• 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 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 2 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 3 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 4

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 5 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 6 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 7 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 8 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 9 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 10 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 11 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 12 What's the time?

  • 13 Clovelly custom

  • 14 When horses score over the tractor

  • 15 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 16 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 17 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 18 No sale of Springfield House

  • 19 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 20 Just over a year old

  • 21 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 22 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 23 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 24 New Lundy stamps

  • 25 Torrington in 1967

  • 26 Hartland Dancers
  • 27 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 28 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 29 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 30 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 31 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 32 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 33 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 34 Finished in 1876

  • 35 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 36 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 37 Decontrol of meat

  • 38 New Post Office

  • 39 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 40 Clovelly nightmare

  • 41 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 42

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 43 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 44 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 45 Picking the pops

  • 46 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 47 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 48 North Devon Driving School

  • 49 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 50 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 51 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 52 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 53 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 54 He beat the floods

  • 55 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 56 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

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

  • 58 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 59 Weare Giffard potato

  • 60 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 61 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 62 A roof-top view - where?

  • 63 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 64 Capers on the cobbles

  • 65 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 66 Littleham family's five generations

  • 67 New life for Hartland organ

  • 68 Modern living at Bideford

  • 69 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 70 School crossing patrol begins

  • 71 Variety in summer weather

  • 72 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 73 Twenty-one yachts

  • 74 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 75 Sight of a lifetime

  • 76 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 77 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 78 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 79 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 80 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 81 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 82 All for the love of a lady!

  • 83 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 84 Parkham plan realised

  • 85 Hartland postman retires

  • 86 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 87 A bird of their own!

  • 88 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 89 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 90 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 91 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 92 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 93

    Building works
  • 94 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 95

    Bidefordians
  • 96 Puppet characters introduced

  • 97 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 98 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 99 Appledore's largest

  • 100 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

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

  • 102 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 103 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 104 Centenary of Gazette

  • 105 Service with a smile

  • 106 Ships at Bideford

  • 107 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 108 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 109 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 110 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 111 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 112 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 113 Recognise this resort?

  • 114 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 115 Out of puff!

  • 116 They are parted pro-tem

  • 117 Some 240 exhibits

  • 118 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

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

  • 120 A sense of humour in advertising

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

  • 122 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 123 In their new robes and hats

  • 124 Getting up steam for tomorrow

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

  • 126 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 127 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 128 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 129 Can spring be far away?

  • 130 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 131 New choral society's growing response

  • 132 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 133 New look in the hayfields

  • 134 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 135 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 136 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 137 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 138 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 139 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 140 Northam's almshouse

  • 141 A story to tell!

  • 142 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 143 Simple Item 138
  • 144 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 145 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 146 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 147

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 148 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 149 Ten year old scrambler

  • 150 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 151 Sooty is quick on the draw

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

  • 153 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 154 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 155 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 156 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 157 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 158 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 159 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 160 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 161

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 162 Waldon Triplets
  • 163 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 164 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 165 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 166 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 167 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 168 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 169 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 170 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 171 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 172 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 173 Happy Days!

  • 174 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 175 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 176 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 177 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 178 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 179 The art of the thatcher

  • 180 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 181 Bideford loses training ship

  • 182 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 183 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 184

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 185 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 186 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 187 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 188

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 189 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 190 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 191 All aboard the ark

  • 192 Six footed lamb

  • 193 Life begins at 80

  • 194 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 195 New shipyard on schedule

  • 196

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 197 School's link with cargo ship

  • 198 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 199 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 200 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 201

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 202 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 203 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 204 Devil sent packing

  • 205

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 206 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 207 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 208 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 209

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 210 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 211 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 212

    First prize
  • 213 Northam footballers of the future

  • 214 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 215 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 216 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 217 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 218 Mobile missionary

  • 219 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 220 First ship in 8 years

  • 221 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 222 Emergency ferry services

  • 223 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 224 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 225 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 226 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 227 Revenge in style

  • 228 River scenes that enchant the visitors

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

  • 230 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 231 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 232 Traditions and skills still there

  • 233 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 234 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 235

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 236 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 237 New art gallery opened

  • 238 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 239 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 240 Burnard family reunion

  • 241 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 242 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 243 Circus comes to town

  • 244 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 245 Some mushroom!

