• 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 Bideford computer stars

  • 2 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 3 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 4 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 5

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 6 Some mushroom!

  • 7 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 8 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

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

  • 10 Artisans' Club

  • 11 Clovelly nightmare

  • 12 Parkham plan realised

  • 13 Revenge in style

  • 14 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 15 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 16

    New gateway
  • 17

    Was a missionary
  • 18

    Relatives all over the world
  • 19 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 20 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 21 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 22 Torrington in 1967

  • 23 Modern living at Bideford

  • 24 Torrington's new amenity

  • 25 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 26 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 27 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 28 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 29 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 30

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 31 No sale of Springfield House

  • 32 Variety in summer weather

  • 33 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 34 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 35 First ship in 8 years

  • 36 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

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

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

  • 39 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 40 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 41 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 42 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 43 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 44 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 45 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 46 For crying out loud!

  • 47 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 48 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 49 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 50 Circus comes to town

  • 51 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 52 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 53

    Married in 1908
  • 54 New choral society's growing response

  • 55 Twenty-one yachts

  • 56 Can spring be far away?

  • 57

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 58 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 59 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 60 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 61 It really was the 'last time'

  • 62 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 63

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 64 Hartland postman retires

  • 65 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 66 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 67 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 68 Devil sent packing

  • 69 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 70 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 71 Torrington children build igloo
  • 72 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 73 Riverside mystery

  • 74 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 75 Capers on the cobbles

  • 76

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

  • 78 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 79 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 80 Puppet characters introduced

  • 81 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 82

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 83 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 84 A story to tell!

  • 85 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 86 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 87 Penny for the guy

  • 88 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 89 Happy Days!

  • 90 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 91 Picking the pops

  • 92 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 93 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 94 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 95 By pony and trap to market

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

  • 97 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 98 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 99 Hartland Dancers
  • 100 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 101 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 102 Emergency ferry services

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

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

  • 105 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 106 New addition to Quay front

  • 107 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 108 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 109 New Post Office

  • 110 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 111 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 112

    Building works
  • 113 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 114 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 115 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 116 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 117 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 118 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 119 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 120 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 121 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 122 Peter poses for TV film

  • 123 They are parted pro-tem

  • 124 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 125

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 126 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 127 School crossing patrol begins

  • 128 New civic medallions

  • 129 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 130 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 131 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 132 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 133 Out of puff!

  • 134 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 135 New art gallery opened

  • 136 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 137 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 138 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 139 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 140 Sight of a lifetime

  • 141 Last train from Torrington

  • 142

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 143 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 144 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 145 Northam footballers of the future

  • 146

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 147 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 148 Mobile missionary

  • 149 Traditions and skills still there

  • 150 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 151 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 152 Six footed lamb

  • 153 When horses score over the tractor

  • 154 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 155 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 156 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 157 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 158 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 159 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 160 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 161 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 162 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 163 Bideford regatta

  • 164

    First prize
  • 165 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 166 Littleham family's five generations

  • 167 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 168

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 169 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 170 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 171 Simple Item 138
  • 172 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 173 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 174 A man and his wheel

  • 175 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 176 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 177 113 years at Instow

  • 178 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 179 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 180 Pannier Market's future?

  • 181 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 182 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 183 Some 240 exhibits

  • 184 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 185 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 186 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 187 He beat the floods

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

  • 189 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 190 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 191 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 192 Bridging the stream

  • 193 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 194 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 195 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 196 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 197 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 198 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 199 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 200 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 201 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 202 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 203 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 204 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 205 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 206 Just over a year old

  • 207 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 208 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 209 All aboard the ark

  • 210 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 211 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 212 The Geneva marionettes

  • 213 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 214 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 215 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 216 Faints as she wins national competition

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

  • 218 Centenary of Gazette

  • 219 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 220 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 221 So this is the mainland!

