• 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 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 2

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 3

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 4 Off on a great adventure

  • 5 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 6 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 7 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 8 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 9 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 10 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 11 Picking the pops

  • 12 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 13 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 14

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 15 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 16

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 17 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 18

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 19 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 20 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 21 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 22 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 23 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 24 Sight of a lifetime

  • 25 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 26 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 27 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 28 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 29 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 30 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 31 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 32 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 33 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 34 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 35 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 36 Peter poses for TV film

  • 37 The art of the thatcher

  • 38 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 39 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 40 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 41 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 42 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

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

  • 44 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 45 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 46 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 47 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 48 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 49 Artisans' Club

  • 50 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 51 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 52 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 53 Circus comes to town

  • 54 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 55 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 56 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 57 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 58 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 59 A roof-top view - where?

  • 60 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 61 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 62 For crying out loud!

  • 63 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 64 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 65 It really was the 'last time'

  • 66 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 67 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 68 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 69 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 70 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 71 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 72 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 73 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 74 Hartland Dancers
  • 75 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 76 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 77 Bideford regatta

  • 78 Picking the pops

  • 79 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 80 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 81 Twenty-one yachts

  • 82 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 83 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 84 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 85 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 86 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 87 Torrington in 1967

  • 88 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 89 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 90 Police station view of Bideford

  • 91 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 92 Parkham plan realised

  • 93 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 94

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 95 Hartland's invitation

  • 96 New shipyard on schedule

  • 97 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 98 Devil sent packing

  • 99 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 100 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 101 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 102 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 103 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 104 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 105 Torrington's new amenity

  • 106 Bideford loses training ship

  • 107 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 108 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 109 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

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

  • 111 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 112 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 113 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 114

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 115 End of the line

  • 116 Centenary of Gazette

  • 117 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 118 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 119

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 120 Finished in 1876

  • 121

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 122 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 123 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 124 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 125 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 126 Modern living at Bideford

  • 127 Pannier Market's future?

  • 128 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 129 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 130 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 131 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 132 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 133 Bideford's first woman councillor

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

  • 135 Decontrol of meat

  • 136 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 137 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 138 Happy Days!

  • 139 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 140 Littleham family's five generations

  • 141 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 142

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 143 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 144 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 145 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 146 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 147 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 148 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 149 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 150

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 151 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 152 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 153

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 154 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 155

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 156

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 157 Hartland postman retires

  • 158 New Post Office

  • 159 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 160 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 161 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 162 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

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

  • 164 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 165 Sweets derationing

  • 166

    First prize
  • 167 Some 240 exhibits

  • 168 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 169 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 170 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 171 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 172

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 173

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 174 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 175 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 176 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 177 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 178 All for the love of a lady!

  • 179 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 180 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 181 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 182 Northam footballers of the future

  • 183 Waldon Triplets
  • 184 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 185 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 186 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 187

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 188 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 189 First ship in 8 years

  • 190 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 191 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 192 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 193 So this is the mainland!

  • 194 Out of puff!

  • 195 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 196 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 197 Ten year old scrambler

  • 198 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 199 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 200 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 201 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 202 The Geneva marionettes

  • 203

    Bidefordians
  • 204 He beat the floods

  • 205 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 206

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 207 A bird of their own!

  • 208 Capers on the cobbles

  • 209 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 210 In their new robes and hats

  • 211 Puppet characters introduced

  • 212

    Exhibition of school work
  • 213 Variety in summer weather

  • 214 Ships at Bideford

  • 215 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 216 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 217 Traditions and skills still there

  • 218 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 219 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 220 Emergency ferry services

  • 221 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 222 Revenge in style

  • 223 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 224 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 225 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 226 Service with a smile

  • 227 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 228 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 229 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 230 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 231 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 232 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 233 Torrington children build igloo
  • 234 No laughing matter

  • 235 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 236 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 237 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 238 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 239 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

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

  • 241 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 242 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 243

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 244 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 245 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 246 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 247 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 248 Recognise this resort?

  • 249

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 250

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 251 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

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

  • 253 Bideford computer stars

  • 254 Train returns to Westleigh straight

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

  • 256 New civic medallions

  • 257 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 258 What's the time?

