• 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 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 2 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 3 Penny for the guy

  • 4 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 5 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 6 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 7 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 8 Littleham family's five generations

  • 9 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 10 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 11 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 12 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 13

    Building works
  • 14 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 15 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 16

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 17 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 18 North Devon Driving School

  • 19 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 20 All for the love of a lady!

  • 21 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 22 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 23 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 24 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 25 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 26 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 27 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 28 Warmington's garage ad

  • 29 New art gallery opened

  • 30 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

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

  • 32 School crossing patrol begins

  • 33 New look in the hayfields

  • 34 Weare Giffard potato

  • 35 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 36 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 37

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 38

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 39 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 40 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 41 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 42 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 43 Recognise this resort?

  • 44 The art of the thatcher

  • 45 Police station view of Bideford

  • 46 A story to tell!

  • 47 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 48 All aboard the ark

  • 49 Ships at Bideford

  • 50 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 51 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 52 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 53 End of the line

  • 54 Torrington in 1967

  • 55 Bideford regatta

  • 56 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 57 Clovelly donkey film star

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

  • 59

    Relatives all over the world
  • 60 First ship in 8 years

  • 61 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 62 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 63 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 64 Riverside mystery

  • 65 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 66 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 67 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 68 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 69 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 70 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 71 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 72 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 73 In their new robes and hats

  • 74 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 75 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 76 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 77 Bideford loses training ship

  • 78 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 79 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 80 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 81 Clovelly nightmare

  • 82 Artisans' Club

  • 83 Picking the pops

  • 84 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 85 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 86 Hartland postman retires

  • 87 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 88 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 89 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 90 Northam's almshouse

  • 91 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 92 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 93 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 94 Some 240 exhibits

  • 95 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 96 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 97 Capers on the cobbles

  • 98 Bringing shopping home by goat

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

  • 100 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 101 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 102 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 103 Some mushroom!

  • 104 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 105 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 106 New choral society's growing response

  • 107 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 108

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 109 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 110 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 111 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 112 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 113 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 114 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 115 New Lundy stamps

  • 116 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 117 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 118 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 119 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 120 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 121 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 122 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 123 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 124 Sight of a lifetime

  • 125 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 126 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 127 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 128 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 129 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

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

  • 131 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 132 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 133 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 134 Mobile missionary

  • 135 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 136 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 137 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 138 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 139 Happy Days!

  • 140 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 141 Revived market off to splendid start

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

  • 143 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 144 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 145 Finished in 1876

  • 146 Bridging the stream

  • 147 Centenary of Gazette

  • 148 Modern living at Bideford

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

  • 150 For crying out loud!

  • 151 Circus comes to town

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

  • 153 Variety in summer weather

  • 154 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 155 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 156 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 157 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 158 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 159 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 160 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 161 Can spring be far away?

  • 162 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 163 So this is the mainland!

  • 164 Torrington children build igloo
  • 165 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 166 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 167 New civic medallions

  • 168 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 169 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 170

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 171 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 172 Six footed lamb

  • 173 Parkham plan realised

  • 174 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 175 Out of puff!

  • 176 Burnard family reunion

  • 177 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 178 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 179 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 180 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 181

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 182 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 183 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 184 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 185 New life for Hartland organ

  • 186 Cruising down the river

  • 187 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 188 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 189 Hartland Dancers
  • 190 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 191 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 192 Hartland's invitation

  • 193 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 194 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 195

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 196 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 197 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 198 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 199

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 200 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 201 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 202 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 203 Daisy's pride and joy

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

  • 205 Revenge in style

  • 206 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 207

    Married in 1908
  • 208 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 209

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 210 Off on a great adventure

  • 211 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 212

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 213 Clovelly custom

  • 214 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 215 Bideford computer stars

  • 216 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 217

    First prize
  • 218 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 219 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 220 Pannier Market's future?

  • 221 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 222

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 223 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 224 A bird of their own!

  • 225 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 226 Landmark at Bradworthy

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

  • 228 What's the time?

