• 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
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1 Torrington in 1967

  • 2 Peter poses for TV film

  • 3 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 4 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 5 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 6

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 7 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 8 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 9 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 10 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 11 Bridging the stream

  • 12 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 13 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 14 East-the-Water sets town an example

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

  • 16 All for the love of a lady!

  • 17 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 18 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 19 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 20 Clovelly custom

  • 21 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 22 Devil sent packing

  • 23 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 24 Life begins at 80

  • 25 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 26 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

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

  • 28 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 29

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 30 New life for Hartland organ

  • 31 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 32 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 33 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 34 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 35 Bideford computer stars

  • 36 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 37 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 38 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 39 Jumble sale fever

  • 40 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 41 Service with a smile

  • 42 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 43 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 44

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 45 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 46 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 47 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 48 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 49 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 50 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 51 Traditions and skills still there

  • 52 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 53 School crossing patrol begins

  • 54 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 55 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 56 Fish nearly pulled him in

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

  • 58 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 59 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 60 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 61 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 62 Centenary of Gazette

  • 63 First ship in 8 years

  • 64

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 65 Northam's almshouse

  • 66 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 67 Twenty-one yachts

  • 68 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 69 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 70 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 71 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 72 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 73 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 74 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 75 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 76 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 77 No sale of Springfield House

  • 78 Variety in summer weather

  • 79 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 80 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 81

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 82 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 83

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 84 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 85 Clovelly nightmare

  • 86 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 87 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 88 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 89

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 90 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 91 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 92 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 93

    Was a missionary
  • 94 Hartland's invitation

  • 95 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 96 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 97

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 98 New shipyard on schedule

  • 99 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 100 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 101 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 102 For crying out loud!

  • 103 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 104 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 105 He beat the floods

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

  • 107 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 108 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 109 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 110 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 111 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 112 Parkham plan realised

  • 113 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 114 Modern living at Bideford

  • 115 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 116 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 117 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 118 113 years at Instow

  • 119 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 120 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 121 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 122 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 123 They are parted pro-tem

  • 124 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 125 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 126 Picking the pops

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

  • 128

    Relatives all over the world
  • 129 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 130

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 131 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 132 Ship-in-bottle world record

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

  • 134 Hartland postman retires

  • 135 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 136 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 137 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 138 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 139 The art of the thatcher

  • 140 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 141 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 142 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 143 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 144 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 145 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 146 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 147 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 148 Off on a great adventure

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

  • 150 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 151

    Bidefordians
  • 152

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 153 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 154 In their new robes and hats

  • 155 Out of puff!

  • 156 Picking the pops

  • 157 Holiday scene near Sandymere

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

  • 159 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 160 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 161 Capers on the cobbles

  • 162 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 163 Bideford loses training ship

  • 164 Emergency ferry services

  • 165 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 166

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

  • 168 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 169 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 170 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 171 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 172 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 173 Happy Days!

  • 174 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 175 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

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

  • 177 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 178 Cruising down the river

  • 179 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 180 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 181 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 182 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 183 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 184

    New gateway
  • 185

    First prize
  • 186 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 187 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 188 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 189 New Post Office

  • 190 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 191 Penny for the guy

  • 192 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 193 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 194 Loads of black and white

  • 195 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 196 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 197 Riverside mystery

  • 198 New art gallery opened

  • 199 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 200 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 201 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 202 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 203 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 204

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 205 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 206 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 207 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 208

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 209

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 210 Puppet characters introduced

  • 211 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 212 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 213 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 214 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 215 Ten year old scrambler

  • 216 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 217 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 218 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 219 New look in the hayfields

  • 220 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 221 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 222 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 223 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 224 Decontrol of meat

  • 225 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

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

  • 227 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 228 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 229 New civic medallions

  • 230 What's the time?

  • 231 Ships at Bideford

  • 232 Appledore schooner broadcast

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

  • 234 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 235 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 236 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 237 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 238

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 239 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 240 Torrington children build igloo
  • 241 A roof-top view - where?

  • 242 Recognise this resort?

  • 243 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 244 Six footed lamb

  • 245 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 246 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 247 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 248 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 249 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 250 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 251 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 252 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 253 The Geneva marionettes

  • 254 Some 240 exhibits

  • 255 Northam footballers of the future

  • 256 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 257 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 258 Private home for public pump

  • 259 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 260 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 261 All aboard the ark

  • 262 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 263 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 264 Appledore's largest

  • 265 Just over a year old

  • 266 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 267 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 268 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 269 Pannier Market's future?

