• 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 A man and his wheel

  • 2 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 3 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 4 The art of the thatcher

  • 5 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 6 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 7 Riverside mystery

  • 8 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 9 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 10 New Post Office

  • 11 Happy Days!

  • 12 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 13 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 14 Ships at Bideford

  • 15 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 16 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 17 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 18 In their new robes and hats

  • 19 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 20 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 21

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 22 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 23 School's link with cargo ship

  • 24 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 25

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 26 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 27 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 28 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 29

    Relatives all over the world
  • 30 Hartland postman retires

  • 31 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 32 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 33

    Bidefordians
  • 34 A story to tell!

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

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

  • 37 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 38 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 39 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 40 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 41 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 42 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 43 Students help model St Sidwell

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

  • 45 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 46 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 47 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 48 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 49 It really was the 'last time'

  • 50 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 51 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 52 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 53 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 54 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 55 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 56 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 57 Finished in 1876

  • 58 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 59 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 60

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 61 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 62 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 63 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 64

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 65 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 66 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 67 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 68 Northam footballers of the future

  • 69 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 70

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 71 Burnard family reunion

  • 72 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 73 What's the time?

  • 74 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 75 Bideford's private wharves busier

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

  • 77 Artisans' Club

  • 78 Last train from Torrington

  • 79 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 80 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 81 Just over a year old

  • 82

    First prize
  • 83 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 84

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 85 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 86 New Lundy stamps

  • 87 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 88 Hartland Dancers
  • 89 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 90 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 91 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 92 New civic medallions

  • 93 When horses score over the tractor

  • 94 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 95 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 96 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 97 Torrington's new amenity

  • 98 Centenary of Gazette

  • 99 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 100 Clovelly nightmare

  • 101 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 102 Last of Bideford factory chimney

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

  • 104 Weare Giffard potato

  • 105 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 106

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 107 Variety in summer weather

  • 108

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 109 Service with a smile

  • 110 North Devon Driving School

  • 111 Simple Item 138
  • 112

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 113 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 114 New addition to Quay front

  • 115 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 116 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 117 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 118 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 119 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 120 A bird of their own!

  • 121 Torrington children build igloo
  • 122 Modern living at Bideford

  • 123 Ten year old scrambler

  • 124 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 125 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 126

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 127 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 128 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 129 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 130 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 131 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 132 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 133 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 134 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 135 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 136 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 137 All for the love of a lady!

  • 138 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 139 New art gallery opened

  • 140 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 141 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 142 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 143 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 144 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 145 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 146 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 147 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 148 Torrington in 1967

  • 149 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

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

  • 151 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 152 Peter poses for TV film

  • 153 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 154 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 155 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 156

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 157 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 158 Cruising down the river

  • 159 Pannier Market's future?

  • 160 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 161 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 162

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 163 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 164 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 165 Parkham plan realised

  • 166 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 167 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 168 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 169 All aboard the ark

  • 170 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 171 Private home for public pump

  • 172

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 173 Picking the pops

  • 174 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 175 New shipyard on schedule

  • 176 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 177 Sight of a lifetime

  • 178 Hartland's invitation

  • 179 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 180 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 181 Devil sent packing

  • 182

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 183

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 184 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 185 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 186 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 187 Bideford loses training ship

  • 188 So this is the mainland!

  • 189 Warmington's garage ad

  • 190 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 191 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 192 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 193 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 194 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 195 School crossing patrol begins

  • 196 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 197 A roof-top view - where?

  • 198 The Geneva marionettes

  • 199 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 200

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 201 Decontrol of meat

  • 202 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 203 Revenge in style

  • 204 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 205 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 206 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 207 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 208 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 209 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 210 Puppet characters introduced

  • 211 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 212 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 213 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 214 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 215 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 216

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 217 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 218

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 219 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 220 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 221

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 222 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 223 Twenty-one yachts

  • 224 Mobile missionary

  • 225 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 226 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 227 Northam's almshouse

  • 228 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 229 Some 240 exhibits

  • 230 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 231 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 232 Photo of town's first car wins prize

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

  • 234 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

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

  • 236 Recognise this resort?