  • 246 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 247 So this is the mainland!

  • 248 Peter poses for TV film

  • 249 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 250 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 251 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 252 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 253 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 254 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 255 Torrington children build igloo
  • 256 Hartland's invitation

  • 257 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 258 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 259

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 260 Bideford - as Rowlandson saw it about 1810-15

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

  • 262 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 263 By pony and trap to market

  • 264 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 265 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 266 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 267 Bridging the stream

  • 268 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 269

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 270 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 271 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 272 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 273

    Exhibition of school work
  • 274

    Relatives all over the world
  • 275 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 276 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 277 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 278

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 279

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 280 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 281 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 282 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 283 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 284 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 285 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 286 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

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

  • 288 Off on a great adventure

  • 289 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 290 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 291 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 292 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 293 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 294 New addition to Quay front

  • 295 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 296 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 297 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 298 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 299 Riverside mystery

  • 300 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 301

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 302 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 303 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 304 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 305 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 306 Artisans' Club

  • 307

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 308 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 309

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 310 Loads of black and white

  • 311 Bideford computer stars

  • 312 For crying out loud!

  • 313 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 314 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 315 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 316 No laughing matter

  • 317 Pannier Market's future?

  • 318 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 319 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 320 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 321 Little 'Big Ben'

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

  • 323 Penny for the guy

  • 324 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 325 Police station view of Bideford

  • 326

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 327 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 328 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 329 Warmington's garage ad

  • 330 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 331 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 332 Bideford regatta

  • 333 Torrington's new amenity

  • 334 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 335 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 336 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 337 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 338 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 339 Jumble sale fever

  • 340 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 341 It really was the 'last time'

  • 342

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 343 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 344 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 345 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 346 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 347 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 348 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 349 The Geneva marionettes

  • 350

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 351

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 352 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 353 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 354 New civic medallions

  • 355 113 years at Instow

  • 356 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 357 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 358 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 359 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 360 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 361 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 362 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 363

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 364 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 365 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 366 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 367

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 368 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 369 Picking the pops

  • 370 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 371 End of the line

  • 372

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 373 Cruising down the river

  • 374 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 375 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 376 A man and his wheel

  • 377 Private home for public pump

  • 378 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 379 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 380

    Married in 1908
  • 381 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 382 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 383

    Was a missionary
  • 384

    New gateway
  • 385 Last train from Torrington

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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  • 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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  • 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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Centuries old but today busier than ever

Orleigh – last of Yeo Mills

The only industrial building in the whole of Bideford Rural District is Orleigh Mill which today is producing more than it has ever done in its centuries of existence.

24 August 1956 Centuries old but today busier than ever

Mr R.T. (‘Dick’) Sanders whose family have operated the mill for a century is the fourth in the family line of succession. It is the last of a number of mills that used to be worked in the Yeo valley.

Gazette article 24 August 1956

 

Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

Pat Smythe and Wilf White

Two of the greatest show jumping riders in Britain – Pat Smythe and Wilf White – both Olympic bronze medallists – will be among those competing at this year’s Bideford and District Horse Show, to be held at Porthill on Wednesday next.

17 August 1956 Olympic riders to compete

This, the oldest purely horse show in the Westcountry, is the 118th in the series, a wonderful record.

Gazette article 17 August 1956

 

Open-air art exhibition by ‘under 40’ group

New group of young artists in Bideford

A new association of young artists known as the Waterside Group has been formed in Bideford. To qualify for membership of the group an artist must be under 40. The group has held its first open-air exhibition. Paintings were hung on the park railings in the hope of attracting people who would not normally go inside an art gallery.

Explained a member: ‘Our idea is to exhibit paintings here on the river bank which will produce a positive reaction and not just conventional admiration for a pretty-pretty picture. We want to bring art in the modern style to the attention of ordinary people. We hope even the Teddy Boys will stop and have a look when they come along’.

29 June 1956 Open air exhibition by under 40 group

Those exhibiting were Brian Chugg, Barbara Vincent, June Strick, Josephine Spence, Mary Chugg, Jan Reynolds and Ken Doughty.

Gazette article 29 June 1956

 

 

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