• 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 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 2 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 3 Riverside mystery

  • 4 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 5 By pony and trap to market

  • 6 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 7 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 8 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 9 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 10 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 11 Sight of a lifetime

  • 12

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 13 Bideford's first woman councillor

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

  • 15 Simple Item 138
  • 16 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 17 Picking the pops

  • 18 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 19 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 20 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 21 North Devon Driving School

  • 22 New art gallery opened

  • 23 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 24 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 25 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 26 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 27 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 28 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 29

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 30 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 31 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 32 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 33 So this is the mainland!

  • 34 Filming at Hartland

  • 35 Loads of black and white

  • 36 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 37

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 38 All aboard the ark

  • 39 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 40 Traditions and skills still there

  • 41 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 42 New life for Hartland organ

  • 43 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 44 New look in the hayfields

  • 45 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 46 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 47 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 48 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

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

  • 50 Capers on the cobbles

  • 51 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 52 The creative urge on Saturday morning

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

  • 54 All for the love of a lady!

  • 55 Variety in summer weather

  • 56 New Post Office

  • 57 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 58 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 59 Some 240 exhibits

  • 60 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 61 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 62 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 63 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 64 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 65 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 66 Centenary of Gazette

  • 67

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 68 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 69

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 70 Sixty-two year old Picarooner makes ready for season

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

  • 72 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 73 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 74 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 75 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 76 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 77 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 78 Happy Days!

  • 79 Penny for the guy

  • 80 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 81 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 82 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 83 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 84 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 85 When horses score over the tractor

  • 86 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 87

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 88 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 89 Clovelly nightmare

  • 90 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 91 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 92 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 93 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 94 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 95 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 96 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 97 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 98 Bideford computer stars

  • 99 Private home for public pump

  • 100 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 101 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 102

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 103 Picking the pops

  • 104 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 105

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 106 What's the time?

  • 107 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 108 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 109 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 110 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 111 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 112 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 113 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 114 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 115 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 116 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 117 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 118

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 119 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 120 Just over a year old

  • 121 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 122 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 123 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 124 Emergency ferry services

  • 125 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 126 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 127 Warmington's garage ad

  • 128 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 129 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 130 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 131 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 132 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 133 School's link with cargo ship

  • 134 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 135 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 136 Can spring be far away?

  • 137 Mobile missionary

  • 138 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 139 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 140 Peter poses for TV film

  • 141 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 142

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 143

    Bidefordians
  • 144 Finished in 1876

  • 145 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 146 First ship in 8 years

  • 147 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 148 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 149

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 150 New Lundy stamps

  • 151 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 152 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 153

    Relatives all over the world
  • 154 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

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

  • 156 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 157 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 158 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 159 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 160 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 161 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 162 The art of the thatcher

  • 163 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 164 Clovelly custom

  • 165 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 166 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 167 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 168 Bridging the stream

  • 169 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 170 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 171

    First prize
  • 172 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 173 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 174 Torrington in 1967

  • 175 He beat the floods

  • 176

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 177 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 178 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 179 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 180 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 181 Fundraising trip for RNLI

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

  • 183 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 184

    Married in 1908
  • 185 Devil sent packing

  • 186

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 187 Revived market off to splendid start

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

  • 189 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 190 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 191 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 192 Six footed lamb

  • 193 Hartland Dancers
  • 194 Television comes to Torridge District

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

  • 196

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 197 A roof-top view - where?

  • 198 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 199 End of the line

  • 200 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 201 Last train from Torrington

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

  • 203 New addition to Quay front

  • 204 From Bobby to Brian

  • 205 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 206 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 207 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 208 Torrington's new amenity

  • 209

    Exhibition of school work
  • 210 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 211 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 212 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 213 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 214 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 215 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 216 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 217 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 218 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 219 Life begins at 80

  • 220 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 221 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 222

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 223 For crying out loud!

  • 224 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 225 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 226 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 227 No sale of Springfield House

  • 228 Northam's almshouse

  • 229 Hartland's invitation

  • 230 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 231 Recognise this resort?

  • 232 Out of puff!

  • 233 Parkham plan realised

  • 234 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 235 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 236 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 237 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 238 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 239 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 240 The Geneva marionettes

  • 241 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 242 Burnard family reunion

  • 243 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 244 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 245 Modern living at Bideford

  • 246 Artisans' Club

  • 247

    New gateway
  • 248 They are parted pro-tem

  • 249 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 250 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 251

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 252 Some mushroom!

  • 253 In their new robes and hats

  • 254 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 255 Decontrol of meat

  • 256 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 257 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 258 Sweets derationing

  • 259 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 260

    Building works
  • 261 Torrington children build igloo
  • 262 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 263 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 264 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 265 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 266 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 267 Police station view of Bideford

  • 268 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 269 Weare Giffard potato

  • 270

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 271 Cruising down the river

  • 272 Revenge in style

  • 273 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 274 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 275 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

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

  • 277 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 278 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 279 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 280 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 281 Ships at Bideford

  • 282 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 283 Pannier Market's future?

