• 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 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 2 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 3 Bideford computer stars

  • 4 A bird of their own!

  • 5 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 6 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 7

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 8 Police station view of Bideford

  • 9 Hartland's invitation

  • 10 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 11 Clovelly nightmare

  • 12 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 13 New choral society's growing response

  • 14 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 15 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 16 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 17 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 18 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 19 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 20 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 21 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 22 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 23 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 24 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 25

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 26 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 27 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

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

  • 29 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 30 Circus comes to town

  • 31

    Exhibition of school work
  • 32 North Devon Driving School

  • 33 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 34 Quads join a Langtree happy family

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

  • 36 Devil sent packing

  • 37 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 38 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 39 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 40 Torrington's new amenity

  • 41 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 42

    Bidefordians
  • 43 Photo mural in Bideford bank

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

  • 45 Happy Days!

  • 46 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 47 Hartland postman retires

  • 48 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 49 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 50 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 51 New art gallery opened

  • 52 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 53 Service with a smile

  • 54 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 55 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 56 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 57 Off on a great adventure

  • 58 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 59

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 60 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 61 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 62 Appledore's largest

  • 63 The Geneva marionettes

  • 64 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 65 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 66 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 67 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 68 New look in the hayfields

  • 69 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 70 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 71 Warmington's garage ad

  • 72

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 73

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 74 No laughing matter

  • 75 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 76 Twenty-one yachts

  • 77 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 78 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 79 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 80 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 81 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 82 Can spring be far away?

  • 83 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 84 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 85 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 86 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 87 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 88 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 89 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 90 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 91 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 92 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 93 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 94 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 95 Finished in 1876

  • 96 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 97 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 98 What's the time?

  • 99 Torrington children build igloo
  • 100 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 101

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 102 Puppet characters introduced

  • 103 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 104

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 105 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 106 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 107 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 108 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 109 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 110 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 111 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 112 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 113 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 114 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 115 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 116 A story to tell!

  • 117 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 118 First ship in 8 years

  • 119

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 120 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 121 It really was the 'last time'

  • 122

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 123 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 124 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 125 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 126

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 127 Bideford regatta

  • 128 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 129 Peter poses for TV film

  • 130 Jumble sale fever

  • 131 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 132 Recognise this resort?

  • 133 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 134 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 135 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 136 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 137 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 138 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 139 Centenary of Gazette

  • 140 Littleham family's five generations

  • 141 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 142 All aboard the ark

  • 143 New addition to Quay front

  • 144 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 145 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 146

    Building works
  • 147 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 148 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 149 For crying out loud!

  • 150 New Lundy stamps

  • 151 They are parted pro-tem

  • 152 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 153 Out of puff!

  • 154 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 155 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 156

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 157 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 158 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 159 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

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

  • 161 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 162 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 163 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 164 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 165 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 166 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 167

    Was a missionary
  • 168 Weare Giffard potato

  • 169 Six footed lamb

  • 170 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 171 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 172 Sight of a lifetime

  • 173 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 174 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 175

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 176 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 177 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 178 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 179 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 180

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 181 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 182 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 183 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 184

    Relatives all over the world
  • 185 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 186 Ten year old scrambler

  • 187 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 188

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 189 Waldon Triplets
  • 190 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 191 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 192 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 193 When horses score over the tractor

  • 194 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 195 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 196 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 197 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 198 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 199 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 200 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 201 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 202 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 203 Picking the pops

  • 204 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 205 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 206 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 207 Clovelly custom

  • 208 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 209 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 210 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 211 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 212 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 213 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 214 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 215 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 216 Pannier Market's future?

  • 217 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 218 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 219 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 220 Cruising down the river

  • 221 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 222 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 223 113 years at Instow

  • 224 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 225 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 226 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 227 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 228 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 229 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 230 Hartland Dancers
  • 231 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

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

  • 233 Loads of black and white

  • 234 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 235 Just over a year old

  • 236 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 237 Some mushroom!

