• 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 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 2 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 3 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 4 North Devon Driving School

  • 5

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 6 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 7 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 8

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 9

    Married in 1908
  • 10 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 11 Private home for public pump

  • 12 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 13

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 14 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 15 No laughing matter

  • 16 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 17 Torrington's new amenity

  • 18 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 19 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 20 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 21 School's link with cargo ship

  • 22 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 23 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 24 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 25

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 26 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 27 By pony and trap to market

  • 28 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 29 In their new robes and hats

  • 30 Northam's almshouse

  • 31 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 32 Last train from Torrington

  • 33 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 34 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 35 Peter poses for TV film

  • 36

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 37 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 38 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

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

  • 40 Mobile missionary

  • 41 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

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

  • 43 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 44

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 45 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 46 Centenary of Gazette

  • 47 Bideford computer stars

  • 48 Just over a year old

  • 49 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 50 New Lundy stamps

  • 51

    New gateway
  • 52 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 53 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 54 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 55 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 56 The art of the thatcher

  • 57 Out of puff!

  • 58

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 59 A roof-top view - where?

  • 60 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 61 Picking the pops

  • 62 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 63 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 64 Torrington children build igloo
  • 65 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 66 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 67 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 68 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 69 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 70 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 71 Hartland postman retires

  • 72 Appledore's largest

  • 73 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 74 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 75 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 76 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 77 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 78

    Bidefordians
  • 79 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 80 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 81 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 82 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 83 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 84 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 85 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 86 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 87 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 88 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 89 Entente cordiale in Bideford

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

  • 91 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 92 Weare Giffard potato

  • 93 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 94 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 95 New shipyard on schedule

  • 96 New Post Office

  • 97 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 98 A craftsman's 'potted' history

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

  • 100 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 101 End of the line

  • 102 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 103 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 104 For crying out loud!

  • 105 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 106 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 107 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 108 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 109 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 110 Devil sent packing

  • 111 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 112

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 113 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 114 Capers on the cobbles

  • 115 Picking the pops

  • 116 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 117 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 118

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 119 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 120 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 121 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 122 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 123 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 124 Revenge in style

  • 125 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 126 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 127 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 128 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 129 Pannier Market's future?

  • 130 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 131 A man and his wheel

  • 132 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 133 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 134

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 135 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 136 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 137 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 138 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 139 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 140 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 141 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 142 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 143 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 144 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 145 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 146 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 147 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 148 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 149 Some 240 exhibits

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

  • 151 New life for Hartland organ

  • 152 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 153 Riverside mystery

  • 154 No sale of Springfield House

  • 155 All for the love of a lady!

  • 156 Can spring be far away?

  • 157 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 158 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 159 Circus comes to town

  • 160 Huntshaw TV mast

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

  • 162 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 163 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 164 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 165 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 166 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 167 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 168 A bird of their own!

  • 169 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 170 Some mushroom!

  • 171 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 172 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 173 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 174 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 175 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 176 Sight of a lifetime

  • 177 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 178 113 years at Instow

  • 179 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 180 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 181 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 182 Modern living at Bideford

  • 183 Variety in summer weather

  • 184 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 185 When horses score over the tractor

  • 186 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 187 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 188 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 189 Recognise this resort?

  • 190 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 191 Life begins at 80

  • 192 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 193 Parkham plan realised

  • 194 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 195 Finished in 1876

  • 196 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 197 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 198 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 199 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 200 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 201 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 202 They are parted pro-tem

  • 203 New art gallery opened

  • 204 Torrington in 1967

  • 205 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 206 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 207 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 208 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 209 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 210 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 211 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 212 Loads of black and white

  • 213 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 214 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 215 All aboard the ark

  • 216 Big develolpment at Calveford

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

  • 218 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 219 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 220 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 221 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 222 So this is the mainland!

  • 223 Bideford loses training ship

  • 224 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 225

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 226 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 227 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 228 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 229 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

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

  • 231 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 232 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 233

    First prize
  • 234 Ten year old scrambler

  • 235 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 236 Simple Item 138
  • 237

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

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

  • 240 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 241 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 242 A story to tell!

