• 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 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 2 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 3 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 4 Decontrol of meat

  • 5 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 6 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 7 Revenge in style

  • 8 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 9

    Bidefordians
  • 10 Hartland Dancers
  • 11 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 12 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 13

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 14 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 15 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 16 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 17 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 18 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 19 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 20

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 21 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 22 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 23 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 24 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 25 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 26 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 27 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 28 Traditions and skills still there

  • 29 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 30 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 31

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 32 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 33 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 34 Bideford's new market opens next week

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

  • 36 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 37 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 38 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 39 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 40 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 41 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 42 Sight of a lifetime

  • 43 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 44 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 45 Torrington children build igloo
  • 46 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 47 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 48 Loads of black and white

  • 49 North Devon Driving School

  • 50

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 51 First ship in 8 years

  • 52 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 53 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 54 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 55 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 56 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 57 Picking the pops

  • 58 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 59 No laughing matter

  • 60

    Building works
  • 61 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 62 Finished in 1876

  • 63 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 64 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 65 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 66 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 67 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 68 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 69 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 70 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 71 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 72 When horses score over the tractor

  • 73 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 74 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 75 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 76 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 77 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 78 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 79 Police station view of Bideford

  • 80 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 81

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 82 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 83 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 84 No sale of Springfield House

  • 85 New Post Office

  • 86 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 87 Circus comes to town

  • 88 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 89 By pony and trap to market

  • 90 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 91 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 92 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 93

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 94 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 95 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 96 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 97 Ten year old scrambler

  • 98 Twenty-one yachts

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

  • 100 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 101 Torrington's new amenity

  • 102 Clovelly nightmare

  • 103

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 104

    Married in 1908
  • 105 Mobile missionary

  • 106 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 107 Private home for public pump

  • 108 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 109 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 110 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 111 School's link with cargo ship

  • 112 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 113 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 114 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 115 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 116 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 117 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 118 Waldon Triplets
  • 119 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 120 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 121 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 122 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 123 Cruising down the river

  • 124 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 125 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 126 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 127 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 128 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 129 Six footed lamb

  • 130 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 131 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 132 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 133 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

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

  • 135 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 136 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 137 So this is the mainland!

  • 138 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 139 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 140 Can spring be far away?

  • 141 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 142 Peter poses for TV film

  • 143 New shipyard on schedule

  • 144 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 145 All aboard the ark

  • 146 Centenary of Gazette

  • 147 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 148 Devil sent packing

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

  • 150 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 151 Simple Item 138
  • 152 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 153 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 154 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 155 Clovelly custom

  • 156 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 157 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 158 Littleham family's five generations

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

  • 160 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 161 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 162 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 163 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 164 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 165 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 166 Off on a great adventure

  • 167

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 168 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 169 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 170 For crying out loud!

  • 171 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 172 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 173 Just over a year old

  • 174 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 175 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 176 New art gallery opened

  • 177 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 178 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

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

  • 180

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 181 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 182 New Lundy stamps

  • 183 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 184 Life begins at 80

  • 185 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 186 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 187

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 188 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 189 Recognise this resort?

  • 190 Service with a smile

  • 191 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 192 A story to tell!

  • 193 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 194 Last of Bideford factory chimney

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

  • 196 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 197

    New gateway
  • 198 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 199 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 200 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 201 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 202 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 203 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 204 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 205 End of the line

  • 206 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 207 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 208 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 209 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 210

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 211 Emergency ferry services

  • 212 Modern living at Bideford

  • 213 Picking the pops

  • 214 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 215

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 216 He beat the floods

  • 217 It really was the 'last time'

  • 218 Holiday scene near Sandymere

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

  • 220

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 221 Pannier Market's future?

  • 222 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 223 Torrington in 1967

  • 224 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 225 Hartland's invitation

  • 226 A roof-top view - where?

  • 227

    First prize
  • 228 Puppet characters introduced

  • 229 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 230 Hartland postman retires

  • 231 Jumble sale fever

  • 232 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 233 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 234 Artisans' Club

  • 235 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 236 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 237 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 238 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 239 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 240 Penny for the guy

  • 241 All for the love of a lady!

