• 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 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 2

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

  • 4

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 5 What's the time?

  • 6 Torrington in 1967

  • 7 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 8 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 9

    Relatives all over the world
  • 10 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 11 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 12 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 13 Sight of a lifetime

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

  • 15 New life for Hartland organ

  • 16 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 17

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 18 Bideford computer stars

  • 19 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 20 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 21

    Exhibition of school work
  • 22 Torrington children build igloo
  • 23 Capers on the cobbles

  • 24 Littleham family's five generations

  • 25

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 26 Happy Days!

  • 27 No sale of Springfield House

  • 28 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 29 New shipyard on schedule

  • 30 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 31 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 32 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 33 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 34 New Lundy stamps

  • 35 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 36 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 37

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 38 Life begins at 80

  • 39 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 40 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 41 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 42 Private home for public pump

  • 43 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 44 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 45 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 46 New Post Office

  • 47 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 48 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 49 New choral society's growing response

  • 50 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 51 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 52 Appledore's largest

  • 53 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 54

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 55 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 56 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 57 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 58 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 59 Clovelly custom

  • 60 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 61

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 62 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 63

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 64 No laughing matter

  • 65 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 66

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 67 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 68 Warmington's garage ad

  • 69 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 70 Last train from Torrington

  • 71 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 72 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 73 All for the love of a lady!

  • 74 A story to tell!

  • 75 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 76 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 77 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 78 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 79 Service with a smile

  • 80 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 81 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 82 Record pebble-throwing day

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

  • 84 Ships at Bideford

  • 85 Mobile missionary

  • 86 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 87 Devil sent packing

  • 88 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 89 They never miss a game at Torrington

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

  • 91 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 92 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 93 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 94 Northam footballers of the future

  • 95 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 96 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 97 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 98 When horses score over the tractor

  • 99 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

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

  • 101 They are parted pro-tem

  • 102 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 103 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 104 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 105 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 106 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 107 Off on a great adventure

  • 108 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 109

    First prize
  • 110 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 111 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 112 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 113 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 114 Modern living at Bideford

  • 115

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 116 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 117 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 118 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 119 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 120 All aboard the ark

  • 121 New art gallery opened

  • 122 Revenge in style

  • 123 Variety in summer weather

  • 124 For crying out loud!

  • 125 A bird of their own!

  • 126 Centenary of Gazette

  • 127 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 128

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 129 Peter poses for TV film

  • 130 Traditions and skills still there

  • 131

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 132 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 133 Quads at Thornhillhead

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

  • 135

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 136 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 137 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 138 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 139

    New gateway
  • 140

    Building works
  • 141 Bideford regatta

  • 142 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 143 Filming at Hartland

  • 144 Cruising down the river

  • 145 A roof-top view - where?

  • 146 End of the line

  • 147 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 148 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 149 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 150 Clovelly nightmare

  • 151

    Bidefordians
  • 152 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 153 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 154 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 155 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 156 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 157 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 158 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 159 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 160 Penny for the guy

  • 161 Emergency ferry services

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

  • 163 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 164 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 165 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 166 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 167 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 168 Picking the pops

  • 169 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 170 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

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

  • 172 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 173 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 174 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 175 Loads of black and white

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

  • 177 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 178 First ship in 8 years

  • 179 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 180 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 181 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 182 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 183 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 184 Out of puff!

  • 185 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 186

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 187 Twenty-one yachts

  • 188

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 189 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 190 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 191 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 192 Northam's almshouse

  • 193 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 194 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 195 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 196 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 197 Finished in 1876

  • 198 Simple Item 138
  • 199 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 200 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 201 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 202

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 203

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 204 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 205 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 206 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 207 Some mushroom!

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

  • 209 Torrington's new amenity

  • 210 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 211 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 212 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 213 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 214 The creative urge on Saturday morning

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

  • 216 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 217 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 218 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 219 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 220 113 years at Instow

  • 221

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 222 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 223 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 224 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 225 A man and his wheel

  • 226 Burnard family reunion

  • 227 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 228 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 229 From Bobby to Brian

  • 230 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 231 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 232 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 233 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 234 Ten year old scrambler

  • 235 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 236 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 237 Weare Giffard potato

  • 238 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 239 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 240 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 241 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 242 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 243 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 244 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 245

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 246 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

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

  • 248 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 249 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 250 By pony and trap to market

  • 251 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 252 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 253

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 254 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 255

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 256 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 257 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 258 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 259 Recognise this resort?

