• 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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  • 1 113 years at Instow

  • 2 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 3 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 4 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 5 The art of the thatcher

  • 6 Circus comes to town

  • 7 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 8

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 9 New civic medallions

  • 10 Penny for the guy

  • 11 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 12 A bird of their own!

  • 13 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 14 A roof-top view - where?

  • 15 Some mushroom!

  • 16 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 17 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 18 Eight to strike and a race to win

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

  • 20 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 21 When horses score over the tractor

  • 22 Out of puff!

  • 23

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 24 New shipyard on schedule

  • 25 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 26 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 27 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 28 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 29 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 30 Riverside mystery

  • 31 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 32 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 33 Police station view of Bideford

  • 34 Torrington's new amenity

  • 35 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 36 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 37 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 38 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 39 Some 240 exhibits

  • 40 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 41 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 42 Bideford computer stars

  • 43

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 44 Artisans' Club

  • 45 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 46 New Post Office

  • 47 New art gallery opened

  • 48

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 49 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 50 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 51 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

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

  • 53 No sale of Springfield House

  • 54 New Lundy stamps

  • 55 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 56 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 57 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 58 Northam's almshouse

  • 59 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 60 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 61 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 62 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 63 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 64 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 65 Life begins at 80

  • 66 Just over a year old

  • 67 Warmington's garage ad

  • 68 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 69 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 70 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 71 In their new robes and hats

  • 72 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 73 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 74 Centenary of Gazette

  • 75 Weare Giffard potato

  • 76 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 77 Bideford loses training ship

  • 78 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

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

  • 80 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 81

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 82 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 83 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 84 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 85 Recognise this resort?

  • 86 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 87 End of the line

  • 88 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 89 So this is the mainland!

  • 90 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 91

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 92 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 93 No laughing matter

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

  • 95 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 96 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 97 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 98 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 99 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 100 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 101 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 102 Last train from Torrington

  • 103 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 104 They are parted pro-tem

  • 105 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 106 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 107 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 108 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 109 Northam footballers of the future

  • 110 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 111 Emergency ferry services

  • 112 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 113 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 114 Off on a great adventure

  • 115 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 116 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 117 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 118 Mobile missionary

  • 119

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 120

    Exhibition of school work
  • 121 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 122 The Geneva marionettes

  • 123 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 124 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 125 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 126 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 127

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 128 Variety in summer weather

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

  • 130 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 131 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 132 Bideford regatta

  • 133 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 134 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 135 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 136 Ships at Bideford

  • 137 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 138 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 139 It really was the 'last time'

  • 140 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 141

    Building works
  • 142 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 143 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 144 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 145 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 146 First ship in 8 years

  • 147

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 148 Ten year old scrambler

  • 149 A story to tell!

  • 150 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 151 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 152 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 153 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 154 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 155 Loads of black and white

  • 156 Twenty-one yachts

  • 157 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 158

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 159 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 160 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 161 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 162 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 163 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 164 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 165 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 166 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 167 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

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

  • 169

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 170 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 171 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 172 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 173 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 174

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 175 Simple Item 138
  • 176 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 177 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 178 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 179 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 180 School crossing patrol begins

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

  • 182 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 183 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 184 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 185 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 186 What's the time?

  • 187 Revenge in style

  • 188 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 189 All for the love of a lady!

  • 190 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 191 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 192 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 193 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 194 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 195

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 196 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 197 Littleham family's five generations

  • 198 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 199 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 200 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 201 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 202 Torrington children build igloo
  • 203 New life for Hartland organ

  • 204 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 205 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 206

    Married in 1908
  • 207 Jumble sale fever

  • 208 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 209 Clovelly custom

  • 210 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 211 North Devon Driving School

  • 212 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 213

    First prize
  • 214

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 215 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 216 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 217

    Bidefordians
  • 218 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 219 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 220 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 221 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 222 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 223 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 224 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 225 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 226 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 227 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 228 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 229 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 230 Decontrol of meat

  • 231 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 232 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 233 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 234 Burnard family reunion

  • 235

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 236 Cruising down the river

  • 237 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 238 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 239 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 240 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 241 Puppet characters introduced

  • 242 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

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

  • 244 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 245 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 246 Hartland's invitation

  • 247 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 248 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 249 New addition to Quay front

  • 250

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 251 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 252 Happy Days!

