• 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 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 2 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 3

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 4 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 5

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 6 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 7 Ships at Bideford

  • 8 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 9 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 10 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 11 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 12 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 13 New Post Office

  • 14 Mobile missionary

  • 15 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 16

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 17 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 18 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 19 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 20 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 21 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 22 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 23 Police station view of Bideford

  • 24 Clovelly custom

  • 25 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 26 Weare Giffard potato

  • 27 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 28 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 29

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 30 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 31 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 32 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 33

    Building works
  • 34 When horses score over the tractor

  • 35 Cruising down the river

  • 36 X-ray shoe fitting

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

  • 38 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 39 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 40 Puppet characters introduced

  • 41 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 42 Out of puff!

  • 43 First ship in 8 years

  • 44 Centenary of Gazette

  • 45 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 46 Loads of black and white

  • 47 New look in the hayfields

  • 48 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 49 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 50 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 51 Warmington's garage ad

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

  • 53

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 54 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 55 Parkham plan realised

  • 56 A story to tell!

  • 57 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 58 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 59 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 60 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 61 New civic medallions

  • 62 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 63 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 64 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 65 Sight of a lifetime

  • 66 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 67 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 68

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 69 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 70 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

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

  • 72 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 73 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 74 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 75 In their new robes and hats

  • 76 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 77

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 78 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 79 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 80 Some 240 exhibits

  • 81 Last train from Torrington

  • 82 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 83 A man and his wheel

  • 84 End of the line

  • 85 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 86 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 87 113 years at Instow

  • 88 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 89 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 90 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 91 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 92 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 93 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 94 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 95 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 96 All aboard the ark

  • 97 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 98 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 99 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 100 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 101 Revenge in style

  • 102 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 103 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 104 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 105 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 106

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 107 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 108 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 109 Torrington's new amenity

  • 110 Decontrol of meat

  • 111 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 112

    First prize
  • 113 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 114 Penny for the guy

  • 115 School's link with cargo ship

  • 116 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 117 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 118 Torrington in 1967

  • 119 Northam footballers of the future

  • 120 Can spring be far away?

  • 121 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 122 They are parted pro-tem

  • 123 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 124 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 125 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 126 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 127 New choral society's growing response

  • 128 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 129 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 130 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 131 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 132 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 133 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 134 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 135 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 136 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 137

    New gateway
  • 138

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 139 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 140 Simple Item 138
  • 141 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 142

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 143 Recognise this resort?

  • 144 Finished in 1876

  • 145 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 146 Appledore's largest

  • 147

    Was a missionary
  • 148 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 149 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 150 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 151 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 152 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 153 Bridging the stream

  • 154 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 155 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 156 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 157 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 158 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 159 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 160 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 161 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 162 The Geneva marionettes

  • 163 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 164 Just over a year old

  • 165 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 166 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 167 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 168 Traditions and skills still there

  • 169 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

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

  • 171 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 172 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 173 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 174 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 175 Capers on the cobbles

  • 176 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 177 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 178 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 179 Pannier Market's future?

  • 180 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 181 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 182 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 183 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 184 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 185 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 186 Waldon Triplets
  • 187 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 188 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 189 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 190 Bideford computer stars

  • 191

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 192 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 193 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 194 Circus comes to town

  • 195 He beat the floods

  • 196 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 197 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 198 Burnard family reunion

  • 199 New shipyard on schedule

  • 200 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 201 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 202 Clovelly nightmare

  • 203 A bird of their own!

  • 204 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 205 Six footed lamb

  • 206 Northam's almshouse

  • 207 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 208

    Relatives all over the world
  • 209 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 210 Happy Days!

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

  • 212

    Exhibition of school work
  • 213 Variety in summer weather

  • 214 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 215 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 216 Off on a great adventure

  • 217 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 218 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 219 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 220 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 221 For crying out loud!

  • 222 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 223 So this is the mainland!