  • 260

    Married in 1908
  • 261 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 262 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 263 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 264 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 265 Some 240 exhibits

  • 266 Waldon Triplets
  • 267 North Devon Driving School

  • 268 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 269 So this is the mainland!

  • 270 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 271 School's link with cargo ship

  • 272 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 273 Puppet characters introduced

  • 274 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 275 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 276 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 277 Unique holiday adventure!

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

  • 279 Police station view of Bideford

  • 280 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 281 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 282 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 283 The cab at the corner>
  • 284 Hartland Dancers
  • 285 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 286 Decontrol of meat

  • 287 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 288 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 289 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 290 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 291 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 292 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 293 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 294 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 295 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 296

    Was a missionary
  • 297 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 298 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 299 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 300 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 301 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 302 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 303 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 304 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 305 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 306 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 307 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 308 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 309 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 310 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 311 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 312 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 313 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 314 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 315 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 316 New look in the hayfields

  • 317 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 318 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 319 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 320 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 321 In their new robes and hats

  • 322 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 323 Bideford loses training ship

  • 324 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 325 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 326 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 327 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 328 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 329 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 330 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 331 Jumble sale fever

  • 332 New civic medallions

  • 333 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 334 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 335 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 336 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 337 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 338 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 339 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 340 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 341

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 342 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 343 Sixty-two year old Picarooner makes ready for season

  • 344 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 345 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 346 Circus comes to town

  • 347 Riverside mystery

  • 348 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 349 Artisans' Club

  • 350 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 351 It really was the 'last time'

  • 352 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 353 Six footed lamb

  • 354 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 355 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 356 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 357 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 358 Pannier Market's future?

  • 359 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 360 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 361 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 362 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 363 Bridging the stream

  • 364

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 365 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 366 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 367 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 368 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 369 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 370 Can spring be far away?

  • 371 Hartland postman retires

  • 372 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 373 The Geneva marionettes

  • 374 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 375 Picking the pops

  • 376 School crossing patrol begins

  • 377

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 378 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 379 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 380 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 381 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 382 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 383 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 384 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 385 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 386 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 387 Just over a year old

  • 388 New addition to Quay front

  • 389 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 390 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 391 The art of the thatcher

  • 392 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 393 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 394 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 395 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 396 Hartland's invitation

  • 397 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 398

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 399 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 400 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 401 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 402 He beat the floods

  • 403 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 404 Sweets derationing

  • 405 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 406 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 407 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 408 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 409 Parkham plan realised

  • 410 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 411 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 412 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

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

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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No laughing matter

Bideford housewives manage a smile in adverse circumstances

Yet again this winter housewives of Chanters Lane have awakened to find all their ground floor rooms flooded by water from inside, forced up through the drains and sinks. Aggravated when the tide is up and river-drainage sluices are closed, the flood water masses itself in the low-lying marsh areas between the Northam Causeway road and the Kingsley road and natural levelling forces the surplus water up into the homes of the Chanters Lane houses.

21 January 1955 No laughing matter

Bideford Town Council met in special committee on this problem on Tuesday but no decision was taken. This is a matter which should win public opinion and with the County Council elections coming on, it should have the fullest sympathy with new aspirants to County Council office.

Gazette article 21 January 1955

 

Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

‘Workmanship is mighty good’ says U.S. spokesman

One of a group of such vessels being built in the United Kingdom for NATO nations under the United States off-shore procurement plan, the 106-ft inshore minesweeper Stedham was launched from the Bideford yards of Messrs. M.W. Blackmore and Sons after having been christened by the Mayoress of Bideford Mrs D.F.B. Stucley.

14 January 1955 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

H.M.S. Stedham is one of the largest vessels to be built above Bideford bridge since 1868 was later taken through the fourth arch from the east end of the bridge and towed to Appledore for fitting out.

Gazette article 14 January 1955

 

Cruising down the river

Plenty to see

Casting off from the Quay aboard paddle steamer ‘Cardiff Queen’ we wave to the onlookers lining the front.

17 August 1956 Cruising down the river

At Lower Cleavehouses we pass a barge chugging its way up to Bideford so laden with estuary gravel that it is almost awash.

Gazette article 17 August 1956

 

 

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