• 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 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 2 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 3 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 4 Spray dodging - the new pastime

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

  • 6

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 7 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 8 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 9 They are parted pro-tem

  • 10 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 11 Northam's almshouse

  • 12 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 13 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 14 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 15 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 16 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 17 A man and his wheel

  • 18 Some mushroom!

  • 19 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 20 Finished in 1876

  • 21 Out of puff!

  • 22 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 23 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 24 Some 240 exhibits

  • 25 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 26 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 27

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 28 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 29 New shipyard on schedule

  • 30 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 31 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 32 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 33 Jumble sale fever

  • 34 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 35 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 36 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 37 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 38 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 39 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 40

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 41 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 42

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 43 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 44 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 45 Off on a great adventure

  • 46 North Devon Driving School

  • 47 No sale of Springfield House

  • 48 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 49 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 50 For crying out loud!

  • 51

    Building works
  • 52 Simple Item 138
  • 53 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 54

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 55 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 56 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 57

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 58 New art gallery opened

  • 59 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 60 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

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

  • 62 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 63 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 64 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 65 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 66 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 67 School crossing patrol begins

  • 68 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 69 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 70

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 71 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 72

    New gateway
  • 73 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 74 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 75 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 76 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 77 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 78 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 79 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 80 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 81 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 82

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 83 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 84 Waldon Triplets
  • 85 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 86

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 87 School's link with cargo ship

  • 88 New civic medallions

  • 89

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 90 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 91 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 92 All aboard the ark

  • 93 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 94 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 95 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 96

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 97

    Bidefordians
  • 98 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 99 In their new robes and hats

  • 100 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 101 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 102 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 103 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 104 Service with a smile

  • 105 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 106 Bideford loses training ship

  • 107 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 108 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 109 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 110 Bridging the stream

  • 111 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 112 Riverside mystery

  • 113 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 114 Warmington's garage ad

  • 115 Sight of a lifetime

  • 116 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 117 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 118 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 119 Can spring be far away?

  • 120 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 121

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 122 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 123 Peter poses for TV film

  • 124 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 125 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 126 Picking the pops

  • 127 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 128 Weare Giffard potato

  • 129 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 130 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 131 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 132 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 133 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 134 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 135 Happy Days!

  • 136 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 137 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 138 Twenty-one yachts

  • 139 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 140 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 141 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 142 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 143

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 144 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

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

  • 146 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 147 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 148 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 149 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 150 Puppet characters introduced

  • 151 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 152 Six footed lamb

  • 153 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 154 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 155

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 156 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 157 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 158 First ship in 8 years

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

  • 160 When horses score over the tractor

  • 161 Loads of black and white

  • 162 Penny for the guy

  • 163 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

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

  • 165 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 166 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 167 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 168 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 169 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 170 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 171 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 172 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 173 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 174 Emergency ferry services

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

  • 176 Parkham plan realised

  • 177 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 178 Appledore's largest

  • 179

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 180 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 181 Centenary of Gazette

  • 182 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 183 New Post Office

  • 184

    First prize
  • 185 He beat the floods

  • 186 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 187

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 188 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 189 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 190 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 191 Hartland postman retires

  • 192 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 193 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 194 Revenge in style

  • 195 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 196 Clovelly custom

  • 197 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 198 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 199 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 200 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 201 Bideford computer stars

  • 202 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 203 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 204 Hartland's invitation

  • 205 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 206 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 207 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 208 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 209 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 210 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 211 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 212 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 213 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 214

    Relatives all over the world
  • 215

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 216 All for the love of a lady!

  • 217 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 218 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 219 New look in the hayfields

  • 220 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 221 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

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

  • 223 By pony and trap to market

  • 224 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 225 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 226 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 227 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 228 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 229 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 230 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 231

    Married in 1908
  • 232 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 233 Modern living at Bideford

  • 234 Littleham family's five generations

  • 235 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 236 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 237 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 238 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 239 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 240 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 241 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 242 Clovelly nightmare

  • 243 It really was the 'last time'

  • 244 Ships at Bideford

  • 245

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 246 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 247 Decontrol of meat

  • 248 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 249 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 250 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 251 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 252 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 253 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 254 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 255 New choral society's growing response

  • 256 113 years at Instow

  • 257 Devil sent packing

  • 258 New addition to Quay front

  • 259 Artisans' Club

  • 260 Mobile missionary

  • 261 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 262 Recognise this resort?

