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

  • 2

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 3 Loads of black and white

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

  • 5 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 6 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 7 A bird of their own!

  • 8 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 9 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 10 Artisans' Club

  • 11 Appledore's largest

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

  • 13 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 14

    Was a missionary
  • 15 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 16 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 17 New look in the hayfields

  • 18 Recognise this resort?

  • 19 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 20

    Bidefordians
  • 21 Bideford loses training ship

  • 22 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 23 Sweets derationing

  • 24 New shipyard on schedule

  • 25 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 26 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 27 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 28 Calligrapher extraordinary

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

  • 30 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 31 Some mushroom!

  • 32 Ten year old scrambler

  • 33 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 34 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 35 Sight of a lifetime

  • 36

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 37 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 38 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 39 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 40 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 41 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 42 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

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

  • 44 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 45

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 46 Happy Days!

  • 47 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 48 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 49 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 50 A sense of humour in advertising

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

  • 52 Riverside mystery

  • 53 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 54 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 55 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 56 Mobile missionary

  • 57 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 58 No laughing matter

  • 59 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 60 Torrington in 1967

  • 61 A roof-top view - where?

  • 62

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 63 New Lundy stamps

  • 64 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 65 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 66 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

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

  • 68 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 69 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 70 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 71 Traditions and skills still there

  • 72 A man and his wheel

  • 73 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 74 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 75

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 76 Bridging the stream

  • 77 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 78 Capers on the cobbles

  • 79 Off on a great adventure

  • 80 Variety in summer weather

  • 81 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 82 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 83 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 84 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 85 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 86 Peter poses for TV film

  • 87 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 88 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 89 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 90 By pony and trap to market

  • 91 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 92 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 93 Hartland Dancers
  • 94 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 95 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 96 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 97 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 98 They are parted pro-tem

  • 99

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 100 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 101 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 102 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 103 For crying out loud!

  • 104 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 105 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 106 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 107 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 108 Finished in 1876

  • 109 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 110 First ship in 8 years

  • 111 It really was the 'last time'

  • 112 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 113 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 114 In their new robes and hats

  • 115 Six footed lamb

  • 116 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 117 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 118 Ships at Bideford

  • 119 School's link with cargo ship

  • 120 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 121 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 122 Penny for the guy

  • 123 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 124 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 125 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 126 Torrington children build igloo
  • 127 Parkham plan realised

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

  • 129

    First prize
  • 130 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 131 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 132 Cruising down the river

  • 133 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 134 Hartland's invitation

  • 135 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 136 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 137 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 138 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 139

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 140 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

  • 141 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 142 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 143 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 144 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 145

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 146 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 147 Warmington's garage ad

  • 148 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 149

    Exhibition of school work
  • 150 Northam's almshouse

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

  • 152 Life begins at 80

  • 153 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 154 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

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

  • 156 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 157 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 158 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 159 Pannier Market's future?

  • 160 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 161 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 162 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 163 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 164 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 165 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 166

    Building works
  • 167 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 168 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 169

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 170 Picking the pops

  • 171 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 172 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 173 When horses score over the tractor

  • 174 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 175 Puppet characters introduced

  • 176 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 177 Police station view of Bideford

  • 178 Northam footballers of the future

  • 179 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 180 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 181 Decontrol of meat

  • 182 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 183 New art gallery opened

  • 184 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 185 New life for Hartland organ

  • 186 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 187

    Relatives all over the world
  • 188 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 189 Bideford regatta

  • 190 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 191 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 192 Circus comes to town

  • 193 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 194 Simple Item 138
  • 195 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 196 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 197 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 198 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 199 Can spring be far away?

