• 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 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 2 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 3 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 4 What's the time?

  • 5 Life begins at 80

  • 6 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 7 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 8 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 9 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

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

  • 11 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 12 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 13 Picking the pops

  • 14 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 15 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 16

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 17 A bird of their own!

  • 18 In their new robes and hats

  • 19 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 20

    Bidefordians
  • 21

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 22 New look in the hayfields

  • 23 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 24 A story to tell!

  • 25 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 26

    Relatives all over the world
  • 27 New Post Office

  • 28 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 29 Bideford computer stars

  • 30 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 31 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 32

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 33 Variety in summer weather

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

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

  • 36 Loads of black and white

  • 37 Some 240 exhibits

  • 38 No laughing matter

  • 39 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 40 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 41 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 42 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 43 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 44 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 45 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 46 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 47 New civic medallions

  • 48 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 49 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 50 New shipyard on schedule

  • 51

    New gateway
  • 52 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 53 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 54 Hartland postman retires

  • 55

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 56 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 57 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 58 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 59 The cab at the corner>
  • 60 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 61 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 62 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 63 Service with a smile

  • 64 Waldon Triplets
  • 65 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 66 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 67 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 68

    Married in 1908
  • 69

    Was a missionary
  • 70 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 71 New Lundy stamps

  • 72 New look for Torrington Lane

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

  • 74 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 75

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 76 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 77 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 78 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 79 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 80 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 81 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 82 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 83 Off on a great adventure

  • 84 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 85 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 86 Decontrol of meat

  • 87 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 88

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 89 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 90 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 91 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 92 Just over a year old

  • 93 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 94 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 95 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

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

  • 97 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 98

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 99 Burnard family reunion

  • 100 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 101 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 102 Emergency ferry services

  • 103 Hartland Dancers
  • 104 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 105 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 106 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 107 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 108 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 109 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 110 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 111 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 112 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 113 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 114 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 115 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 116 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

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

  • 118 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 119 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

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

  • 121 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 122 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 123 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 124 Traditions and skills still there

  • 125 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 126 Torrington in 1967

  • 127 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 128 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 129 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 130 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 131 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 132 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 133 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 134 Parkham plan realised

  • 135 Sight of a lifetime

  • 136 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 137 Bridging the stream

  • 138 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 139 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 140 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 141 Capers on the cobbles

  • 142 School crossing patrol begins

  • 143 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 144 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 145 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 146 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 147 Bideford regatta

  • 148 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 149 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 150

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 151 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 152 They are parted pro-tem

  • 153 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 154 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 155 Finished in 1876

  • 156 Cruising down the river

  • 157 Picking the pops

  • 158 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 159 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 160 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 161 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 162

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 163 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 164 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 165 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 166 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 167 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 168 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 169 First ship in 8 years

  • 170 New art gallery opened

  • 171 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 172 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 173 Centenary of Gazette

  • 174 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 175 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 176 Modern living at Bideford

  • 177 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 178 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 179 A man and his wheel

  • 180 All for the love of a lady!

  • 181 New choral society's growing response

  • 182 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 183 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 184 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 185 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 186 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 187 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 188 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 189 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 190 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 191 Clovelly nightmare

  • 192 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 193

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 194 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 195 By pony and trap to market

  • 196 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 197 Torrington children build igloo
  • 198 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 199 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 200 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 201 Revenge in style

  • 202

    Building works
  • 203 Appledore's largest

  • 204 Mobile missionary

  • 205 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 206 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 207 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 208 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 209 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 210 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 211 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 212 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 213 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 214 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 215 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 216 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 217 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 218 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 219 Artisans' Club

  • 220 Torrington's new amenity

  • 221 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 222 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 223 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 224 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 225 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 226 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 227 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 228

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 229 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 230 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 231 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 232 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 233 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 234 Jumble sale fever

  • 235 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 236 Out of puff!

  • 237 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 238 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 239

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 240 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 241 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 242

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 243 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 244 Ships at Bideford

  • 245 113 years at Instow

  • 246 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 247 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 248 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 249 Puppet characters introduced

  • 250 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 251 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 252 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 253

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 254 He beat the floods

  • 255 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 256 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 257 Northam footballers of the future

  • 258 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 259 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 260 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 261 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 262 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 263 Can spring be far away?