  • 263 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 264

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 265 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 266 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 267 A roof-top view - where?

  • 268 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

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

  • 270 Hartland Dancers
  • 271 Torrington children build igloo
  • 272 Life begins at 80

  • 273 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 274 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 275

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 276 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 277 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 278 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 279 A bird of their own!

  • 280 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 281 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 282 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 283 Just over a year old

  • 284 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 285 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 286 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 287 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 288 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 289 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 290 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 291 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 292 The Geneva marionettes

  • 293 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 294 Picking the pops

  • 295 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 296 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 297

    Was a missionary
  • 298 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 299 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 300 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 301 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 302 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 303 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 304 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 305 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 306 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 307 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 308 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 309 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 310 Variety in summer weather

  • 311 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 312

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 313 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 314 A story to tell!

  • 315 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 316 What's the time?

  • 317 End of the line

  • 318 Last train from Torrington

  • 319 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 320 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 321 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 322 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 323 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 324 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 325 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 326 Bideford regatta

  • 327 Capers on the cobbles

  • 328

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 329 No laughing matter

  • 330 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 331 Police station view of Bideford

  • 332 Traditions and skills still there

  • 333 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 334 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 335 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 336 Northam footballers of the future

  • 337 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 338 New life for Hartland organ

  • 339

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 340 Circus comes to town

  • 341 The art of the thatcher

  • 342 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

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

  • 344

    Exhibition of school work
  • 345 Bideford - as Rowlandson saw it about 1810-15

  • 346 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 347 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 348 Burnard family reunion

  • 349 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 350 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 351 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 352 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 353 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 354 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 355 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 356 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 357 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 358 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 359 So this is the mainland!

  • 360 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 361 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 362 New Lundy stamps

  • 363 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 364 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 365 Steep street of old Bideford

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

  • 367 Private home for public pump

  • 368 Torrington in 1967

  • 369 Torrington's new amenity

  • 370 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 371 Cruising down the river

  • 372 Ten year old scrambler

  • 373 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 374 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 375 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 376 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 377 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 378 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 379 Pannier Market's future?

  • 380 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 381 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 382

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 383 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 384 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 385

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
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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Second Monte Carlo Rally

Arrived safely in Monte Carlo

Mr Nick Rowe of Torrington, completing his second Monte Carlo Rally arrived safely and apparently without incident and also completed the 850-mile mountain circuit in the specified 22 hours. His first Monte ended with a crash. He is accompanied this year by Mr Bob Shutler of Barnstaple and although his Hillman Imp is a private entry there has been support from Rootes.

20 January 1967 Second Monte Carlo Rally

Mr Rowe is seen on the extreme left of the picture before setting off. On his left is his wife who said she was delighted that he had done so well.

Gazette article 20 January 1967

 

Big development at Calvesford

New deveopment at Torrington

Work in progress at the sizeable new estate development by Torrington Town Council at Calvesford.

20 January 1967 Big development at Calvesford

Present construction is of four bungalows, four two-bedroomed flats and a block of 10 single-bedroomed flats plus communal lounge, dining room and kitchen. This provision includes accommodation for Swedish workers coming to the town to assist with the establishment of a glass factory.

Gazette article 20 January 1967

 

 

Doing time – over 300 years of it – at Hartland

Probably the oldest in North Devon

It is probably the oldest in North Devon and one of the earliest pendulum clocks in the country. It is Harton Town clock, set into the wall of the Chapel-of-Ease, in Hartland Square.

6 January 1967 Doing time at Hartland

It was made by John Morcomb of Barnstaple in 1622 at a cost of 33s. In 1657 he converted it at a cost of 20s. replacing the old verge balance escapement, of which traces still remain, by an anchor or recoil escapement and pendulum.

Originally the clock was in a clock house in the Town Hall. Early in the 19th century this was pulled down and the Chapel-of-Ease was erected on the site. This was about 1839.

Gazette article 6 January 1967

 

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