• 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 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 2 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 3 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 4 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 5 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 6 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 7 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 8 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 9 Weare Giffard potato

  • 10

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 11 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 12 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 13 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 14 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 15 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 16 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 17 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 18 No laughing matter

  • 19 Bideford loses training ship

  • 20 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 21 Ten year old scrambler

  • 22 A story to tell!

  • 23 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 24 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 25 X-ray shoe fitting

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

  • 27 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 28 Pannier Market's future?

  • 29 A man and his wheel

  • 30 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 31 For crying out loud!

  • 32 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 33 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 34 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 35 Private home for public pump

  • 36 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 37 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 38 Hartland Dancers
  • 39 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 40

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 41

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 42 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 43 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 44 Warmington's garage ad

  • 45 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 46 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 47 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 48 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 49

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 50 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 51 Clovelly custom

  • 52 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 53 Recognise this resort?

  • 54 Mobile missionary

  • 55 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 56 They are parted pro-tem

  • 57 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 58 So this is the mainland!

  • 59 What's the time?

  • 60 By pony and trap to market

  • 61 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 62 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 63 Last train from Torrington

  • 64 Just over a year old

  • 65 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 66 A bird of their own!

  • 67 Picking the pops

  • 68

    First prize
  • 69 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 70 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 71 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 72 Finished in 1876

  • 73 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 74 Jumble sale fever

  • 75

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 76 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 77 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 78 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 79 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 80 All for the love of a lady!

  • 81 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 82 Some mushroom!

  • 83

    Relatives all over the world
  • 84 Decontrol of meat

  • 85 Can spring be far away?

  • 86 Bideford computer stars

  • 87 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 88 Service with a smile

  • 89 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 90 Littleham family's five generations

  • 91

    Bidefordians
  • 92 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 93 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 94

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 95 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 96 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 97 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 98 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 99 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 100 Picking the pops

  • 101 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 102 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 103 Peter poses for TV film

  • 104 Devil sent packing

  • 105 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 106 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 107 It really was the 'last time'

  • 108 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 109

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 110 From Bobby to Brian

  • 111 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 112 Hartland postman retires

  • 113

    Married in 1908
  • 114 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 115 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 116 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 117 113 years at Instow

  • 118 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 119 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 120 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 121 Centenary of Gazette

  • 122 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 123 New look in the hayfields

  • 124 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 125 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 126 New Post Office

  • 127 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 128

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 129 School's link with cargo ship

  • 130 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 131 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 132 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 133 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 134 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 135 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 136 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 137 Riverside mystery

  • 138 Bridging the stream

  • 139 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 140 School crossing patrol begins

  • 141 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 142 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 143 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 144 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 145 All aboard the ark

  • 146 Torrington in 1967

  • 147 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 148 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 149 Twenty-one yachts

  • 150 Revenge in style

  • 151 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 152 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 153 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 154

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

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

  • 157 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 158 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 159 Police station view of Bideford

  • 160 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 161 Clovelly nightmare

  • 162 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 163 New civic medallions

  • 164 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 165 Simple Item 138
  • 166 Off on a great adventure

  • 167 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 168 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 169 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 170

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 171 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 172

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 173 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 174 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 175 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 176 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

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

  • 178 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 179 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 180 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 181 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 182 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 183 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

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

  • 185 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 186 When horses score over the tractor

  • 187 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 188 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 189 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 190 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 191 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 192 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 193 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 194 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 195 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 196 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 197 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 198 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 199 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 200 The cab at the corner>
  • 201 Loads of black and white

  • 202 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 203 Waldon Triplets
  • 204

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 205

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 206 The Geneva marionettes

  • 207 Six footed lamb

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

  • 209 New art gallery opened

  • 210

    New gateway
  • 211 Emergency ferry services

  • 212 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

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

  • 214 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 215 Sweets derationing

  • 216 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 217

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 218 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 219 Out of puff!

