northam footballers of the future

  • 145

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 146 113 years at Instow

  • 147 No laughing matter

  • 148 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 149 Bideford loses training ship

  • 150 Mobile missionary

  • 151 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 152 Sight of a lifetime

  • 153 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 154 Emergency ferry services

  • 155 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 156 Finished in 1876

  • 157 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 158 New shipyard on schedule

  • 159 Ships at Bideford

  • 160 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 161 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 162 Torrington children build igloo
  • 163 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 164

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 165 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 166 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 167 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 168

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 169 End of the line

  • 170 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 171 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 172 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 173 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 174 Traditions and skills still there

  • 175 The art of the thatcher

  • 176 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 177 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 178 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 179 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

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

  • 181 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 182 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 183 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 184 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 185 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 186 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 187 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 188 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 189

    Exhibition of school work
  • 190 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 191 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 192 New art gallery opened

  • 193 Bridging the stream

  • 194 Circus comes to town

  • 195 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 196

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 197 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 198 Parkham plan realised

  • 199 All aboard the ark

  • 200 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 201 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 202 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 203 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 204 When horses score over the tractor

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

  • 206 Six footed lamb

  • 207 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 208 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 209 New choral society's growing response

  • 210 Out of puff!

  • 211 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 212 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 213

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 214 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

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

  • 216 New look in the hayfields

  • 217 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 218 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

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

  • 220 Simple Item 138
  • 221 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 222 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 223 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 224 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 225 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 226 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 227 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 228 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 229 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 230

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 231 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 232 Hartland postman retires

  • 233 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 234 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 235 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 236

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 237 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 238 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 239 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 240 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 241 Puppet characters introduced

  • 242 Ten year old scrambler

  • 243 Can spring be far away?

  • 244 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 245 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 246 Beach search for mines takes longer

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

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

  • 249 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 250 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 251 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 252 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 253 Appledore's largest

  • 254 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 255 Riverside mystery

  • 256 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 257 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 258 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 259 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 260 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 261 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 262 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 263 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 264 New life for Hartland organ

  • 265 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 266 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 267 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 268 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 269 Artisans' Club

  • 270 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 271 What's the time?

  • 272 Penny for the guy

  • 273 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 274 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 275 Service with a smile

  • 276 Just over a year old

  • 277 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 278

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 279 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 280

    Was a missionary
  • 281 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 282 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 283 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 284 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 285 Twenty-one yachts

  • 286 Pannier Market's future?

  • 287 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 288 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 289 A roof-top view - where?

  • 290 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 291 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 292 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 293

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 294 Modern living at Bideford

  • 295 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 296

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 297 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 298 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 299 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 300

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 301 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 302 Capers on the cobbles

  • 303

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 304 Hartland's invitation

  • 305 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 306 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 307 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

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

  • 309 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 310

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 311 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 312 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 313 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 314 Landmark at Bradworthy

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

  • 316 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 317

    First prize
  • 318 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 319

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 320 New Lundy stamps

  • 321 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 322 The Geneva marionettes

  • 323 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 324 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 325 Torrington's new amenity

  • 326 Picking the pops

  • 327 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 328 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 329 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 330

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 331 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 332 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 333 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 334 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 335 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 336 New Estate's view of estuary activities

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

  • 338

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 339 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 340 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 341 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 342 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 343 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 344 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 345 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 346 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 347 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 348 Cruising down the river

  • 349 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 350 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 351 Devil sent packing

  • 352

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 353 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 354

    Building works
  • 355 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 356

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 357 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 358 Last train from Torrington

  • 359 All for the love of a lady!

  • 360 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 361 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 362 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 363 A story to tell!

  • 364

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 365 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 366 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 367 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 368 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 369 Waldon Triplets
  • 370 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 371 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 372

    Relatives all over the world
  • 373 By pony and trap to market

  • 374 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 375 Variety in summer weather

  • 376 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 377 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 378 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 379 School's link with cargo ship

  • 380 A bird of their own!

  • 381 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 382 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 383 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 384 Picking the pops

  • 385 Faints as she wins national competition

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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  • 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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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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Eleven million pound scheme’s official opening

East Yelland power station makes its bow!

The new electricity power station at East Yelland was officially opened by Lord Fortescue, the Lord Lieutenant of the County on 21st April.

When completed the station will burn 365,000 tons of coal a year which comes from South Wales on regular journeys. The ships are rapidly unloaded by mechanical conveyers, the river water is drawn in to cool the station and the coal descends from huge hoppers into the furnaces. From the steam created in the boilers, the large turbines and generators provide an enormous supply of current to meet the needs of North Devon and pour into the grid network of general supply.

22 April 1955 11 million schemes official opening

From this control room flows the current that at full load will supply all the needs for industrial and domestic power and lighting for North Devon and a much larger area beyond.

Gazette article 22 April 1955

 

Bideford stock-car racing entry comes in second

Mr Blight sets off to Plymouth

Cheerful send-off impression of Mr William Jack Blight of the Garage, New Road, Bideford, as he sets off for Plymouth Stadium to face over 13,000 spectators and to bash his way through to second place in his heat at the stock-car race meeting.

15 April 1955 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

The above car is a Ford V8 28 h.p. saloon ‘Blighty’s Blue Devil’ and has been stripped and braced inside with steel tubing and girders and has special bumpers fitted fore and aft. The outside is painted in Mr Blight’s special ‘kangaroo blue’.

Gazette article 15 April 1955

 

 

Torrington to have its first woman mayor

Miss Florence L. Lake accepts Council’s unanimous invitation

For the first time in its history Torrington will have a woman as Mayor when Miss Florence L. Lake, the only woman ever to have been elected to the Borough Council, takes office in May.

7 April 1955 Torrington to have first woman mayor

Miss Lake first joined the Council in November 1946 and, after losing her seat in the 1953 elections, was returned to the Council in May of last year. She sits on a number of Council committees and her service in those cases where the woman’s point of view has to be studied, have proved invaluable.

Gazette article 7 April 1955

 

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