  • 270

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 271 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 272 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 273

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 274 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 275 A bird of their own!

  • 276 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 277 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 278

    Exhibition of school work
  • 279

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 280 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 281 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 282 New choral society's growing response

  • 283 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 284 Bideford regatta

  • 285 School's link with cargo ship

  • 286 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 287 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 288 Can spring be far away?

  • 289 End of the line

  • 290 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 291 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 292 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 293

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

  • 295 A story to tell!

  • 296 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 297 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 298 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 299 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 300

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 301 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 302

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 303 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 304 New Lundy stamps

  • 305 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 306 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 307

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 308 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 309 Weare Giffard potato

  • 310 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 311 No laughing matter

  • 312 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 313 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 314 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 315 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 316 Circus comes to town

  • 317 So this is the mainland!

  • 318 Some mushroom!

  • 319 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 320 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 321 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 322 A man and his wheel

  • 323 Artisans' Club

  • 324 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 325 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 326 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 327 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 328 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 329 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 330 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 331

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 332

    Building works
  • 333 New addition to Quay front

  • 334 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

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

  • 336 Finished in 1876

  • 337 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 338 Revenge in style

  • 339 Last train from Torrington

  • 340 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 341 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 342 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 343 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 344 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 345 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 346 It really was the 'last time'

  • 347 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 348 Simple Item 138
  • 349 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 350

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 351 Police station view of Bideford

  • 352 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 353

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 354 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 355 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 356 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 357 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 358 Mobile missionary

  • 359 By pony and trap to market

  • 360 North Devon Driving School

  • 361 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 362 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 363 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 364 Warmington's garage ad

  • 365 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 366 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 367 Sight of a lifetime

  • 368 Torrington's new amenity

  • 369 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 370 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 371 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 372 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 373 Waldon Triplets
  • 374 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 375 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 376 Littleham family's five generations

  • 377 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 378 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 379

    Married in 1908
  • 380 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 381 Burnard family reunion

  • 382 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 383 When horses score over the tractor

  • 384 Hartland Dancers
  • 385 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

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

Read More
and suddenly it's spring

Cadds Down Farm

1 March 1974

Joined by Trixie, the pony

READ MORE

  • 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.

    Read More

  • 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.

    Read More

  • 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;

    Read More
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
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...

Read More
 

Shipyard goes into liquidation 1963

Liquidator appointed

4 January 1963

Difficulty in retaining labour...

Read More

Signed scroll memento of Queen Mother’s visit

Queen Mother visits Lundy

Bearing the signature of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, which she signed during her informal tour of Lundy on Sunday afternoon, this scroll on vellum becomes the island’s proudest possession.

16 May 1958 Signed scroll memonto of Queen Mothers visit

The scroll is the work of Mr John Dyke of Fairy Cross, the island’s artist, and on the side panels he has included drawings of some of the most notable features of Lundy. The lower half of the scroll (not included in the picture) contains the names of residents and those closely associated with the island.

Gazette article 16 May 1958

 

No – not Bideford’s answer to the Moon Rocket!

Fuel tank for scrap-yard

It’s just something for the scrap-yard. It is a 6½-ton fuel tank being loaded on to a railway waggon at Bideford Goods Yard. The tank is from the old Bideford Electricity Company’s works at East-the-Water and it is the last of three.

2 May 1958 No Not Bidefords answer to the moon rocket

As Mr Stanley Jones drove a diesel-powered lorry, carrying the tank to the goods station he recalled when, 25 years ago, his late father drove the horse-drawn waggon which transported the tank on delivery to Bideford electricity station.

And as Mr Jack Easterbrook, the goods yard supervisory foreman took charge of the loading of the tank onto the train he remembered how, 25 years ago, his late father, also as foreman, supervised the unloading of the tank at the yard.

Gazette article 2 May 1958

 

 

Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

Solitary cauliflower in Torrington field

In a field belonging to Mr George Copp, of South Street, Torrington, stands one solitary cauliflower. All the stalks have been ploughed up from what was a field full of these plants except for this one, underneath which is a thrush’s nest with four eggs inside it. The nest was found during the ploughing and at the time the thrush was sitting on the eggs. Not wanting to disturb it Mr Copp ploughed all around but left the one cauliflower.

25 April 1958 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

‘We will leave it as long as possible but before tilling will see if it can be moved without disturbing the bird too much,’ said Mrs George Copp. ‘This is the first time I have ever heard of a thrush building its nest on the ground,’ she added.

Gazette article 25 April 1958

 

  • 1

Login Form