  • 238 Life begins at 80

  • 239 Simple Item 138
  • 240 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 241 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 242 Modern living at Bideford

  • 243 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 244 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 245 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 246 By pony and trap to market

  • 247 Mobile missionary

  • 248 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 249 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 250

    First prize
  • 251

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 252 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 253 Northam's almshouse

  • 254 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 255 New civic medallions

  • 256 Artisans' Club

  • 257 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 258 Penny for the guy

  • 259 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 260 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 261 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 262 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 263 Bridging the stream

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

  • 265 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 266 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 267 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 268 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 269 Picking the pops

  • 270 Variety in summer weather

  • 271 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 272 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 273 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 274 End of the line

  • 275 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 276 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 277 Emergency ferry services

  • 278 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 279 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 280 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 281

    Married in 1908
  • 282 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 283 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 284 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 285 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 286 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 287 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 288 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 289 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 290 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 291 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 292 Revenge in style

  • 293 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 294 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 295 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 296 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 297 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 298 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 299 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 300 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 301 School's link with cargo ship

  • 302 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 303 Last train from Torrington

  • 304 So this is the mainland!

  • 305 No sale of Springfield House

  • 306 He beat the floods

  • 307

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 308 In their new robes and hats

  • 309 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 310 Some 240 exhibits

  • 311 Capers on the cobbles

  • 312 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 313

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 314 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 315 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 316 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 317 School crossing patrol begins

  • 318 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 319 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 320 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 321 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 322 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 323 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 324 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 325 Parkham plan realised

  • 326 Traditions and skills still there

  • 327 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 328 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 329

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 330 Private home for public pump

  • 331 A roof-top view - where?

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

  • 333 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 334 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 335

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 336 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 337 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 338 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 339 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 340 New shipyard on schedule

  • 341 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 342 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 343 Riverside mystery

  • 344 New Post Office

  • 345 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 346 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 347 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 348 Torrington in 1967

  • 349 Decontrol of meat

  • 350 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 351 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 352 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 353

    New gateway
  • 354

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 355 The art of the thatcher

  • 356 Burnard family reunion

  • 357 Bideford loses training ship

  • 358 New life for Hartland organ

  • 359 Salmon netting at Bideford

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

  • 361 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 362 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 363 All for the love of a lady!

  • 364

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 365 Northam footballers of the future

  • 366

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 367 Ships at Bideford

  • 368

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 369 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 370 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 371 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 372 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 373 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 374 A man and his wheel

  • 375 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 376 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 377 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 378 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 379 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 380 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 381

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 382 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 383 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 384

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 385 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

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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Reed threshing ‘putting the clock back’ at Weare Giffard

Reed-threshing at Weare Giffard

The last time reed-threshing was seen in the village of Weare Giffard was about 30 years ago and it could be another 30 years before it is seen again.

Mr John Moore of Riversdale, Weare Giffard, heard of a sudden demand for thatch to re-roof some of the several remaining thatched buildings in the area. As it was proving difficult to obtain, Mr Moore decided to put the clock back temporarily to when reed-threshing was commonplace and hired a ‘reed comber’ (the machine which threshes the wheat seen in the photo) from Messrs. Murch of Little Torrington and set to work with a dozen or so helpers.

1 December 1967 Reed threshing at Weare Giffard

Four men were all ‘reed-threshing’ veterans, starting when in their early teens and all expect this to be the last time they will do the operation. Two, Messrs. Bill and Charlie Marshall, used to follow the ‘reed comber’ around the local countryside as it was hired out to the various farms.

Gazette article 1 December 1967

 

 

 

Bideford’s gift to Sir Francis

Presentation to Sir Francis Chichester

Bideford’s gift to Sir Francis Chichester, a locally made harvest-style pottery jug bearing references to his historic voyage was presented by the Mayor (Mr Harold Blackmore) during last week’s ceremonies in honour of Sir Francis at Barnstaple. In the centre of the photograph is the Mayor of Barnstaple (Mr Jim Rayner).

20 October 1967 Bidefords gift to Sir Francis

Born at Shirwell, North Devon, Sir Francis had his introduction to sailing on the River Torridge.

The commemorative jug was the work of a local potter, Mr Harry Juniper, now living at Monkleigh.

Gazette article 20 October 1967

 

Two kinds of Hovercraft at Bideford

Army hovercraft visit

Bideford’s waterfront this week has been more than usually interesting with a visit by the Army hovercraft on three weeks of exercises in the Bristol Channel area.

13 October 1967 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

Our photograph shows its first visit with one of the helicopters of RAF Chivenor hovering overhead. This is the first time an Army hovercraft has operated in the Bristol Channel and exercises will extend across to South Wales.

Gazette article 13 October 1967

 

 

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