• 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 End of the line

  • 2 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 3 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

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

  • 5 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 6 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 7 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 8 Out of puff!

  • 9 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 10 Picking the pops

  • 11 Penny for the guy

  • 12 Last train from Torrington

  • 13 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 14 Torrington children build igloo
  • 15 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 16 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 17 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 18

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 19 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 20 Bideford loses training ship

  • 21 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 22

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 23

    Married in 1908
  • 24 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 25 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 26 Variety in summer weather

  • 27 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 28 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 29 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 30 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 31 New Lundy stamps

  • 32 Peter poses for TV film

  • 33 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 34 Northam footballers of the future

  • 35 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 36 Centenary of Gazette

  • 37 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 38 The art of the thatcher

  • 39 New art gallery opened

  • 40 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 41 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 42 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 43 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 44 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 45 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 46 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

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

  • 48 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 49 Warmington's garage ad

  • 50 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 51 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 52 Bideford computer stars

  • 53

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 54 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 55

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 56 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 57 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 58 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 59 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 60 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 61 Private home for public pump

  • 62 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 63 North Devon Driving School

  • 64 Puppet characters introduced

  • 65 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 66 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 67 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 68 Future of Torrington almshouses

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

  • 70

    Relatives all over the world
  • 71 Just over a year old

  • 72 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 73 Circus comes to town

  • 74 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 75 Picking the pops

  • 76 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 77 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 78 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 79 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 80 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 81 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 82 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 83 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 84

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 85 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 86 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 87 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 88 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 89 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 90 Six footed lamb

  • 91 New Post Office

  • 92

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 93 New choral society's growing response

  • 94 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 95 All for the love of a lady!

  • 96 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 97 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 98 New life for Hartland organ

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

  • 100 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 101 By pony and trap to market

  • 102 Clovelly nightmare

  • 103 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 104 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 105 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 106 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 107 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 108 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 109 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 110 Revenge in style

  • 111 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 112

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 113 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 114 Riverside mystery

  • 115 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 116 Service with a smile

  • 117 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 118 Mobile missionary

  • 119 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 120 Hartland's invitation

  • 121 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 122 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 123

    Was a missionary
  • 124 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 125 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 126

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 127 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 128 Decontrol of meat

  • 129 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 130

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 131 Some 240 exhibits

  • 132 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 133 Off on a great adventure

  • 134 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 135 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 136 Getting up steam for tomorrow

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

  • 138 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 139 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 140 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 141 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 142 Traditions and skills still there

  • 143 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 144 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 145 Capers on the cobbles

  • 146

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 147 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 148 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 149 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 150 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 151 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 152 They are parted pro-tem

  • 153 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 154 When horses score over the tractor

  • 155 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 156 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 157 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 158 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 159

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 160

    Building works
  • 161

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 162 Finished in 1876

  • 163

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 164 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 165 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 166 Police station view of Bideford

  • 167 Recognise this resort?

  • 168 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 169 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 170 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 171 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

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

  • 173 Torrington in 1967

  • 174

    Exhibition of school work
  • 175 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 176 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 177 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 178 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 179 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 180 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 181 A roof-top view - where?

  • 182 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 183

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 184 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

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

  • 186

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 187 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 188 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 189 Bridging the stream

  • 190 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 191 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 192 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 193 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 194 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 195 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 196 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 197 No laughing matter

  • 198 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 199 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 200 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 201

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 202 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 203 New addition to Quay front

  • 204 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 205 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 206 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 207 Northam's almshouse

  • 208 Littleham family's five generations

  • 209 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 210 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 211 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 212 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 213 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 214 A bird of their own!

  • 215 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 216 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 217 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 218 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 219 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 220 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 221 He beat the floods

  • 222 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 223 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 224 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 225 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 226 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 227 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 228 Some mushroom!

  • 229 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 230 New civic medallions

  • 231 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 232 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 233 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 234 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 235 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 236 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 237 Devil sent packing

  • 238

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 239 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 240 Parkham plan realised

  • 241 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 242 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 243 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 244 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 245 Modern living at Bideford

  • 246 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 247 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 248 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 249 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

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

  • 251 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 252 First ship in 8 years

  • 253 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 254 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 255

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 256 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 257 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 258 Cruising down the river

  • 259 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 260 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 261 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 262 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 263 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 264 A man and his wheel

  • 265 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 266 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 267

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 268 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 269 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 270 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 271 For crying out loud!

