• 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 All for the love of a lady!

  • 2 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 3 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 4 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 5 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 6

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 7

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 8 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 9 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 10 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 11 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 12 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 13 Torrington children build igloo
  • 14 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 15 Hartland postman retires

  • 16 All aboard the ark

  • 17 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 18 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 19 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 20 New civic medallions

  • 21 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 22 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 23 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 24 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 25 Police station view of Bideford

  • 26 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 27 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 28 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 29 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 30 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 31 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 32 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 33 New shipyard on schedule

  • 34 Out of puff!

  • 35 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 36 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 37 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 38

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 39 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 40 Decontrol of meat

  • 41 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 42 Emergency ferry services

  • 43 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 44 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 45 Northam's almshouse

  • 46 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 47 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 48 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 49 Puppet characters introduced

  • 50 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 51 Huntshaw TV mast

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

  • 53

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 54

    Married in 1908
  • 55 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 56 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 57

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 58 A man and his wheel

  • 59 What's the time?

  • 60 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 61 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 62 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 63 Bideford computer stars

  • 64 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 65 Torrington in 1967

  • 66 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 67 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 68 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 69 No laughing matter

  • 70 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 71 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 72 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 73 Bideford loses training ship

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

  • 75 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 76 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

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

  • 78 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 79

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 80 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 81 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 82

    Relatives all over the world
  • 83 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 84 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 85 Clovelly nightmare

  • 86 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 87 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 88

    Exhibition of school work
  • 89 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 90

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 91 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 92 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 93 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 94 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 95 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 96 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 97 He beat the floods

  • 98 Littleham family's five generations

  • 99 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 100 Mobile missionary

  • 101 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 102 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 103 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 104 Hartland's invitation

  • 105 A bird of their own!

  • 106 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 107 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 108 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 109 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 110 North Devon Driving School

  • 111 Six footed lamb

  • 112 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 113 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 114 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 115 Service with a smile

  • 116 Picking the pops

  • 117

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 118 Variety in summer weather

  • 119 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 120 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 121 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 122 Circus comes to town

  • 123 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 124 Riverside mystery

  • 125 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 126 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 127 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 128 Weare Giffard potato

  • 129 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 130 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 131 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 132 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 133 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 134 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 135 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 136 Revenge in style

  • 137 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 138 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 139 They are parted pro-tem

  • 140 Off on a great adventure

  • 141 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 142 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 143 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 144

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 145 Passing of a Torrington landmark

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

  • 147 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 148 New choral society's growing response

  • 149 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 150 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 151 Second Monte Carlo Rally

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

  • 153 Twenty-one yachts

  • 154 School's link with cargo ship

  • 155 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 156 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 157 First ship in 8 years

  • 158 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 159 The Geneva marionettes

  • 160 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 161

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 162 New Post Office

  • 163

    Was a missionary
  • 164 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 165 Life begins at 80

  • 166 School crossing patrol begins

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

  • 168 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 169 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 170 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 171 Last train from Torrington

  • 172 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 173 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 174 A roof-top view - where?

  • 175 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 176 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 177 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 178 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 179 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 180 Appledore's largest

  • 181 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 182

    Building works
  • 183 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 184

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 185 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 186 Peter poses for TV film

  • 187 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 188 New look in the hayfields

  • 189 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 190 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 191 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 192

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 193 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 194 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 195 Cruising down the river

  • 196 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 197 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 198 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 199 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 200 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 201 In their new robes and hats

  • 202

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 203 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 204 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 205 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 206 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 207 Devil sent packing

  • 208 Private home for public pump

  • 209 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 210 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 211 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 212 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 213

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 214 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 215 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 216 No sale of Springfield House

  • 217 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 218 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 219 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 220 Bideford regatta

  • 221 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 222

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 223 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 224 Clovelly custom

  • 225 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 226 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 227 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 228 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 229 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

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

  • 231 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 232 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 233 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 234

    Bidefordians
  • 235 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 236 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 237 Sight of a lifetime

  • 238 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 239 Warmington's garage ad

  • 240 Torrington's new amenity

  • 241 Safe door weighing two tons

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

  • 243 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 244 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 245 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 246 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 247 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 248 Finished in 1876

  • 249 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 250 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 251

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 252 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 253

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 254 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 255 When horses score over the tractor

  • 256 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 257 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 258 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 259 For crying out loud!