  • 237 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 238 Six footed lamb

  • 239 New look in the hayfields

  • 240 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 241 Jumble sale fever

  • 242 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 243 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 244 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 245 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 246 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 247 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 248 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 249 Police station view of Bideford

  • 250 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 251 Circus comes to town

  • 252 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 253 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 254

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 255 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 256 Appledore's largest

  • 257 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 258 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 259 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 260 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 261 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 262 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 263 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 264 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 265 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 266 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 267 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 268 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 269 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 270

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 271 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 272 Bideford computer stars

  • 273 Littleham family's five generations

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

  • 275

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 276 Bridging the stream

  • 277 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 278 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 279 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 280 Loads of black and white

  • 281 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 282 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 283 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 284 First ship in 8 years

  • 285 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 286

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 287 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 288 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 289 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 290 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 291 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 292 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 293 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 294 New choral society's growing response

  • 295 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 296 Some mushroom!

  • 297 Waldon Triplets
  • 298

    New gateway
  • 299 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 300 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 301 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 302 Record pebble-throwing day

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

  • 304 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 305

    Was a missionary
  • 306 Out of puff!

  • 307 Life begins at 80

  • 308 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 309 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 310 113 years at Instow

  • 311 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 312 He beat the floods

  • 313 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 314 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 315 Off on a great adventure

  • 316 They are parted pro-tem

  • 317 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 318

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 319 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 320 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 321

    Married in 1908
  • 322 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 323 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 324 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 325 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 326 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 327 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 328 Emergency ferry services

  • 329 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 330 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 331 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 332 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 333 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 334 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 335 No sale of Springfield House

  • 336 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 337 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 338 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 339 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 340 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 341 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 342 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 343 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 344 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 345 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 346 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 347 Clovelly custom

  • 348 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 349 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 350 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 351 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 352 Picking the pops

  • 353 No laughing matter

  • 354

    Building works
  • 355 For crying out loud!

  • 356 By pony and trap to market

  • 357 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 358 New life for Hartland organ

  • 359 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 360 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 361 Penny for the guy

  • 362 Bideford regatta

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

  • 364 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 365 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 366

    Exhibition of school work
  • 367 End of the line

  • 368 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 369 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 370

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 371 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 372 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 373 Capers on the cobbles

  • 374 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 375 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 376 Alwington School closing after 120 years

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

  • 378 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 379 Traditions and skills still there

  • 380 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 381 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 382 Can spring be far away?

  • 383 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 384 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 385 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

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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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What’s the time?

 Ask the policeman!

At the bottom left is the Policeman who is getting tired of being asked the time. Above is the hand-less clock attached to the Bideford Post Office. The clock was not working satisfactorily (owing to electricity cuts) so the hands were taken off.

9 March 1951 Whats the time

Bideford Bridge Trustees provide and maintain the clock. Mr Frank E. Whiting (Bridge Warden) explained that the original mechanism of weights and pendulums ‘gave out’ during the war. The new electric mechanism installed at the end of the war at a cost of £80 was satisfactory until the power cuts disrupted the timing. A battery-worked mechanism would cost about £130 to fix but that it could not be guaranteed, so it seemed they would have to wait until the new power station got going!

Gazette article 9 March 1951

 

 

Symbol of Lundy independence

Oldest inhabitant of Lundy 

This picture shows Mr F.W. Gade, oldest inhabitant and agent of Lundy in defiant attitude. He leans against a tablet at the beach ‘threshold.’ It reads ‘This island is entirely private property. There are no public roads, footpaths or rights of ways whatever hereon.’

2 March 1951 Symbol of Lundy independence

The tablet was placed there early last century when the ‘pirates’ of Trinity House had the ‘audacity’ to put a ‘landing place’ tablet of their own there.

Gazette article 2 March 1951

 

New Lundy air mail stamps

Celebrating Lundy's bird-life 

The forthcoming issue of a new series of air mail stamps for Lundy have been designed and drawn by Mr John C.A Dyke of Fairy Cross, near Bideford. The stamps have the dual purpose of revenue producing and assisting the visitor in the identification of bird life on Lundy’s rocky cliffs

9 February 1951 New Lundy air mail stamps

With the disappearance of the postmaster as a Lundy official, charges were made to cover the cost of conveying mails to and from the mainland. Every letter or parcel leaving or incoming must have the island’s stamps added in addition to ordinary stamps to cover the cost of conveying mails to the island.

Gazette article 9 February 1951

 

 

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