• 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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    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 2 Circus comes to town

  • 3 Capers on the cobbles

  • 4

    Relatives all over the world
  • 5 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 6 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 7 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 8 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 9 End of the line

  • 10 Traditions and skills still there

  • 11 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 12 Devil sent packing

  • 13

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 14 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 15 New Lundy stamps

  • 16 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 17 Littleham family's five generations

  • 18 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 19 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 20 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 21 No laughing matter

  • 22 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 23 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 24 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 25 Clovelly custom

  • 26 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 27 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 28 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 29 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 30 Sweets derationing

  • 31

    Married in 1908
  • 32

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 33 Riverside mystery

  • 34 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 35 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 36

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 37 Loads of black and white

  • 38 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 39 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 40 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 41 Hartland's invitation

  • 42 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 43 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 44 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 45 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 46

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 47 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 48 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 49 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 50 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 51

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 52 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 53 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 54

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 55 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 56 Picking the pops

  • 57 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 58 Sight of a lifetime

  • 59 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 60 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 61 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 62 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 63 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 64 What's the time?

  • 65 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 66 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 67 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 68 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 69 All aboard the ark

  • 70 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 71 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 72 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 73 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 74 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 75 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 76 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 77 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 78 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 79 Happy Days!

  • 80 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 81 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 82 Filming at Hartland

  • 83 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 84 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 85 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 86 Torrington in 1967

  • 87 Finished in 1876

  • 88 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 89 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 90 Northam's almshouse

  • 91 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 92 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 93 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 94 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 95 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 96 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 97 First ship in 8 years

  • 98 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 99 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 100 Simple Item 138
  • 101 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 102 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 103 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

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

  • 105 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 106 Bridging the stream

  • 107 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 108

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 109 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 110 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 111 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 112 School's link with cargo ship

  • 113 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 114 Just over a year old

  • 115 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 116

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 117 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 118 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 119 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 120 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 121 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 122 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 123 Private home for public pump

  • 124 School crossing patrol begins

  • 125 New life for Hartland organ

  • 126 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 127 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 128 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 129 Decontrol of meat

  • 130 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 131 Jumble sale fever

  • 132 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 133 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 134 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 135

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 136

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 137 So this is the mainland!

  • 138 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 139 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 140 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 141 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 142 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 143 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 144 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 145 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 146 Modern living at Bideford

  • 147 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 148 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 149 Peter poses for TV film

  • 150 All for the love of a lady!

  • 151 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 152 They are parted pro-tem

  • 153 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 154 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 155 Parkham plan realised

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

  • 157 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 158 The art of the thatcher

  • 159 Bideford computer stars

  • 160

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 161 Life begins at 80

  • 162 By pony and trap to market

  • 163 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 164 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 165 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 166 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 167 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 168 113 years at Instow

  • 169

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 170 A story to tell!

  • 171 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 172 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 173 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 174 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 175 A bird of their own!

  • 176 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 177

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 178 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 179 Emergency ferry services

  • 180 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 181 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 182 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 183

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 184

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

  • 186

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 187 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 188 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 189 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 190 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

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

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

  • 193 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 194 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 195 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 196 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 197 For crying out loud!

  • 198 Last train from Torrington

  • 199 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 200 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 201 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 202 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 203 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 204 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 205 He beat the floods

  • 206 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 207 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 208 Waldon Triplets
  • 209

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 210 When horses score over the tractor

  • 211 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 212 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 213 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 214 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 215 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 216 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 217 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 218 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 219 Police station view of Bideford

  • 220 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 221 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 222 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 223 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 224 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 225 New shipyard on schedule

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

  • 227 Weare Giffard potato

  • 228 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 229 Passing of a Torrington landmark

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

  • 231 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 232 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 233 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 234 Penny for the guy

  • 235 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 236 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 237 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 238 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 239 Torrington's new amenity

  • 240 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 241 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 242 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 243 Picking the pops

  • 244 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 245 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 246

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 247 New addition to Quay front

  • 248 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 249 Hartland Dancers
  • 250 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 251 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 252 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 253 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 254

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 255 The Geneva marionettes

  • 256 Bideford loses training ship

  • 257 Hartland postman retires

  • 258 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 259 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 260 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 261 New choral society's growing response

  • 262 New art gallery opened

  • 263 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 264 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

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

  • 266 A lost Bideford 'island'

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

  • 268 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 269 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 270 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 271 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 272

    Exhibition of school work
  • 273 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 274

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 275 In their new robes and hats

  • 276 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 277 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 278 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 279 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 280

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 281 New look in the hayfields

  • 282 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 283 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 284 Pannier Market's future?