  • 229 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 230 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 231 Northam footballers of the future

  • 232

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 233 New shipyard on schedule

  • 234 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 235 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 236 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 237 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 238 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 239 Simple Item 138
  • 240

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 241 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 242 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 243 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 244 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 245 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 246 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

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

  • 248 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 249 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 250 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 251

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 252 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 253 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 254 By pony and trap to market

  • 255 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 256 Private home for public pump

  • 257

    New gateway
  • 258 Service with a smile

  • 259 A roof-top view - where?

  • 260 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 261 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 262

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 263 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 264 New addition to Quay front

  • 265 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 266 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 267 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 268 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 269 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 270 Life begins at 80

  • 271 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 272 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 273 They are parted pro-tem

  • 274 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 275 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 276

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 277 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 278 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 279 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 280 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 281 New Post Office

  • 282 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 283 Appledore's largest

  • 284 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 285 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 286 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 287 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 288 Jumble sale fever

  • 289 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 290 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 291 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 292 He beat the floods

  • 293 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 294 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 295 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 296 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 297 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 298 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 299 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 300 School's link with cargo ship

  • 301 When horses score over the tractor

  • 302 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 303 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 304 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 305 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 306 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 307 113 years at Instow

  • 308

    Was a missionary
  • 309 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 310

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 311 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 312 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 313 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 314 Loads of black and white

  • 315

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 316 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 317 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 318

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 319 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 320 Students help model St Sidwell

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

  • 322 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 323 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 324 It really was the 'last time'

  • 325 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 326

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 327 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 328 Just over a year old

  • 329 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 330 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 331 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 332 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 333 No laughing matter

  • 334 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 335 A man and his wheel

  • 336 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 337 Last train from Torrington

  • 338 Devil sent packing

  • 339 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 340 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 341 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 342

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 343 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 344 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 345 The Geneva marionettes

  • 346 Traditions and skills still there

  • 347

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 348 Waldon Triplets
  • 349 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 350 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 351 Emergency ferry services

  • 352 Twenty-one yachts

  • 353 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 354

    Exhibition of school work
  • 355 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 356 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 357 No sale of Springfield House

  • 358 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 359 Puppet characters introduced

  • 360 Picking the pops

  • 361

    Bidefordians
  • 362 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 363 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 364 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 365 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 366 Ten year old scrambler

  • 367 Decontrol of meat

  • 368 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 369 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 370

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 371 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 372 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 373

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 374 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 375 Torrington's new amenity

  • 376 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 377 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 378 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 379 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 380

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 381 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 382 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 383 Peter poses for TV film

  • 384 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 385 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
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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Steep street of old Bideford

View of Bridge Street

This vista shows Bridge Street leading down to the Long Bridge and the river Torridge.

5 November 1954 Steep street of old Bideford

Up to about 1830 it was paved with cobbles and the top half had steps . After dark these steps were dangerous and after reports that a man received fatal injuries falling down them, the Town Council had the gradient evened up as now without interfering with the houses on either side but protecting the traffic by railings. Posts were placed at the top to prevent wheeled traffic. These were removed when the market was built.

Gazette article 5 November 1954

 

Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at Nursing exhibition

Model of Florence Nightingale

An exhibition attracting great attention at the London Nursing Exhibition was the lighted model of Florence Nightingale and her nurses in a ward of the army hospital at Scutari during the Crimean War which hade been designed and made specially for the exhibition by Miss Judith Ackland and Miss Mary Stella Edwards of Bideford.

22 October 1954 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists

They are perhaps best known as water-colour landscape artists but Miss Ackland also makes charming Jakanda model figures from cotton-wool by a secret process, with Miss Edwards carrying out much of the necessary research work for the models.

It was 100 years since Florence Nightingale set out on her mission to the Crimea.

Gazette article 22 October 1954

 

Torrington acclaims the 400th anniversary of the granting of its charter

Modern view of Torrington

A few years before the town received its charter, Leland, the noted librarian and chronicler, in his records proclaimed Torrington as a great town standing on the brow of a hill with fair streets, a good market and the best fair in all those quarters.

24 September Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary

In this arial photograph is seen displayed the main street pattern of this old town with a modern outlook.

Gazette article 24 September 1954

 

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