  • 243 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 244 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 245 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 246 Warmington's garage ad

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

  • 248 Police station view of Bideford

  • 249

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 250 School crossing patrol begins

  • 251

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 252 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 253 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 254 Off on a great adventure

  • 255 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 256 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 257 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 258 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 259

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 260 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 261

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 262 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 263

    Building works
  • 264 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 265 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 266

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 267 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 268 Ships at Bideford

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

  • 270 Sweet success at Langtree School

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

  • 272 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 273 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 274 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 275 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 276 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 277 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 278 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 279 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 280 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 281 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 282 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 283 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 284

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 285 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 286 Northam footballers of the future

  • 287

    Was a missionary
  • 288 Twenty-one yachts

  • 289 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 290 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 291

    Exhibition of school work
  • 292

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 293 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

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

  • 295 Bideford regatta

  • 296 Jumble sale fever

  • 297 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 298 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 299 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 300 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 301 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 302 Burnard family reunion

  • 303 Clovelly custom

  • 304 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 305 He beat the floods

  • 306 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 307 Service with a smile

  • 308

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 309 Emergency ferry services

  • 310 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 311 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 312 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 313 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 314 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 315 Clovelly nightmare

  • 316 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 317

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 318 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 319

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 320 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 321

    Relatives all over the world
  • 322 Waldon Triplets
  • 323 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 324 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 325 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 326 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 327 Hartland Dancers
  • 328 New addition to Quay front

  • 329 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 330 The Geneva marionettes

  • 331 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 332 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 333

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 334 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 335 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 336 Littleham family's five generations

  • 337 New look in the hayfields

  • 338 Happy Days!

  • 339 Penny for the guy

  • 340 Artisans' Club

  • 341 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 342 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 343 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 344 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 345 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 346 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 347 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 348 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 349 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 350

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 351 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 352 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 353 First ship in 8 years

  • 354 Traditions and skills still there

  • 355 Hartland's invitation

  • 356 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 357 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 358 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 359 Decontrol of meat

  • 360 It really was the 'last time'

  • 361 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 362 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 363 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 364 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 365 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 366 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 367 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 368 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 369 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 370 What's the time?

  • 371 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 372

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 373 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 374 New civic medallions

  • 375 New choral society's growing response

  • 376 Bridging the stream

  • 377 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 378 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 379 Cruising down the river

  • 380 Six footed lamb

  • 381 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 382 Puppet characters introduced

  • 383 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 384 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 385 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

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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  • 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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  • 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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Torrington May Fair Queen

Torrington May Fair Queen and Attendants

Torrington May Fair Queen
 

Names from left to right: Joan Ricketts; Joan Newcombe; Jean Wernhem; Margaret Sweet; Enid Ovenden; Rona Elsworthy; Doris Short; (back row) Jean Rowe; Brenda Copp; Eileen Short; Miss Margery Bennett (Queen); Joyce Downman; David Fiddian (Page); Peggie Sussex; Pat Parkhouse; Robert Knight (Page)

The May Queen and retinue also took part in the Carnival procession.

 

Christmas Eve at the Front

Christmas Eve at the Front

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.

"I must tell you", he writes, "about what happened here on Christmas Eve. The German trenches here are only 150 yards from ours, and last night we heard one of them shouting out in English: "You no shott: we no shott" "It is your Christmas" "We want peace" "You want peace" So we agreed that each side should send a man half-way. Our officer gave his permission; he is a perfect gentleman. I went half-way and the German did the same, and we went and shook hands. I gave them some tabacco, and they returned the compliment by giving me some chocolate, biscuit, cigars and cigarettes, and each side gave souvenirs. I had a pair of gloves, a watch, and chain, and a beard brush. So you see I got a good Christmas present, and was able to walk about safe for a few hours.

The writer has a brother who has been wounded at the front, and who is now under treatment in Exeter.

1915 Gazette article

 

John Andrew Bread Charity

John Andrew Bread Charity

02011964 John Andrew bread charity
 

The Deputy Mayor Alderman Cecil Cann hands out a loaf of bread to 82-year-old Mr Thomas Johns.

 
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