  • 220

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 221

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 222 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 223

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 224 North Devon Driving School

  • 225 Torrington's new amenity

  • 226 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 227 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 228 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 229 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 230 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 231 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 232 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 233 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 234 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 235 Photo of town's first car wins prize

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

  • 237 New Estate's view of estuary activities

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

  • 239 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 240 No sale of Springfield House

  • 241 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 242 Variety in summer weather

  • 243 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 244 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 245 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 246 Ships at Bideford

  • 247 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 248 Hartland's invitation

  • 249 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 250 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 251 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 252 Parkham plan realised

  • 253 New choral society's growing response

  • 254 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 255 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 256 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 257 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 258 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 259 End of the line

  • 260 Traditions and skills still there

  • 261

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 262 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 263 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 264 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 265 Torrington children build igloo
  • 266 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 267 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 268 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 269 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 270 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 271 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 272 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 273 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 274 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 275 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 276

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 277 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 278 Northam footballers of the future

  • 279 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 280 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 281 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 282 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 283 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 284 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 285 New addition to Quay front

  • 286 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 287 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 288 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 289 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 290 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 291 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 292 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 293 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 294 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 295 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 296 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 297 Sight of a lifetime

  • 298 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 299 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 300 He beat the floods

  • 301 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 302 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 303 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 304 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 305 In their new robes and hats

  • 306 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 307 Happy Days!

  • 308 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 309 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 310 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

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

  • 312 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 313 A roof-top view - where?

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

  • 315 Northam's almshouse

  • 316 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 317 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 318 Life begins at 80

  • 319 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 320 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 321 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 322 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 323

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 324 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 325 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 326 Appledore's largest

  • 327 Circus comes to town

  • 328 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 329 Cruising down the river

  • 330 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 331

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 332 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 333 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 334 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 335 The art of the thatcher

  • 336 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 337 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 338 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 339 New shipyard on schedule

  • 340 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 341 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 342 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 343 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 344 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 345 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 346 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 347 Filming at Hartland

  • 348 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 349 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 350 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 351 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 352 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 353 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 354 Artisans' Club

  • 355 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 356 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 357 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 358 New life for Hartland organ

  • 359 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 360 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 361 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 362 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 363 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 364 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 365 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 366 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 367 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 368 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 369 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 370 Burnard family reunion

  • 371 Capers on the cobbles

  • 372 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 373 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 374 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 375 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 376

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 377 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 378 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 379

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 380 Bideford regatta

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

  • 382 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 383 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 384 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 385 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 386 Some 240 exhibits

  • 387

    Building works
  • 388 Puppet characters introduced

  • 389 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 390

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 391 Penny for the guy

  • 392

    Was a missionary
  • 393 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 394 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 395 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 396 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 397 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 398 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 399 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 400 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 401 Modern living at Bideford

  • 402 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 403 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 404 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 405

    Exhibition of school work
  • 406

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 407 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 408 New Lundy stamps

  • 409 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 410 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 411 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 412 First ship in 8 years

  • 413 Born 1883 - still going strong

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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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
  • 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

Train returns to Westleigh straight

Special train chartered

Years ago the sight of a passenger train thundering along the Westleigh straight between Instow and Bideford was such a common one that it hardly rated a second glance. Except for a period of temporary service after Bideford Bridge collapsed, nine years have elapsed since passengers last travelled along a stretch which, when the tide is full, can have few pictorial equals in the Westcountry.

Train returns to Westleigh straight

Last weekend the line between Barnstaple and Torrington again experienced passenger travel as a train specially chartered by the Bristol Railway Correspondents and Travel Society made a nostalgic journey alongside Taw and Torridge. Passengers met friends of the North Devon Preservation Society who are hooping to re-open the branch line between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe, provided sufficient capital can be raised.

Gazette article 26 April 1974

 

 

Jumble sale fever

Inflation has made

jumble sales among the most popular occasions – no fewer than half-a-dozen were advertised in last week’s Gazette.

Jumble sale fever

Seen concentrating with an intensity more usually seen at a bingo session are bargain-seekers at a sale organised by Bideford Buccaneers.

Gazette article 11 April 1974

 

Gloves fit for a king!

Largest pair of gloves ever made in Torrington

What is believed to be the largest pair of gloves ever made by a local firm has been supplied by Sudbury’s Gloves Ltd. to the King of Tonga in the South Pacific. Made in grey nylon fabric for use on formal occasions, they measured 6 inches across the palm. The average man’s palm measures 3½ to 3¾ inches.

King Taufa’ abau the Fourth of Tonga stands about six feet five inches tall and weighs some 25 stone. He succeeded his mother, the late Queen Salote who won so much affection from the British people when she attended the Queen’s coronation.

Gloves fit for a king

Because of their exceptional size, the gloves had to be hand-cut at Sudbury’s Torrington factory by Mrs Sylvia Gilbert (above) one of their most experienced workers as their set of knives could not be used to do so.

Gazette article 1 March 1974

 

  • 1

Login Form