  • 284 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 285 School crossing patrol begins

  • 286 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 287 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 288 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 289 Northam footballers of the future

  • 290 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 291 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 292 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 293 The cab at the corner>
  • 294 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 295 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 296 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 297 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 298 Bideford loses training ship

  • 299 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 300 Hartland postman retires

  • 301 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 302 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 303 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 304 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 305 Puppet characters introduced

  • 306 A bird of their own!

  • 307 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 308 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 309 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 310 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 311 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 312 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 313 Service with a smile

  • 314 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 315 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 316 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 317 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 318 A story to tell!

  • 319 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 320 New shipyard on schedule

  • 321 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 322 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 323 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 324 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 325 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 326 No laughing matter

  • 327 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 328 113 years at Instow

  • 329 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 330

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 331 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 332 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 333 Appledore's largest

  • 334 It really was the 'last time'

  • 335

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 336 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 337 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 338 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 339 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 340 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 341 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 342 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 343 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 344 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 345 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 346 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 347 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 348 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 349 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 350 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 351 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 352 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 353 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 354 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 355 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 356 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 357 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 358 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 359 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 360

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 361 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 362 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 363 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 364 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 365 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 366

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 367 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 368 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 369 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 370 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 371 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 372 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 373 New civic medallions

  • 374 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 375 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 376

    Was a missionary
  • 377 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 378 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 379 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 380 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 381 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 382 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 383 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 384

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 385 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 386 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 387 Jumble sale fever

  • 388 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 389 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 390 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 391 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 392 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 393 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 394 Waldon Triplets
  • 395 Ten year old scrambler

  • 396 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 397 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 398 A man and his wheel

  • 399

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 400

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 401 Twenty-one yachts

  • 402 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 403

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 404 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 405 Circus comes to town

  • 406 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 407 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 408 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 409 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 410 Littleham family's five generations

  • 411 New choral society's growing response

  • 412 Bideford regatta

  • 413 Off on a great adventure

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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Combined Op at Westward Ho!

Combined Op at Westward Ho!

Members of the handicraft group of Westward Ho! Women’s Institute putting the finishing touches to the patchwork quilt on which they have been working since September. The quilt along with the patchwork cushion and fur teddy bears are to be raffled for WI funds at a coffee morning to be held next March.

5 December 1969 Westward Ho combined op

Gazette article 5 December 1969

Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

Lundy’s youngest and newest inhabitant arrived last week on the island from the mainland in the “Lundy Gannet,” quite unperturbed by the rough weather.

She is Katherine Jane, daughter of Mr and Mrs John Ogilvie, of Barton Cottages on the island. She was born on the mainland on October 1st.

5 December 1969 Lundy Baby Kate returns

Baby Kate spent the three hours on the trip in a carry-cot on deck, carefully watched by her parents who have made their home on the island since their marriage nearly six years ago. Mr Ogilvy is farm bailiff on Lundy. His wife Penny is the only daughter of Dr and Mrs William Ruddock of Bideford, Dr Ruddock being doctor to the island.

Gazette article 5 December 1969

 

700 years old and good for hundreds more

Proclamation read at various points in the town

Next Thursday at 12 noon The Square at Torrington will be a blaze of colour, and visitors from other towns will mingle with the local inhabitants under the flags and banners as the Town Clerk of Torrington (Mr S.J. Parkes) reads the traditional proclamation that sets in motion for yet another year the annual May Fair, standing just outside the Town Hall.

The proclamation is read at various points in the town, and then there comes the highlight of the fair – the crowning of the May Queen.

Each year the two primary schools at Torrington – the Halsdon Road and the Barley Grove school – take it in turn to provide the queen, her attendants, and two heralds. This year it is the turn of the Halsdon Road School and the girl chosen by the popular vote is 10-year-old Elizabeth Somerfield, the only daughter of Torrington’s station-master, Mr .R. Somerfield, and Mrs Somerfield.

1.5.59 Torrington 700 years old and good for hundreds more

Her crowner will be Pauline Burridge, 10-year-old daughter of Mr and Mrs Peter Burridge of Well Street, Torrington.

It was 405 years ago that Torrington received the first of its three charters, and it was this one, which was granted by Philip and Mary, that decreed that the borough should have one market on every Saturday in each week and to hold and keep two fairs – one on the Feast of St Michael the Arcangel and “the eve and morrow after,” and the other on the Feast of St George the Martyr and the two days following.”

Under the Fairs Act of 1873 the dates for holding these two fairs were altered to May and October and eventually, after the October Fair had become defunct, the first Thursday in May was fixed as the date on which all future May Fairs should be held.

The date of the very first Torrington fair has been lost. The date 1226 has been mentioned but the historian Lyson published 100 years ago, gave the original date as six years earlier. Many people think that the fair does date back much further, perhaps as far as the days of the Saxons.

At one time Torrington was in very real danger of losing the fair, but since 1924 when the local Chamber of Commerce organised the event’s revival after a lapse of many years, the fair has taken on a new lease of life. Even the war years could not upset the traditional reading of the proclamation which kept the fair in existence: each May the proclamation was read to a deserted Square.

Gazette article 1 May 1959

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