  • 222 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 223 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 224 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 225 The art of the thatcher

  • 226 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 227 Ships at Bideford

  • 228 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 229 Ten year old scrambler

  • 230 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 231 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 232 Bideford loses training ship

  • 233 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 234 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 235 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 236 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 237 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 238 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 239 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 240 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 241 Clovelly custom

  • 242 Life begins at 80

  • 243 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 244 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 245 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 246 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 247 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 248

    Bidefordians
  • 249 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 250 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 251 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 252 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 253 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 254 Northam's almshouse

  • 255 Holiday scene near Sandymere

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

  • 257 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 258 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 259

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 260

    Exhibition of school work
  • 261 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 262 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 263 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 264 In their new robes and hats

  • 265 What's the time?

  • 266

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 267 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 268 New Lundy stamps

  • 269 Cruising down the river

  • 270

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 271 A roof-top view - where?

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

  • 273 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 274 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 275 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 276 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 277 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 278 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 279 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 280 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 281 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 282 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 283 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 284

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 285 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 286 Decontrol of meat

  • 287

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 288 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 289 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 290 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 291 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

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

  • 293 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 294 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 295 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 296 Police station view of Bideford

  • 297 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 298 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 299 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 300

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 301 North Devon Driving School

  • 302 Finished in 1876

  • 303 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 304 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 305 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 306 Loads of black and white

  • 307 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 308 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 309 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 310 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 311 Private home for public pump

  • 312 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 313 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 314 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 315 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 316 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 317 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 318 Appledore's largest

  • 319

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 320 Waldon Triplets
  • 321 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 322 Off on a great adventure

  • 323 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 324 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 325 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 326 Weare Giffard potato

  • 327 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 328 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 329 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 330 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 331 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 332 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 333

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 334 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 335 All for the love of a lady!

  • 336 Jumble sale fever

  • 337 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 338 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 339 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 340 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 341

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 342 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 343

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 344 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 345 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 346 End of the line

  • 347 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 348 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 349 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 350 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 351 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 352 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 353 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 354 Hartland's invitation

  • 355 Picking the pops

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

  • 357 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 358

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 359 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 360 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 361 New look in the hayfields

  • 362 A bird of their own!

  • 363 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 364 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 365 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 366

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 367 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 368 New shipyard on schedule

  • 369

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 370 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 371 New life for Hartland organ

  • 372 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 373 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 374 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 375

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 376 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 377 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 378

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 379 School's link with cargo ship

  • 380 Warmington's garage ad

  • 381 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 382 Recognise this resort?

  • 383 No laughing matter

  • 384 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 385 Burnard family reunion

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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  • 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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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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Some mushroom!

New admission to Bideford hospital

One of the latest ‘admissions’ to the Kingsley Hospital, Bideford, to receive care and attention is a mushroom.

31 August 1956 Some mushroom

It is believed to be a record size. Found by a member of the hospital staff in the corner of a nearby field, it weighs 1lb. ½ and is oblong in shape, measuring 11 inches by 8½ inches across the top. Its stalk is four inches long. Nurse P. Marshall is shown holding the mushroom in the picture. It provided the matron and staff with ‘delicious soup!’

Gazette article 31 August 1956

 

Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

Residence of one of Devon's oldest families

Nestling in a lovely and typical Devonshire combe that runs down to the coast west of Bideford, stands Portledge House, the residence of one of Devon’s oldest families, the Coffins.

31 August 1956 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

Historical records show that the family of Coffin – the name is now Pine-Coffin - has been associated with Portledge and the parish and village of Alwington since the time of William the Conqueror.

Gazette article 31 August 1956

 

 

Clovelly’s 91 year old horseman

One of Devon's oldest horsemen

One of North Devon’s oldest horsemen is 91 year old Mr Lewis Grills, of Brownsham Cottage, Clovelly, seen here with his 18 year old pony Polly on a visit to blacksmith Mr H. Conibear of Hartland.

24 August 1956 Clovellys 91 year old horseman

It was eleven years ago this Lady Day that he retired after farming at Brownsham for some forty years and was succeeded by his son, Mr H. Grills.

Gazette article 24 August 1956

 

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