  • 253

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 254 Children's procession with foxgloves

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

  • 256 Parkham plan realised

  • 257 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 258 Private home for public pump

  • 259 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 260 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 261 Peter poses for TV film

  • 262

    Relatives all over the world
  • 263 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 264 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 265 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 266 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 267 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 268 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 269 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 270 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 271 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 272 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 273 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 274 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 275 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 276 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 277 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 278 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 279

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 280 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 281 Bridging the stream

  • 282 New choral society's growing response

  • 283 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 284 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 285 He beat the floods

  • 286 Waldon Triplets
  • 287 Torrington in 1967

  • 288 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 289 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 290 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 291 Born 1883 - still going strong

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

  • 293 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 294 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 295 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 296 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 297 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 298 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 299

    New gateway
  • 300 For crying out loud!

  • 301 New look in the hayfields

  • 302 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 303 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 304 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 305

    Was a missionary
  • 306 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 307 Sight of a lifetime

  • 308 All aboard the ark

  • 309 Alwington School closing after 120 years

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

  • 311 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 312 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 313 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 314 Picking the pops

  • 315

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 316 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 317 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 318 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 319 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 320 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 321 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 322 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 323 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 324 By pony and trap to market

  • 325

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 326 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 327 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 328 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 329 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 330 Hartland Dancers
  • 331 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 332 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 333

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 334 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 335 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 336

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 337 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 338 Service with a smile

  • 339 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 340 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 341 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 342

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 343 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 344 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

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

  • 346 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 347 A man and his wheel

  • 348 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 349 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 350 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 351 Picking the pops

  • 352 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 353 Devil sent packing

  • 354 Pannier Market's future?

  • 355 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 356 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 357 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 358 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 359 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 360 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 361 Modern living at Bideford

  • 362 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 363 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 364 Appledore's largest

  • 365

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 366 Finished in 1876

  • 367 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 368 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 369 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 370 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 371

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 372 Six footed lamb

  • 373 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 374 School's link with cargo ship

  • 375 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 376 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 377 Hartland postman retires

  • 378 Traditions and skills still there

  • 379 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 380 Can spring be far away?

  • 381 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 382 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 383 Clovelly nightmare

  • 384 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 385 Capers on the cobbles

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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  • 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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  • 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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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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When horses score over the tractor

Horses working near Gammaton Cross

The photo taken during the past few days shows Violet (on the left) and Prince tilling dredge corn (oats and barley) in a six-acre field near Gammaton Cross for Mr William Short who farms with his brother at Venon, Weare Giffard.

17 April 1959 When horses score over the tractor

Violet is 26 years old and her son 22 years and they have been worked ever since they arrived on the farm by Mr Lewis Cole, also seen in the picture.

Mr Short said that there are occasions when he cannot use his tractor because the wheels trample down the seed too heavily but where horses are at an advantage. It takes longer but it means an extra day’s sowing when the ground would not be fit for the tractor to do the work.

Gazette article 17 April 1959

 

Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

Strand School of Dancing Challenge

This game of hockey between the girls and boys of the Strand School of Dancing, Bideford, played last Sunday on Westward Ho! beach originated from a challenge which was made a few months ago.

20 February 1959 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

Miss Ann Thurston was teaching a boy a rather intricate dancing step and a remark was made to the effect that girls learnt to dance more quickly. ‘I’d like to see you on a rugby field,’ was the answer. Miss Thornton replied that the girls of the school would challenge the boys to a hockey match instead, thinking this would be an easy win for the girls as the boys do not play hockey. The result? After one hour of play a 14-0 win for the boys.

Gazette article 20 February 1959

 

Polish custom on Pancake Day

Ceremonial toss

It was Pancake Day on Tuesday but this was an old Polish custom of coupling a toast to the ship-builders with a ceremonial toss into the air.

13 February 1959 Polish custom on Pancake Day

Mr Gordon Harris found himself the recipient of this surprise tribute at the formal handing over that day of the tug ‘Tur’ built by P.K. Harris and Sons Ltd., of Appledore for the Polish Government.

Gazette article 13 February 1959

 

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