• 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 Recognise this resort?

  • 2 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 3 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 4 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 5 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 6 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 7 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 8 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 9 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 10

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 11 New art gallery opened

  • 12 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 13 A bird of their own!

  • 14 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 15 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 16 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 17 For crying out loud!

  • 18

    Exhibition of school work
  • 19 Appledore's largest

  • 20 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 21 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 22 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 23 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 24 It really was the 'last time'

  • 25 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 26 Torrington in 1967

  • 27 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 28 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 29 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 30 School crossing patrol begins

  • 31 Parkham plan realised

  • 32 New choral society's growing response

  • 33 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 34 Bridging the stream

  • 35 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 36 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 37 School's link with cargo ship

  • 38 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 39 The Geneva marionettes

  • 40 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 41 Northam's almshouse

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

  • 43 New addition to Quay front

  • 44 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 45 Hartland postman retires

  • 46 New Lundy stamps

  • 47 Jumble sale fever

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

  • 49 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 50 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 51 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 52 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 53

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 54

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 55 Littleham family's five generations

  • 56 Loads of black and white

  • 57 First ship in 8 years

  • 58 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 59 Mobile missionary

  • 60 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 61 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 62 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 63 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 64 A lost Bideford 'island'

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

  • 66 Artisans' Club

  • 67 Out of puff!

  • 68 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

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

  • 70 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 71 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 72 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 73 What's the time?

  • 74 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 75 New Post Office

  • 76 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 77 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 78

    First prize
  • 79 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 80 They are parted pro-tem

  • 81 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 82 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 83 Burnard family reunion

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

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

  • 86 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 87 Private home for public pump

  • 88 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 89

    Married in 1908
  • 90 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 91 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 92 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 93 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 94 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 95 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 96 Centenary of Gazette

  • 97 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 98 Finished in 1876

  • 99

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 100

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 101 All aboard the ark

  • 102 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 103 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 104 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 105

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 106 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 107 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 108 The art of the thatcher

  • 109 Some 240 exhibits

  • 110 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 111 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 112 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 113 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 114 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 115 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 116 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 117 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 118 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 119 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 120 So this is the mainland!

  • 121 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 122 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 123 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 124 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 125 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 126 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 127 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 128

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 129 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 130 Circus comes to town

  • 131 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 132

    Bidefordians
  • 133 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 134 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 135 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 136 Six footed lamb

  • 137 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 138 By pony and trap to market

  • 139 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 140 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 141 Sight of a lifetime

  • 142 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 143 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 144 End of the line

  • 145 Emergency ferry services

  • 146 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 147 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 148 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 149 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 150 Can spring be far away?

  • 151 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 152 All for the love of a lady!

  • 153 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 154 Service with a smile

  • 155 Ships at Bideford

  • 156 Variety in summer weather

  • 157 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 158 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 159 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 160 A story to tell!

  • 161

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 162 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 163 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 164 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 165

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 166 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 167 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 168 Northam footballers of the future

  • 169

    New gateway
  • 170 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 171 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 172 Warmington's garage ad

  • 173 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 174 When horses score over the tractor

  • 175 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 176 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 177 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 178 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 179 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 180 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 181 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 182

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 183 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 184 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 185

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 186 Simple Item 138
  • 187 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 188 Traditions and skills still there

  • 189 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 190 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 191 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 192 Off on a great adventure

  • 193

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 194 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 195

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 196

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 197

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 198 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 199 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 200 Devil sent packing

  • 201 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 202 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 203 A roof-top view - where?

  • 204 Clovelly custom

  • 205 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 206 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 207 Pannier Market's future?

  • 208

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 209 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 210 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 211 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 212 Capers on the cobbles

  • 213 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 214 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 215 Life begins at 80

  • 216 New shipyard on schedule

  • 217 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 218 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 219 Cruising down the river

  • 220 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 221 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 222 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 223 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 224 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 225 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 226 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 227 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 228 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 229 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 230 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 231 Weare Giffard potato

  • 232 Revenge in style

  • 233 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 234 A man and his wheel

  • 235 Peter poses for TV film

  • 236 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 237 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 238 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 239 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 240 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 241 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 242 Hartland Dancers
  • 243 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 244 Torrington's new amenity