  • 242 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 243 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 244 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

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

  • 246 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 247 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 248

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 249

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 250

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 251 Variety in summer weather

  • 252 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 253 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 254 New addition to Quay front

  • 255 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 256 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 257 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 258 Bideford loses training ship

  • 259 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 260 Capers on the cobbles

  • 261 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 262 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 263 Warmington's garage ad

  • 264 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 265 Fish nearly pulled him in

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

  • 267 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 268 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 269 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 270 Some mushroom!

  • 271 New look in the hayfields

  • 272

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 273 Appledore's largest

  • 274

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 275 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 276 Out of puff!

  • 277 Last train from Torrington

  • 278 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 279 Northam footballers of the future

  • 280 New civic medallions

  • 281 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 282 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 283 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 284 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 285 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 286 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 287 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 288 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 289

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 290 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 291 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 292 New life for Hartland organ

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

  • 294 Some 240 exhibits

  • 295 The Geneva marionettes

  • 296

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 297 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 298 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 299 A bird of their own!

  • 300 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 301 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 302 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 303 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 304 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 305 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 306 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 307

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 308 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 309 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 310 What's the time?

  • 311 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 312 The art of the thatcher

  • 313 Burnard family reunion

  • 314 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 315 School crossing patrol begins

  • 316 Bridging the stream

  • 317 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 318 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 319 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 320 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 321 New choral society's growing response

  • 322 A man and his wheel

  • 323 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 324 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 325 Riverside mystery

  • 326 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 327 Bideford computer stars

  • 328 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 329 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 330 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 331 Parkham plan realised

  • 332 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 333 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 334 They are parted pro-tem

  • 335 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 336 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 337 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 338 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 339 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 340

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 341 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 342 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 343 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 344 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 345

    Relatives all over the world
  • 346 Bideford regatta

  • 347 Weare Giffard potato

  • 348 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 349 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 350 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 351 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 352

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 353 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 354 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 355 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 356 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 357 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 358 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 359 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

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

  • 361 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 362 113 years at Instow

  • 363 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 364 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 365 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 366 In their new robes and hats

  • 367

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 368 Northam's almshouse

  • 369 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 370

    Exhibition of school work
  • 371 Happy Days!

  • 372

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 373 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 374 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 375 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 376 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 377 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 378 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 379

    Was a missionary
  • 380 Ships at Bideford

  • 381 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 382 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 383 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 384 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 385 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

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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  • 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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  • 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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Clovelly custom

Clovelly custom

Children from Clovelly Primary School observing the village’s traditional Shrove Tuesday “land-sherd” custom of dragging tin cans on string down the cobbled High Street.

Clovelly custom

The custom, long held in the village but of uncertain origin, aims at driving the devil away from the village for another 12 months with its boisterous noise.

Gazette article 16 March 1973

Largest salmon caught in Torridge

Torrington angler lands 34lb salmon

Believed to be the largest salmon ever caught on rod and line in the River Torridge, this 34 lb. specimen is in the arms of Mr Colin Clements of Torrington, who caught it at Beam, five miles upstream from Bideford. It was taken on water belonging to Mr John Robins, of Langtree by whom Mr Clements is engaged to look after the fishing ground.

Torrington angler lands 34 lb. salmon

Mr Clements hooked the salmon on a 10lb. breaking strain line, using a no 3 gold mepps. The struggle to land it took more than an hour.

Gazette article 16 March 1973

 

Demolished – a memorial to one man’s pique

Yeo Vale House finally demolished

Yeo Vale House in the parish of Littleham is no more. To the end this part-Jacobean,part-Georgian building on the bank of the River Yeo gave from a distance an impression of the stately home it once was. But it had become a danger and eventually Government permission to demolish it was given.

The story of its decline began 40 years ago. One day the owner, Mr Stephen Berrold, having sold all the surrounding land right up to the walls of his home, left by way of the front door, locked it behind him, and disappeared, never returning to the area. It is said that he tangled with an adjoining landowner who had felled a couple of trees. An incensed Mr Berrold claimed that his view had been ruined and vowed that never again would his house be lived in.

Memorial to one mans pique

It became a furniture store and subsequently the owner of the adjoining farm Mr Norman Westaway, stored grain on the ground floor. In 1971 Mr Westaway asked permission to demolish it but was refused as the house was scheduled as a grade 2 listed building, and attempts to trace Mr Berrold or his successors had failed. A second application by Mr Westaway was successful and the bulldozers moved in.

Gazette article 2 March 1973

 

 

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