  • 272 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 273

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 274 Pannier Market's future?

  • 275 Emergency ferry services

  • 276 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 277 Waldon Triplets
  • 278 School's link with cargo ship

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

  • 280 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 281 A story to tell!

  • 282 Ships at Bideford

  • 283 Simple Item 138
  • 284

    New gateway
  • 285 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 286 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 287 New look in the hayfields

  • 288 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 289 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 290 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 291 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 292 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 293 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 294 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 295 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 296 Ten year old scrambler

  • 297 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 298 Artisans' Club

  • 299 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 300 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 301 Happy Days!

  • 302 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 303 Life begins at 80

  • 304 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 305 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 306 Clovelly custom

  • 307 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 308 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 309 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 310 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 311 Hartland Dancers
  • 312 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 313 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 314 The Geneva marionettes

  • 315 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 316 Bideford regatta

  • 317 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 318

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

  • 320 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 321 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 322 No sale of Springfield House

  • 323 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 324 Watch the dicky bird!

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

  • 326 Torrington's new amenity

  • 327 School crossing patrol begins

  • 328 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 329 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 330 It really was the 'last time'

  • 331 113 years at Instow

  • 332 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 333 So this is the mainland!

  • 334 Hartland postman retires

  • 335 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 336 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 337

    First prize
  • 338 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 339 Weare Giffard potato

  • 340 Jumble sale fever

  • 341 Twenty-one yachts

  • 342 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 343 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 344 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 345 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 346 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 347

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 348 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 349 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 350 What's the time?

  • 351 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 352 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 353 Burnard family reunion

  • 354 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 355 Can spring be far away?

  • 356 New shipyard on schedule

  • 357 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 358

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 359 Appledore's largest

  • 360 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 361

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 362 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 363 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 364

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 365 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 366 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 367 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 368 Sight of a lifetime

  • 369 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 370 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 371 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 372 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 373 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 374

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 375 In their new robes and hats

  • 376 All aboard the ark

  • 377 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 378 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 379 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 380 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 381 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 382 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 383 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 384 Sixty-two year old Picarooner makes ready for season

  • 385 Loads of black and white

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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The art of the thatcher

New roof for New Inn Abbotsham

One of the dwindling band of rural craftsmen, the thatcher is still to be seen occasionally around the district practising the art which, in many cases, has been handed down from generation to generation in one family.

27 June 1952 The art of the thatcher

A few days ago Mr Gwyn Parkhouse of High Bullen, Torrington, was putting the finishing touches to the roof of the New Inn at Abbotsham which he has completely re-thatched. Mr Parkhouse’s father and grandfather were thatchers before him and a brother is a thatcher in the Torquay district.

Gazette article 27 June 1952

 

A Weare-Giffard speciality – delicious strawberries

Height of strawberry season

This is the height of the strawberry season and pickers on the well-known beds at Weare-Giffard are busy.

The days of floating up by boat on the tide from Bideford for strawberries and cream at Weare Giffard and returning on the ebb have perhaps gone for good but the fine-flavoured strawberries are in as eager demand as ever.

20 June 1952 A Weare Giffard speciality

This group of pickers on the allotments at Weare Giffard busily picking for last Saturday’s market shows Mrs Hunt, Mrs V. Smart, Mr A. Curtis and Mr W. Short.

Gazette article 20 June 1952

 

Bideford-Torrington road gets ‘carpet coat’

New surface for main road

Motorists have been enthusiastic in their welcome to the bituminous ‘carpet coat’ surface which Devon county Council have laide on the Bideford-Torrington main road.

20 June 1952 Bideford Torrington road gets carpet coat

Our photograph shows men at work with the Barber-Greene machine (right) and a steam roller laying the ‘carpet’. Use of the laying machine has meant a considerable saving in time and labour as it is possible to put down over 250 tons of material a day with only a small gang of men, while by hand those men would only lay between 30 and 40 tons during the same period. There will be no need for surface dressing for at least six years.

Gazette article 20 June 1952

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