• 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 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 2 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 3 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 4 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 5 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 6 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 7 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 8 Can spring be far away?

  • 9 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 10 Appledore's largest

  • 11

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 12 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 13 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 14

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 15 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 16 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 17 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 18 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 19

    Was a missionary
  • 20 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 21 New look in the hayfields

  • 22 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 23 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 24 Bideford computer stars

  • 25 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 26 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 27 Modern living at Bideford

  • 28 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 29 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 30 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 31 113 years at Instow

  • 32 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 33 Life begins at 80

  • 34 Decontrol of meat

  • 35 Variety in summer weather

  • 36 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 37 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 38 Loads of black and white

  • 39 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 40

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 41 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 42 Torrington children build igloo
  • 43 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 44 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 45 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 46 Clovelly custom

  • 47 Pannier Market's future?

  • 48 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 49 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 50 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 51 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 52 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 53 Ten year old scrambler

  • 54 Simple Item 138
  • 55 Picking the pops

  • 56 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 57 Waldon Triplets
  • 58

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 59 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 60

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 61 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 62 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 63 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 64 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 65 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 66 What's the time?

  • 67 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 68 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 69 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 70 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 71 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 72 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 73 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 74 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 75 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 76 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 77 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 78 Finished in 1876

  • 79 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 80

    Bidefordians
  • 81 Riverside mystery

  • 82 No laughing matter

  • 83 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 84 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 85 Torrington in 1967

  • 86

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 87 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 88 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 89

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 90

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 91 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 92 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 93 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 94 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 95 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 96 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 97 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 98 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 99 New choral society's growing response

  • 100 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 101 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 102 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 103 Happy Days!

  • 104 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 105 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 106 Polish custom on Pancake Day

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

  • 108 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 109 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 110 Traditions and skills still there

  • 111 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 112

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 113 Parkham plan realised

  • 114 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 115 Out of puff!

  • 116 New art gallery opened

  • 117 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 118 Hartland Dancers
  • 119 Some 240 exhibits

  • 120 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 121 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 122

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 123 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 124 Burnard family reunion

  • 125 End of the line

  • 126

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 127 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 128 New addition to Quay front

  • 129 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 130 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 131 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 132 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 133

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 134 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 135 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 136 Littleham family's five generations

  • 137 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

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

  • 139 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 140 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 141 By pony and trap to market

  • 142 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 143 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 144 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 145 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 146 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 147 Jumble sale fever

  • 148 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 149 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 150 Bideford regatta

  • 151 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 152 New Post Office

  • 153 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 154 So this is the mainland!

  • 155 Bridging the stream

  • 156 Sight of a lifetime

  • 157 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 158 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 159 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 160 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

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

  • 162 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 163 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 164 School's link with cargo ship

  • 165 Torrington's new amenity

  • 166 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 167

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 168 Clovelly nightmare

  • 169 School crossing patrol begins

  • 170 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 171 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 172 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 173 A bird of their own!

  • 174 Off on a great adventure

  • 175

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 176 Weare Giffard potato

  • 177 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 178 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 179 For crying out loud!

  • 180 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 181 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 182 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 183 A man and his wheel

  • 184 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 185 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 186 Centuries old but today busier than ever

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

  • 188 Mobile missionary

  • 189 Bideford loses training ship

  • 190 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 191 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 192

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 193 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 194 The Geneva marionettes

  • 195 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 196 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 197 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 198 They are parted pro-tem

  • 199 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 200 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 201 Warmington's garage ad

  • 202 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 203 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 204 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 205 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 206 In their new robes and hats

  • 207 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 208 North Devon Driving School

  • 209 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 210 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 211 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 212

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 213 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 214 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 215 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 216 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 217 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 218 Penny for the guy

  • 219 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 220 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 221 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 222 Northam's almshouse

  • 223 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 224 Puppet characters introduced

  • 225 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 226 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 227 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 228 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 229

    Exhibition of school work
  • 230 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 231 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 232 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 233 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 234 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 235 Cruising down the river

  • 236 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 237

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 238 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 239 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 240 Recognise this resort?

