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

  • 2 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 3 School's link with cargo ship

  • 4 Finished in 1876

  • 5

    Building works
  • 6 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 7 Ships at Bideford

  • 8 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 9 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

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

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

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

  • 13 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 14 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 15 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 16 Torrington in 1967

  • 17 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 18 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 19 A bird of their own!

  • 20 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 21 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 22 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 23 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 24 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 25 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 26 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 27 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 28 Picking the pops

  • 29

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 30 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 31 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 32 No laughing matter

  • 33 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 34 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 35 For crying out loud!

  • 36 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 37 Twenty-one yachts

  • 38 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 39 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 40 New addition to Quay front

  • 41 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 42 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 43 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 44 Childrens' model of Torrington

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

  • 46 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 47

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 48 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 49 Private home for public pump

  • 50 Sight of a lifetime

  • 51

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 52 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 53 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 54

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 55 New Lundy stamps

  • 56 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 57 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 58 A man and his wheel

  • 59 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 60 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 61 First ship in 8 years

  • 62 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 63 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 64 Northam's almshouse

  • 65 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 66 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 67

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 68 Appledore's largest

  • 69 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 70 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 71 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 72 Picking the pops

  • 73 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 74 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 75 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 76 A roof-top view - where?

  • 77 Centenary of Gazette

  • 78 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 79 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 80 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 81 Service with a smile

  • 82 Variety in summer weather

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

  • 84 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 85 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 86 Hartland postman retires

  • 87 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 88

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 89 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 90 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 91 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 92 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 93 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 94 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 95 Riverside mystery

  • 96 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 97 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 98 Peter poses for TV film

  • 99 New look in the hayfields

  • 100 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 101 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 102 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 103

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 104 Bideford regatta

  • 105 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 106

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 107 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 108 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 109 Out of puff!

  • 110 The Geneva marionettes

  • 111 New Post Office

  • 112 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 113 Life begins at 80

  • 114 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 115 Emergency ferry services

  • 116 Waldon Triplets
  • 117 The art of the thatcher

  • 118 New art gallery opened

  • 119 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 120 Water Board mains spread through villages

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

  • 122 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 123 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 124

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 125 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 126 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 127 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 128 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 129 Pannier Market's future?

  • 130 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 131 Clovelly nightmare

  • 132 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 133 Recognise this resort?

  • 134 Bideford computer stars

  • 135 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 136 Simple Item 138
  • 137 Burnard family reunion

  • 138 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 139 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 140 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 141

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 142 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 143 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 144 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 145 All aboard the ark

  • 146 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 147 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 148 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 149 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 150 Revenge in style

  • 151 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 152 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 153

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 154 In their new robes and hats

  • 155 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 156 End of the line

  • 157 Police station view of Bideford

  • 158 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 159 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 160 Just over a year old

  • 161 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 162 Mobile missionary

  • 163 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 164 North Devon Driving School

  • 165 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 166

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 167 Capers on the cobbles

  • 168 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 169 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 170 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 171 Modern living at Bideford

  • 172 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 173 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 174 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 175 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 176 He beat the floods

  • 177 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 178 Devil sent packing

  • 179 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 180

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 181 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 182 All for the love of a lady!

  • 183 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 184 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 185 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 186

    Was a missionary
  • 187 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 188 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 189 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 190 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 191

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 192 Can spring be far away?

  • 193 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 194 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 195 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 196 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 197 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 198 Last train from Torrington

  • 199 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 200 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 201 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 202 Littleham family's five generations

  • 203

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 204 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 205 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 206 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 207 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 208 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 209 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 210 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 211 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 212 Hartland Dancers
  • 213 113 years at Instow

  • 214 Puppet characters introduced

  • 215 A story to tell!

  • 216 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 217 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 218 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 219 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 220 No sale of Springfield House

  • 221 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 222 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 223 Some 240 exhibits

  • 224 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 225 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 226 Loads of black and white

  • 227 Torrington children build igloo
  • 228 Six footed lamb

  • 229 Bideford loses training ship

  • 230 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 231 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 232 Decontrol of meat

  • 233 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 234 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 235 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 236 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 237 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 238 New shipyard on schedule

  • 239

    Exhibition of school work
  • 240 They are parted pro-tem

  • 241 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 242 Artisans' Club

  • 243 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 244 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 245 Bridging the stream

  • 246 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 247 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

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

  • 249 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 250 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 251 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 252 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 253 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 254 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 255 So this is the mainland!