  • 245 Modern living at Bideford

  • 246 113 years at Instow

  • 247

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 248 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 249 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 250 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 251 Bideford regatta

  • 252 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 253 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 254 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 255 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 256 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 257 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 258 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 259 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 260 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 261 Torrington children build igloo
  • 262 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 263 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 264 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 265 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 266

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 267 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 268 Decontrol of meat

  • 269

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 270

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 271 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 272 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 273 Riverside mystery

  • 274 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 275 Picking the pops

  • 276 Ten year old scrambler

  • 277 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 278 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 279 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 280 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 281 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 282

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 283 Bideford loses training ship

  • 284 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 285 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 286 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 287 Hartland's invitation

  • 288 Waldon Triplets
  • 289 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 290 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 291 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 292 Last train from Torrington

  • 293 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 294 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 295 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 296 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 297 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 298 New civic medallions

  • 299 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 300 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 301 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 302 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 303

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 304

    Was a missionary
  • 305 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 306 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 307 In their new robes and hats

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

  • 309 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 310 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 311 Some mushroom!

  • 312 No sale of Springfield House

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

  • 314 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 315 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 316 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 317 He beat the floods

  • 318 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

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

  • 320 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 321

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 322 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 323 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 324 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 325 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 326 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 327 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 328 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 329 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 330 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 331 Police station view of Bideford

  • 332 Puppet characters introduced

  • 333 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 334 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 335 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 336 New life for Hartland organ

  • 337 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 338 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

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

  • 340 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 341 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 342 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 343 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 344 Penny for the guy

  • 345 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 346 North Devon Driving School

  • 347 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 348 Just over a year old

  • 349 New look in the hayfields

  • 350 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 351 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 352 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 353 Bideford computer stars

  • 354 Clovelly nightmare

  • 355 Twenty-one yachts

  • 356 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 357 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 358 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 359 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 360

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 361 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 362 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 363

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 364 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 365 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 366 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 367 No laughing matter

  • 368 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 369

    Relatives all over the world
  • 370 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 371 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 372 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 373 Happy Days!

  • 374 Wishing well is pixielated

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

  • 376 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 377 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 378 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 379 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 380 Picking the pops

  • 381

    Building works
  • 382 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 383 Making way for the double-deckers

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

  • 385 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
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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Puzzle corner at Bideford

Whose right of way?

The four way road junction at the east end of Bideford Bridge poses a puzzle in arriving at a system of satisfactory control. One of the problems is that of crossing the heavy stream of traffic coming round the Barnstaple Street corner onto the bridge. Bideford Town Council recently decided to ask Devon County Council to consider providing traffic lights or a roundabout or a traffic controller there.

30 August 1957 Puzzle corner at Bideford

Gazette article 30 August 1957

 

Record pebble-throwing day at Westward Ho!

2,000 people lend a hand

Revived for the first time for 21 years, the annual potwallopers throwing back the pebbles day on Monday proved a record occasion, some 2,000 people, many of them holiday-makers taking part.

9 August 1957 Record pebble throwing day

No-one seems certain of the exact origin of this useful custom. It was once observed every year in the days when the custom was linked with Northam potwallopers. It was a day of holiday and enjoyment and families would picnic on the Burrows or sand while men-folk and children engaged in the task of throwing back the pebbles that had strayed onto the grazing and golfing land of the Burrows replacing the pebbles in positions to strengthen the natural breakwater of the ridge in anticipation of high tides and winter storms.

Gazette article 9 August 1957

 

Fish nearly pulled him in

Robin’s adventure

Proudly displaying a fish half as long as himself and weighing as many pounds as his years, which he caught at Westward Ho!, is six year old Robin Bright, son of Mr and Mrs Cyril Bright of 3 Cooper Street, Bideford.

19 July 1957 Fish nearly pulled him in

Last Sunday afternoon Robin accompanied his father and elder brother David on a fishing expedition at a gully near the old pier at Westward Ho! David called his father as he was having difficulty with his rod and Robin came to look after his father’s line, holding a rod for the first time in his life. In two minutes Robin cried ‘Daddy, daddy, there’s a fish pulling me in the water.’ There was a 6 lb. bass on the line and it took Mr Bright ten minutes to hall it in.

Gazette article 19 July 1957

 

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