  • 260 Some 240 exhibits

  • 261 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 262

    New gateway
  • 263 Symbol of Lundy independence

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

  • 265 New life for Hartland organ

  • 266

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 267 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 268 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 269 Ships at Bideford

  • 270

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 271 Hartland Dancers
  • 272 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 273 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 274 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 275 Just over a year old

  • 276 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 277

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 278 Can spring be far away?

  • 279

    First prize
  • 280 Recognise this resort?

  • 281 A story to tell!

  • 282 Waldon Triplets
  • 283 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 284 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 285 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 286 The art of the thatcher

  • 287 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 288

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 289 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 290 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 291 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 292 Capers on the cobbles

  • 293 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 294 Bridging the stream

  • 295 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 296 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 297 Penny for the guy

  • 298 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 299 Simple Item 138
  • 300 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 301 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 302 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 303 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 304 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 305 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 306 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 307 Happy Days!

  • 308 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 309 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 310 113 years at Instow

  • 311 It really was the 'last time'

  • 312 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 313 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 314 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 315

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 316 Centenary of Gazette

  • 317 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 318

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 319 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 320 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 321 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 322 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 323 Burnard family reunion

  • 324 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 325 Pannier Market's future?

  • 326 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 327 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 328 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 329 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 330 Farewell to passenger trains

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

  • 332 Picking the pops

  • 333 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 334 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 335 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 336 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 337 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 338 So this is the mainland!

  • 339 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 340 Jumble sale fever

  • 341 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 342 Parkham plan realised

  • 343 Artisans' Club

  • 344 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 345 Ten year old scrambler

  • 346 New addition to Quay front

  • 347 New Lundy stamps

  • 348 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 349 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 350 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 351 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 352 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 353

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 354 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 355 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 356 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 357 End of the line

  • 358 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 359 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 360 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 361 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 362 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 363 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 364 By pony and trap to market

  • 365 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 366 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 367 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 368 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 369 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 370 Loads of black and white

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

  • 372 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 373 Northam footballers of the future

  • 374 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 375 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 376 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 377 Some mushroom!

  • 378 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 379 Traditions and skills still there

  • 380 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 381 New art gallery opened

  • 382 Modern living at Bideford

  • 383 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 384

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 385 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

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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  • 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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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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Bideford Zoo’s first baby is big draw

Baby llama arrives

First inmate to be born at Bideford Zoo is this llama, son of Larry and Yma. The baby arrived on Sunday and has been named Julian – after July. He is proving a big draw with visitors. His father is well-known – perhaps notorious would be a better word. That is because, with unerring aim, he can spit into the eye of some unsuspecting bystander at a range of six feet.

8 July 1966 Bideford Zoos first baby

The zoo continues to expand, due for completion in about a week is a huge cage that will accommodate a family of rhesus monkeys.

Gazette article 8 July 1966

 

 

 

One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

Mayor commends new Bideford enterprise

Bideford’s first zoo would be ‘a great attraction and asset to the town, especially from the tourist angle’, said the Mayor, Mrs Vivian Patt, when she opened it on Saturday. Within three days around 1,000 people had visited the zoo at Ford House at the Torrington entrance to the town.

The proprietor, Mrs Katherine Tottenham, formerly of Northam and Instow commented : ‘It has been going surprisingly well. We haven’t finished yet by a long chalk but everybody seemed pleased.’ Already there is a fine variety of bears, birds, reptiles and animals to be seen with more being added daily as workmen complete cages.

3 June 1966 One thousand visit zoo

Our picture shows the Mayor with the Mayoress (Mrs Phyllis Galliford), and Mrs Tottenham (centre) during their stroll around the zoo.

Gazette article 3 June 1966

 

 

 

Ald. T. Anstey’s dream comes true

Road improvements at Instow

To mark the official opening of the improved section of the A39 trunk road at the rea of Instow, Ald. Tom Anstey on Tuesday unveiled a plaque commemorating this £61,000 scheme. For many hears this Instow veteran of council work, both at county and district level, has pressed repeatedly for improvements to be carried out to that part of the road.

27 May 1966 Ald. Ansteys dream comes true

The improvement extends nearly a mile over a stretch which previously was both narrow and twisting and dangerous, not only to motorists but also to pedestrians for whom there was no pavement. The roadway has been widened and realigned, two side roads have been diverted, and heavy retaining walls constructed.

Gazette article 27 May 1966

 

 

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