  • 224 New life for Hartland organ

  • 225 Riverside mystery

  • 226 New addition to Quay front

  • 227 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 228 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 229 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 230 No sale of Springfield House

  • 231 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 232 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 233 Hartland's invitation

  • 234 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 235 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 236 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 237 Bideford regatta

  • 238 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 239 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 240 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 241 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

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

  • 243 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 244 Bideford loses training ship

  • 245 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 246 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 247 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 248 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 249 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 250 Littleham family's five generations

  • 251 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 252 Private home for public pump

  • 253

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 254 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 255 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 256 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 257 New art gallery opened

  • 258 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 259 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 260 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 261 Life begins at 80

  • 262 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 263 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 264 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 265

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 266 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 267 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 268 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 269 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 270 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 271

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 272 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 273

    Married in 1908
  • 274 By pony and trap to market

  • 275 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 276 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 277 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 278 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 279

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 280 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 281 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 282 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 283

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 284 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

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

  • 286 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 287 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 288 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 289 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 290 New Lundy stamps

  • 291 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 292 All for the love of a lady!

  • 293 What's the time?

  • 294 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 295 Peter poses for TV film

  • 296 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 297 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 298 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 299 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 300 The art of the thatcher

  • 301 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 302

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 303 Hartland Dancers
  • 304 Picking the pops

  • 305

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 306 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 307 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 308 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 309 Some mushroom!

  • 310 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 311 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 312 Emergency ferry services

  • 313

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 314 Hartland postman retires

  • 315 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 316 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 317 School crossing patrol begins

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

  • 319 Modern living at Bideford

  • 320 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 321 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 322 A roof-top view - where?

  • 323 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 324 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 325 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 326

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 327 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

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

  • 329 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 330 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 331

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

  • 333 Artisans' Club

  • 334 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 335 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 336 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 337 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 338 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

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

  • 340 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 341 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 342 Torrington children build igloo
  • 343 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 344 Picking the pops

  • 345 No laughing matter

  • 346 Jumble sale fever

  • 347

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 348 Watch the dicky bird!

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

  • 350 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 351 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 352

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 353 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 354 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 355 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 356 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 357 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 358 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 359 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 360 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 361

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 362 Devil sent packing

  • 363 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 364 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 365 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 366 Ten year old scrambler

  • 367 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 368 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 369 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 370 North Devon Driving School

  • 371 It really was the 'last time'

  • 372 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 373 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 374 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 375 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 376

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 377 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 378 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 379 Twenty-one yachts

  • 380 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 381 Service with a smile

  • 382

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 383 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 384 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 385 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

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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  • 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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  • 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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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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An early ‘special’ to Bideford

Early railway days

The fact that Bideford is on the railway has received a certain amount of publicity recently.

In last Sunday’s Observer Paul Jennings wrote of the air of far-away places at Waterloo Station suggesting that ‘we are doing something much more wonderful than just going to Bideford, splendid though this is.’ Later he remarks on the ‘lines stretching out to Bideford and Europe.’

Mr Jennings visited Bideford as a member of the Oriana Madrigal Society when they gave a recital at Bideford Parish Church on November 19.

27 January 1950 An early special to Bideford

It seems appropriate to publish this reproduction of an old print of early days of the railway alongside the Torridge.

Gazette article 27 January 1950

 

Still hunting, aged 80, and a Field Master

Hunting on Boxing Day

Mr John Jewell, of St Giles, has been hunting with the Stevenstone and the Torrington Farmers’ Hounds ever since he was a young man. Now aged eighty, he is a field Master of Torrington Farmers’ Hounds and is undoubtedly one of the oldest, if not the oldest, active hunting official in the country.

13 January 1950 Still hunting aged 80

Despite the bad weather he turned out as usual for the Boxing Day meet of Torrington Farmers’ Hunt, where this picture was taken.

Gazette article 13 January 1950

 

New art gallery opened

Generous gifts to Bideford

Representatives of every walk of life in the Borough were present at the opening of the Burton Art Gallery in Victoria Park, Bideford. The art gallery building is the gift to the Borough of Mr and Mrs Thomas Burton in memory of their daughter Mrs Mary Meredith and houses a valuable collection of paintings and objets d’art given by Mr and Mrs Hubert Coop and further objets d’art presented by the family of the late Mr F.A. Bishop.

2 November New art gallery opened

The opening ceremony was performed by Sir Arthur Watson, a brother-in-law of Mr Hubert Coop and who was at one time resident in the district.

Gazette article 2 November 1951

 

 

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