  • 241 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 242 Little 'Big Ben'

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

  • 244

    Married in 1908
  • 245 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 246

    First prize
  • 247 Service with a smile

  • 248 No sale of Springfield House

  • 249

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 250 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 251 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 252 Police station view of Bideford

  • 253 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 254 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 255 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 256 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 257 Hartland's invitation

  • 258

    New gateway
  • 259 Ships at Bideford

  • 260 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 261 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 262 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 263 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 264 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

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

  • 266 New shipyard on schedule

  • 267 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 268 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 269 Emergency ferry services

  • 270 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 271 It really was the 'last time'

  • 272 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 273 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 274 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 275 Revenge in style

  • 276 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 277 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 278 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 279 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 280 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 281 Water Board mains spread through villages

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

  • 283 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 284 Twenty-one yachts

  • 285 When horses score over the tractor

  • 286 Picking the pops

  • 287 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 288 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 289 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 290 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 291 Some mushroom!

  • 292 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 293 First ship in 8 years

  • 294 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 295 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 296 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 297 Artisans' Club

  • 298 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 299 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 300 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 301 Northam footballers of the future

  • 302 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 303 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 304 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

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

  • 306 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 307 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 308 Private home for public pump

  • 309 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 310 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 311 A roof-top view - where?

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

  • 313 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 314 New Lundy air-mail stamps

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

  • 316 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 317 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 318 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 319 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 320

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 321 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 322 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 323 Just over a year old

  • 324 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 325 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 326 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 327 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 328 Devil sent packing

  • 329 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 330 Six footed lamb

  • 331

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 332

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 333 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 334 Capers on the cobbles

  • 335 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 336

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 337

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 338 All aboard the ark

  • 339 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 340 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 341 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 342 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 343

    Relatives all over the world
  • 344 Circus comes to town

  • 345 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 346 New Lundy stamps

  • 347 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 348 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 349 Last train from Torrington

  • 350 All for the love of a lady!

  • 351 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 352 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

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

  • 354 He beat the floods

  • 355 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 356 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 357 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 358 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 359 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 360 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 361 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 362 Hartland postman retires

  • 363 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 364 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 365 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 366 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 367 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 368 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 369 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 370

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 371 Peter poses for TV film

  • 372 The art of the thatcher

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

  • 374 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 375 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 376 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 377 New civic medallions

  • 378 Centenary of Gazette

  • 379 Ship-in-bottle world record

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

  • 381

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 382 New life for Hartland organ

  • 383 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 384 A story to tell!

  • 385

    Building works
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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

Torrington in 1967

Torrington from the air

This photograph of Torrington was taken by the crew of a RAF Canberra plane while on a training flight from their station in Germany and was subsequently presented to Mr Peter Mills MP for the Torrington division.

28 April 1967 Photograph of Torrington

In the plane’s-eye view can be seen, half-way on the extreme left, the new Swedish glass factory in the course of construction. Moving to the right there is the long line of New Street, the Parish Church and its spire, and the roads leading on to the County Secondary School and the new Hatchmoor housing site in the top centre. Mill Street runs to the bottom right hand corner with the slopes of the hill down the Commons to the River Torridge.

Gazette article 28 April 1967

 

Shoes certainly not made for walking!

Rivetting decorated shoes at Torrington

The pictures on the soles and heels of the larger pair are made up entirely of coloured rivets – 400 to the square inch and 14,000 in all. They were driven home by master shoemaker Mr Charles Jenkins (64) of New Street, Torrington.

23 March 1967 Shoes certainly not made for walking

The shoes are the latest example of an art long practised by Mr Jenkins and one that has won him medals and diplomas at the Shoe and Leather Fair held annually in London. The tiny shoes, Mr Jenkins claims, are the smallest ever made by hand in this country.

Gazette article 23 March 1967

 

Beach search for mines

Likely to take longer than was first expected

The search for mines on the foreshore at Westward Ho! will probably take longer than was at first expected. It was announced that the six-man RE section that started the sweep in the second half of last week was to be reinforced by 11 other experts, nine of them civilians, who have been sent on after finishing another assignment.

17 March 1967 Beach search for mines likely to take longer

Several more mines have been found and dealt with by the men making the sweep. The going was much slower now the parties had moved away from the obvious pockets. The Ministry of Defence had even traced the original officer involved in the laying of the mines over 25 years ago who was being consulted about the pattern in which they were laid.

17 March 1967

 

 

  • 1

Login Form