  • 256 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 257 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 258 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 259 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 260 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 261 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 262 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 263 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 264 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 265 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 266 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 267 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 268 Parkham plan realised

  • 269 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 270 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 271

    Bidefordians
  • 272 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 273 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 274 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 275 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 276 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 277 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 278

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 279 New civic medallions

  • 280 Traditions and skills still there

  • 281 Hartland's invitation

  • 282 What's the time?

  • 283 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 284 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 285 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 286 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 287 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 288 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 289 When horses score over the tractor

  • 290 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 291 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 292 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 293 Northam footballers of the future

  • 294 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 295 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 296 School crossing patrol begins

  • 297 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 298 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 299

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 300

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 301

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 302 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 303 By pony and trap to market

  • 304 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 305 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 306 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 307 Clovelly custom

  • 308 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 309 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 310 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 311 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 312 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 313 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 314 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 315 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 316 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 317 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 318

    Married in 1908
  • 319 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 320 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 321 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 322 New choral society's growing response

  • 323 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 324 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 325 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 326 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 327 Penny for the guy

  • 328 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 329 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 330 It really was the 'last time'

  • 331 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 332 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 333 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 334

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 335 Some mushroom!

  • 336 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 337 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 338 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 339 Warmington's garage ad

  • 340 Cruising down the river

  • 341 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

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

  • 343 Ten year old scrambler

  • 344

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 345 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 346

    New gateway
  • 347

    First prize
  • 348

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 349

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 350 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 351 Circus comes to town

  • 352 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 353

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 354 Train returns to Westleigh straight

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

  • 356 Torrington's new amenity

  • 357 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 358 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 359 Jumble sale fever

  • 360 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 361 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 362 Happy Days!

  • 363 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 364 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 365

    Relatives all over the world
  • 366 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 367 Dismantling of wireless mast

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

  • 369 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 370 Weare Giffard potato

  • 371 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 372 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 373 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 374 New life for Hartland organ

  • 375

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 376 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 377 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 378 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 379 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 380 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 381 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 382 Off on a great adventure

  • 383 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 384 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 385 New look for Torrington Lane

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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Bideford 73 year old’s championship display

Grown on his allotment

Everyone at last week’s annual show of Bideford and District Horticultural Society and Allotments Association was talking about and admiring the magnificent leeks and other vegetables grown by 73 year old Mr Roland Davis of 18 Torridge Street, Bideford E.

14 November 1952 Bideford 73 year olds champtionship display

Mr Davis, known to a host of friends as ‘Pinwire’, is seen in the photograph above proudly displaying some of his ‘wonder’ leeks and the trophy awarded to the exhibitor gaining most points in amateur and allotment holders’ classes in the show. Mr Davis’s prize-winning vegetables were grown on his allotment at Nutaberry.

Gazette article 14 November 1952

 

Royal Prince visits Torridge-side

Playing field opened

Scenes of tremendous enthusiasm welcomed HRH The Duke of Edinburgh on his visit to Bideford to open the King George’s Field extension to the Victoria Park. The Duke arrived in Bideford at noon and the great cheer of greeting at the borough boundary ceremony was repeated as, accompanied by the Mayor (Cllr. Mrs E.M. Cox) he came through the town.

31 October 1952 Royal prince visits Torridge side

The Duke and the Mayor each planted a tree at the conclusion of the opening ceremony and after a brief inspection of the playing field and plan, the Duke left by car for Tanton’s Hotel for a lunch and then left by car for Plymouth, travelling via Torrington (photograph).

Gazette article 31 October 1952

 

Council agree to demolition of Chanter’s Folly

In dangerous state and no funds available

Northam Council made a fateful decision last week concerning the future of Chanter’s Folly, the well-known landmark standing on the high promontory at Appledore. The tower commands wide sweeps of North Devon, the estuary and towards Bideford and on one side it stands at the edge of a sheer quarry face of about 100 feet.

17 October 1952 Council agree to demolition of Chanters Folly

The most likely story of its origin is that Mr Chanter, a Bideford merchant, erected the tower so that an employee living there might signal the arrival of one of his ships in the Bay. The signal could easily be seen from Bideford Quay and steps taken the provide labour at the quayside for the arrival of the vessel.

Gazette article 17 October 1952

 

 

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