  • 200

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 201 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 202 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 203 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 204 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 205 New addition to Quay front

  • 206 Clovelly custom

  • 207 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 208 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 209 New choral society's growing response

  • 210 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 211

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 212

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 213 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 214 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 215 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 216 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 217 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 218 Littleham family's five generations

  • 219 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 220 Emergency ferry services

  • 221 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 222 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 223 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 224 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 225 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 226 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

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

  • 228 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 229 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 230 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 231 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 232 113 years at Instow

  • 233 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 234 Private home for public pump

  • 235 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 236 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 237 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 238 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 239 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 240 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 241 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 242 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 243 Clovelly nightmare

  • 244 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 245 School crossing patrol begins

  • 246 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 247 Hartland postman retires

  • 248 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 249 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 250 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 251 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 252 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 253 Filming at Hartland

  • 254 Picking the pops

  • 255 All for the love of a lady!

  • 256 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 257 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 258 Service with a smile

  • 259 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 260 From Bobby to Brian

  • 261 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 262 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 263 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 264 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 265

    New gateway
  • 266 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

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

  • 268 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 269 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 270 North Devon Driving School

  • 271 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 272 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 273 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 274 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 275 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 276 Weare Giffard potato

  • 277 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 278 Out of puff!

  • 279

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 280 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 281 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 282

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 283 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 284 Devil sent packing

  • 285 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 286 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 287 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 288 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 289 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 290

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 291 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 292 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 293

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 294 So this is the mainland!

  • 295 Bideford computer stars

  • 296 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 297 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 298 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 299 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 300 Twenty-one yachts

  • 301 Burnard family reunion

  • 302 The Geneva marionettes

  • 303

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 304 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 305 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 306 No sale of Springfield House

  • 307 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 308 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 309 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 310 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 311 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 312 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 313 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 314 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 315 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 316 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 317 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 318 Centenary of Gazette

  • 319 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 320 A story to tell!

  • 321 Some 240 exhibits

  • 322 Last train from Torrington

  • 323 Modern living at Bideford

  • 324 New Post Office

  • 325 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 326 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 327 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 328 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 329 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 330 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 331 End of the line

  • 332 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 333

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 334 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 335 First steel ship built at Bideford

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

  • 337

    Married in 1908
  • 338 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 339 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 340 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 341 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 342 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 343 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 344 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 345 Waldon Triplets
  • 346 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 347 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 348

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 349 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 350 He beat the floods

  • 351

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 352 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 353 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 354

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 355 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 356 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 357 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 358 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 359 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 360 Just over a year old

  • 361 Torrington's new amenity

  • 362 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 363 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 364

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 365 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 366

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 367 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 368 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 369 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 370 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 371 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 372 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 373 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 374 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 375 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 376 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 377

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 378 Revenge in style

  • 379 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 380 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 381 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 382 The cab at the corner>
  • 383 New civic medallions

  • 384 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 385 What's the time?

  • 386 The art of the thatcher

  • 387 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 388 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 389 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 390 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 391 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 392 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 393 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 394 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 395 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 396 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 397 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 398 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 399 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 400 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 401 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 402 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 403 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 404 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 405 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 406 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 407 All aboard the ark

  • 408

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 409 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 410 Jumble sale fever

  • 411 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 412 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 413 Success to Festival of the Arts

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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Loads of Black and White

Bideford coal merchants beat rail strike

Although the district receives its house coal by ship, boiler fuels for cookers etc. normally come by rail. In order to overcome difficulties caused by the rail strike, a Bideford firm of coal merchants, Messr. Littlejohns Brothers sent three lorries to Cardiff last week to seek additional supplies of this type of fuel, the demand for which does not drop as much in the summer as that for ordinary house coal.

10 June 1955 Loads of black and white

The lorries left on Thursday morning and returned in the early hours of Saturday morning with about 17 tons of boiler fuel which, it was stated, had eased the situation for this week.

Gazette article 10 June 1955

 

Bicycle now does donkey work

New refuse arrangements at Clovelly

Mr William Headon who had undertaken duties of refuse collector at Clovelly has devised a system of using a pedal cycle and panniers to overcome the difficulties of this task up and down the cobbled steps of the picturesque but steep High Street.

27 May 1955 Bicycle now does donkey work

Refuse collecting duties were formerly carried out by Mr Cecil Braund with his donkey Paul. When Paul died earlier in the year Mr Braund intimated he wished to relinquish his appointment.

Gazette article 27 May 1955

 

 

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

 

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