  • 264

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 265 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 266 Weare Giffard potato

  • 267

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 268 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 269 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 270 Afternoon tea in the park

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

  • 272 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 273

    Exhibition of school work
  • 274

    First prize
  • 275 When horses score over the tractor

  • 276 All aboard the ark

  • 277 Happy Days!

  • 278 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 279 Police station view of Bideford

  • 280

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 281 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 282

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 283 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 284 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 285 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 286 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 287

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 288 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 289 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 290 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 291 So this is the mainland!

  • 292 For crying out loud!

  • 293 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 294 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 295 Hartland's invitation

  • 296 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 297 Circus comes to town

  • 298

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 299 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 300 New addition to Quay front

  • 301 From Bobby to Brian

  • 302 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 303 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 304 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 305 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

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

  • 307 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 308 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 309 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 310 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 311 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 312 The Geneva marionettes

  • 313 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 314 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 315 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 316 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 317 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 318 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 319 Devil sent packing

  • 320 Six footed lamb

  • 321 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 322 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 323 Warmington's garage ad

  • 324 Clovelly custom

  • 325 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 326 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 327 Private home for public pump

  • 328

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 329 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 330 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 331 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 332 No sale of Springfield House

  • 333 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 334 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 335

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 336 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

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

  • 338 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 339 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 340 Penny for the guy

  • 341

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 342 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 343 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 344 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 345 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 346 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 347 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 348 North Devon Driving School

  • 349

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 350 New life for Hartland organ

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

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

  • 353 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 354 The art of the thatcher

  • 355 Sweets derationing

  • 356 Twenty-one yachts

  • 357 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 358 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 359 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 360 Pannier Market's future?

  • 361 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 362 Riverside mystery

  • 363 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 364 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

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

  • 366 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 367 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 368 Bideford loses training ship

  • 369 End of the line

  • 370 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 371 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 372 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 373 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 374 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 375 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 376 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 377 Northam's almshouse

  • 378 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 379 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 380 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 381 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 382 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 383 Ten year old scrambler

  • 384 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 385 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 386 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 387 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 388 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 389 It really was the 'last time'

  • 390 A roof-top view - where?

  • 391 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 392 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 393 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 394 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 395 Simple Item 138
  • 396 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 397 Filming at Hartland

  • 398 Littleham family's five generations

  • 399 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 400 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 401 Recognise this resort?

  • 402 Last train from Torrington

  • 403 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 404 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 405

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 406 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 407 School's link with cargo ship

  • 408 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 409 Some mushroom!

  • 410 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 411 Peter poses for TV film

  • 412 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 413 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

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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  • 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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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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Sunshine and shade at Appledore

 New housing estate

A heartening sight of post-war enterprise at Appledore is part of Northam Urban District Council’s housing estate at Tomouth. Trees on the estate were undisturbed and, as is seen above, add a delightful framework to the picture.

31 August 1951 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

Gazette article 31 August 1951

 

 

 

Thirty bridges cross Torridge

Torridge flows through 36 parishes

That the Torridge rises in Cornwall on the same ridge as the river Tamar may come as a surprise as well as the fact that thirty bridges cross it during its 50-mile length.

24 August 1951

Above is a sketch plan with which Miss S.L. Hutchinson introduces her pictorial study of the river in water colours exhibited at Bideford School of Art under the auspices of Bideford Festival of Britain committee. Visitors have included a large proportion from the 36 parishes through which the Torridge flows.

Gazette article 24 August 1951

 

 

 

All aboard the ark

Bound for Weston-super-Mare 

Painted in bright colours, the Noah’s Ark, was built by Messrs. M.W. Blackmore and Sons of New Road, Bideford to the orders of Weston-Super-Mare Corporation for use on the town’s Marine Pleasure Lake.

17 August 1951 All aboard the ark

The cartoon figures seen in nautical garb around the vessel’s sides are the work of Mr Charles King, the Bucks Mills artist.

She is pictured on her Board of Trade trials on the river before being hoisted out by crane to start her journey by road to Weston.

Gazette article 17 August 1951

 

 

 

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