• 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 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 2 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 3 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 4 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 5 Some mushroom!

  • 6 New Lundy stamps

  • 7 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 8 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 9 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 10 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 11 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 12 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 13

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 14 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 15 Artisans' Club

  • 16 Emergency ferry services

  • 17 They are parted pro-tem

  • 18 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 19 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 20 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 21 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 22 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 23 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 24 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 25 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 26

    New gateway
  • 27 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 28 Burnard family reunion

  • 29 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 30

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 31 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 32 Private home for public pump

  • 33

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 34 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 35 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 36 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 37 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 38 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 39

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 40 A story to tell!

  • 41 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 42 Bideford loses training ship

  • 43 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 44 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 45 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 46 Little 'Big Ben'

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

  • 48 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 49 All aboard the ark

  • 50 Centenary of Gazette

  • 51 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 52 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 53 Hartland postman retires

  • 54

    Building works
  • 55 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 56 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 57 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 58 Just over a year old

  • 59 A man and his wheel

  • 60 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 61 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 62 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 63 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 64 In their new robes and hats

  • 65 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 66 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 67 First steel ship built at Bideford

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

  • 69 Police station view of Bideford

  • 70 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

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

  • 72 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 73 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 74 Service with a smile

  • 75 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 76 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 77 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 78 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 79 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 80 Sight of a lifetime

  • 81 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 82 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 83 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 84 School crossing patrol begins

  • 85 New shipyard on schedule

  • 86 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 87 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 88 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 89 New Post Office

  • 90 Hartland's invitation

  • 91 Simple Item 138
  • 92 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 93 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 94 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 95 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 96 Loads of black and white

  • 97 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 98 New Lundy air-mail stamps

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

  • 100 The art of the thatcher

  • 101 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 102

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 103 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 104 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 105 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 106 Hartland Dancers
  • 107 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 108 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 109 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 110 Picking the pops

  • 111 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 112 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 113 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 114 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 115 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 116 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 117 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 118 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 119 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 120 Picking the pops

  • 121 So this is the mainland!

  • 122 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 123 Parkham plan realised

  • 124

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 125

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 126 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 127 Life begins at 80

  • 128 Water Board mains spread through villages

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

  • 130 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 131 A bird of their own!

  • 132 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 133 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 134 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 135 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 136 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 137 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 138 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 139 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 140 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 141 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 142 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 143 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 144 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 145 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 146 Decontrol of meat

  • 147 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 148 Some 240 exhibits

  • 149 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 150 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 151 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 152 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 153 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 154 Weare Giffard potato

  • 155 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 156 New choral society's growing response

  • 157 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 158 The Geneva marionettes

  • 159

    Married in 1908
  • 160 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 161 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 162 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 163 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 164 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 165 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 166 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 167 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 168 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 169 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 170 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 171 No sale of Springfield House

  • 172

    Was a missionary
  • 173 End of the line

  • 174 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 175

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 176 For crying out loud!

  • 177 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 178 When horses score over the tractor

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

  • 180 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 181 Sweets derationing

  • 182 What's the time?

  • 183 The cab at the corner>
  • 184 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 185 Off on a great adventure

  • 186 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 187 New addition to Quay front

  • 188 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 189 From Bobby to Brian

  • 190

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 191 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 192 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 193 Last train from Torrington

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

  • 195 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 196 Circus comes to town

  • 197

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 198 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 199 Warmington's garage ad

  • 200 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 201 Ships at Bideford

  • 202 Bideford regatta

  • 203 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 204 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 205 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 206 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 207

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 208 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 209 No laughing matter

  • 210 A roof-top view - where?

  • 211 Making way for the double-deckers

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

  • 213 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 214 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 215 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 216 He beat the floods

  • 217 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 218 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 219 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 220 First ship in 8 years

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

  • 222 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 223 Recognise this resort?

  • 224 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 225 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 226 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 227 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 228 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 229 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 230 Six footed lamb

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

  • 232 Penny for the guy

  • 233 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 234 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 235 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 236 Riverside mystery

  • 237 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 238 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 239 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 240 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 241 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 242 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 243 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 244 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 245 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 246 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 247 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 248 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 249 Finished in 1876

  • 250 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 251 Cruising down the river

  • 252 Torrington children build igloo
  • 253 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 254 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 255

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 256 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 257 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 258 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 259 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 260 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 261 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 262 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 263 Northam footballers of the future

  • 264 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 265 Clovelly nightmare

  • 266 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 267 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 268 Mobile missionary

  • 269 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 270 Can spring be far away?

  • 271

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 272 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 273 Bridging the stream

  • 274 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 275 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 276 All for the love of a lady!

  • 277 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 278 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 279 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 280 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 281 New life for Hartland organ

  • 282 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 283

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 284 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 285 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 286 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 287 North Devon Driving School

  • 288

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 289 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 290 Capers on the cobbles

  • 291 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 292

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 293 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 294 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 295 Happy Days!

  • 296 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 297 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 298 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 299 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 300 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 301 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 302 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 303 Peter poses for TV film

  • 304 By pony and trap to market

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

  • 306 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 307 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 308 Filming at Hartland

  • 309 Traditions and skills still there

  • 310

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 311 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 312 Waldon Triplets
  • 313 Ten year old scrambler

  • 314 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 315 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 316 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 317 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 318 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 319 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 320 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 321 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 322 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 323 Bideford computer stars

  • 324 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

  • 325 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 326 New look in the hayfields

  • 327 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 328 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 329

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 330

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 331 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 332 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 333 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 334 Modern living at Bideford

  • 335 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 336 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 337 Torrington's new amenity

  • 338 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 339 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 340 Appledore's largest

  • 341 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 342 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

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

  • 344 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 345 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 346 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 347 Devil sent packing

  • 348 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 349 Twenty-one yachts

  • 350 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 351 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 352 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 353 Revenge in style

  • 354 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 355

    Relatives all over the world
  • 356 Out of puff!

  • 357 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 358

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 359 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 360 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 361 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 362

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 363 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 364 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 365 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 366 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 367 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 368 School's link with cargo ship

  • 369 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 370 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 371 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 372 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 373 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 374 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 375 Puppet characters introduced

  • 376 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 377 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 378 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 379 Pannier Market's future?

  • 380 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 381 Success to Festival of the Arts

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

  • 383 It really was the 'last time'

  • 384 Clovelly custom

  • 385 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 386 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 387

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 388 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 389

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 390 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 391 Jumble sale fever

  • 392 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 393

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 394 Variety in summer weather

  • 395 Northam's almshouse

  • 396 New art gallery opened

  • 397 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 398 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 399 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 400 Torrington in 1967

  • 401 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 402 Littleham family's five generations

  • 403 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 404 113 years at Instow

  • 405 New civic medallions

  • 406 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 407

    Bidefordians
  • 408 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 409 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 410

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

  • 412

    First prize
  • 413

    Lenwood Squash Club
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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  • 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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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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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

 

Appledore tugs fete London Tower!

Appledore tugs on show in London

These Appledore-built tugs ‘Prestwick’ and ‘George V’ were ‘on inspection at Tower Pier, London, last week, built for exclusive use on the Thames. Up to 100 tug owners from leading British and some Continental ports came to appraise the new design of these vessels and Mr Gordon Harris, director and manager of Messrs. P.K. Harris and Sons, Appledore, hoped to have good news shortly of further orders.

 

1 April 1955 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

Gazette article 1 April 1955

 

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