  • 259 From Bobby to Brian

  • 260 Just over a year old

  • 261

    Building works
  • 262 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 263 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 264

    Was a missionary
  • 265 A story to tell!

  • 266 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 267 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 268 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 269 113 years at Instow

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

  • 271 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 272 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 273 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 274 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 275 Some mushroom!

  • 276 New life for Hartland organ

  • 277 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 278 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 279 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

  • 280 New addition to Quay front

  • 281 Last train from Torrington

  • 282 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 283 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 284 Northam's almshouse

  • 285 Clovelly custom

  • 286 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 287 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 288 Private home for public pump

  • 289 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 290 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 291 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 292

    Relatives all over the world
  • 293 They are parted pro-tem

  • 294 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 295 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 296

    New gateway
  • 297 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 298 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 299 School crossing patrol begins

  • 300 When horses score over the tractor

  • 301 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 302 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 303 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 304 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 305 Clovelly nightmare

  • 306

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 307 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 308 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 309 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 310 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 311 A man and his wheel

  • 312 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 313 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 314 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 315 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 316 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 317 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 318 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 319 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 320 New art gallery opened

  • 321 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 322 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 323 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 324 Warmington's garage ad

  • 325 Penny for the guy

  • 326 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 327 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 328 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 329 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 330 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 331 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 332 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 333 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 334 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 335 The cab at the corner>
  • 336 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 337 Burnard family reunion

  • 338 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 339 New look in the hayfields

  • 340 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 341 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 342 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 343 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 344 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 345 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 346 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 347 No sale of Springfield House

  • 348 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 349 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 350 Life begins at 80

  • 351 Simple Item 138
  • 352

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 353 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 354 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 355 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 356

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 357 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 358 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 359 New Lundy stamps

  • 360 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 361 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 362 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 363 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 364 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 365 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 366 Mobile missionary

  • 367 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 368 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 369 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 370 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 371 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 372 Can spring be far away?

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

  • 374 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 375 Riverside mystery

  • 376 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 377 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

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

  • 379 Six footed lamb

  • 380 School's link with cargo ship

  • 381 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 382 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 383

    Married in 1908
  • 384 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 385 Jumble sale fever

  • 386 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 387

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 388 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 389 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 390 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 391 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 392 All aboard the ark

  • 393 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 394 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 395 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 396 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 397 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 398 Loads of black and white

  • 399 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 400 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 401 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 402 Filming at Hartland

  • 403 Bridging the stream

  • 404 Weare Giffard potato

  • 405 Cruising down the river

  • 406 By pony and trap to market

  • 407 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 408 Appledore's largest

  • 409 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 410 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 411 North Devon Driving School

  • 412 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 413 New choral society's growing response

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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Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

Old photograph at Hartland Abbey

A fascinating piece of social history is this picture taken, it is believed, shortly after the turn of the century outside Hartland Abbey. It shows estate employees – mostly or all outdoor staff – holding where possible tools of their trade. There are gardeners, game keeper, carpenter, woodsman and, with his watch chain across his ample chest, the foreman.

30 September 1966 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff

Something of a mystery figure is the elegant young man reclining on the left of the picture, possibly a footman. One suggestion is that he was a member of the Stucley family.

The print is from a plate found among the effects of the late Mr Cory Burrow, who was editor, reporter, compositor, printer and publisher of the now-defunct Hartland Chronicle.

Gazette article 30 September 1966

 

 

‘Little Big Ben’

New facts about Bideford’s clock

Apart from the generous response of local subscribers to the appeal to modernise and re-start St Mary’s Church clock, there has been a response from another direction. Mr T.R. Robinson, technical journalist , writer, and broadcaster on ‘Tower Clocks’ has made a visit of inspection.

8 July 1966 Little Big Ben

The Bideford clock, he describes, as a fine example of a form of construction first adopted for the great Westminster clock, indeed a ‘little Big Ben’. The clock was made by Messrs Gillett and Johnston, of Croydon and is characteristic of many hundreds of their clocks. Mr Robinson believes with complete overhaul, repairs and proper maintenance the clock should be capable of serving the town for much longer in the future than it had in the past.

Gazette article 8 July 1966

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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