  • 285 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 286 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

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

  • 288 A roof-top view - where?

  • 289 Ships at Bideford

  • 290 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 291 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 292 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 293 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 294 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 295 Revenge in style

  • 296 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 297 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 298 Can spring be far away?

  • 299 Quads at Thornhillhead

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

  • 301 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 302 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 303 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 304 Out of puff!

  • 305 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 306 Centenary of Gazette

  • 307 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 308 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 309 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 310 New civic medallions

  • 311

    First prize
  • 312 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 313 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 314 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 315 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 316

    Building works
  • 317 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 318 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 319 Appledore's largest

  • 320 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 321 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 322 Torrington children build igloo
  • 323 From Bobby to Brian

  • 324 North Devon Driving School

  • 325 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 326 Ten year old scrambler

  • 327 Some 240 exhibits

  • 328 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 329 Puppet characters introduced

  • 330 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 331 Service with a smile

  • 332 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 333 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 334 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 335 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 336 Artisans' Club

  • 337 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 338 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 339 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 340 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 341 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 342 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 343 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 344 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 345 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 346 Some mushroom!

  • 347 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 348 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 349 Cruising down the river

  • 350 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 351 Clovelly nightmare

  • 352 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 353 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 354 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 355 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 356 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 357

    Was a missionary
  • 358 Variety in summer weather

  • 359

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 360 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 361 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 362 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 363 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 364 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 365

    Bidefordians
  • 366 Mobile missionary

  • 367

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 368 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 369

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 370 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 371 Born 1883 - still going strong

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

  • 373 No sale of Springfield House

  • 374 The cab at the corner>
  • 375 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 376 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 377 Off on a great adventure

  • 378 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 379 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 380 A man and his wheel

  • 381 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 382

    New gateway
  • 383 Burnard family reunion

  • 384 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 385 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 386 Six footed lamb

  • 387 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 388 Recognise this resort?

  • 389 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 390 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 391 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 392 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 393 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 394 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 395 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 396 New Post Office

  • 397 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 398 Bideford regatta

  • 399 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 400 It really was the 'last time'

  • 401 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 402 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 403 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 404 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 405 Twenty-one yachts

  • 406 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 407 Northam footballers of the future

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

  • 409 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 410 Warmington's garage ad

  • 411 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 412 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 413 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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  • 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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Still hunting, aged 80, and a Field Master

Hunting on Boxing Day

Mr John Jewell, of St Giles, has been hunting with the Stevenstone and the Torrington Farmers’ Hounds ever since he was a young man. Now aged eighty, he is a field Master of Torrington Farmers’ Hounds and is undoubtedly one of the oldest, if not the oldest, active hunting official in the country.

13 January 1950 Still hunting aged 80

Despite the bad weather he turned out as usual for the Boxing Day meet of Torrington Farmers’ Hunt, where this picture was taken.

Gazette article 13 January 1950

 

New art gallery opened

Generous gifts to Bideford

Representatives of every walk of life in the Borough were present at the opening of the Burton Art Gallery in Victoria Park, Bideford. The art gallery building is the gift to the Borough of Mr and Mrs Thomas Burton in memory of their daughter Mrs Mary Meredith and houses a valuable collection of paintings and objets d’art given by Mr and Mrs Hubert Coop and further objets d’art presented by the family of the late Mr F.A. Bishop.

2 November New art gallery opened

The opening ceremony was performed by Sir Arthur Watson, a brother-in-law of Mr Hubert Coop and who was at one time resident in the district.

Gazette article 2 November 1951

 

 

New gateway to King George’s Fields

Development of Bideford park extension 

This handsome new gateway to the Bideford Park Extension, to be known as King George’s Fields, has recently made its appearance. It is perhaps not generally known that one of the conditions of the grant from the King George’s Fields Foundation towards the development of the park extension was that a suitable gateway to the fields should be erected bearing two approved plaques. All the land to the north of this gateway and the one to the river bank opposite is King George’s Fields.

21 September 1951 New gateway to King Georges Fields

Gazette article 21 September 1951

 

 

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