• 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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    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 2 Some 240 exhibits

  • 3 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 4 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 5 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 6 School crossing patrol begins

  • 7 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 8

    Exhibition of school work
  • 9 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 10 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 11 He beat the floods

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

  • 13 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 14 Bideford computer stars

  • 15 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 16 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 17 Can spring be far away?

  • 18 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 19 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 20 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 21 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 22 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 23 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 24 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 25

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 26

    New gateway
  • 27 Centenary of Gazette

  • 28 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 29 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 30 Twenty-one yachts

  • 31 Circus comes to town

  • 32 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 33 All aboard the ark

  • 34 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 35 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 36 First ship in 8 years

  • 37 Clovelly nightmare

  • 38 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 39 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 40 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 41 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

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

  • 43 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 44 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 45 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 46 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 47 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 48 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 49 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 50 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 51 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 52 From Bobby to Brian

  • 53 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 54

    Married in 1908
  • 55 New shipyard on schedule

  • 56 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 57 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 58 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 59 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 60 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 61 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 62

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 63 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 64 New choral society's growing response

  • 65

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 66 Littleham family's five generations

  • 67 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 68 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 69 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 70 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 71 113 years at Instow

  • 72 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 73 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 74 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 75 Happy Days!

  • 76 The cab at the corner>
  • 77 Revenge in style

  • 78 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 79 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 80 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 81 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 82 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 83 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 84 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 85 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 86 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 87 Simple Item 138
  • 88 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 89

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 90 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 91 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 92 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 93 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 94 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 95 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 96 Service with a smile

  • 97 A story to tell!

  • 98 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 99

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 100 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 101 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 102 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 103 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 104

    Bidefordians
  • 105 Weare Giffard potato

  • 106

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 107 Jumble sale fever

  • 108 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 109

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 110 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 111 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 112 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 113 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 114 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 115 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 116 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 117 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 118 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 119 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 120 Torrington in 1967

  • 121 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 122 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 123 When horses score over the tractor

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

  • 125 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 126 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 127 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 128 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 129 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 130 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 131 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 132 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 133 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 134 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 135 A man and his wheel

  • 136 Hartland postman retires

  • 137 Puppet characters introduced

  • 138 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 139 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 140 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 141 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 142 Private home for public pump

  • 143

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 144 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 145 Peter poses for TV film

  • 146 Warmington's garage ad

  • 147 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 148 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 149 End of the line

  • 150 Mobile missionary

  • 151 A bird of their own!

  • 152 Life begins at 80

  • 153 Recognise this resort?

  • 154 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 155 Riverside mystery

  • 156 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 157 The Geneva marionettes

  • 158 New addition to Quay front

  • 159 New civic medallions

  • 160 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 161 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 162 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 163 Loads of black and white

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

  • 165 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 166 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 167 Sweets derationing

  • 168 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 169 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 170 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 171 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 172 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 173 Revived market off to splendid start

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

  • 175 Bideford loses training ship

  • 176 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 177 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 178 North Devon Driving School

  • 179

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 180 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 181 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 182 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 183 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 184 Cruising down the river

  • 185

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 186 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 187 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 188 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 189

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 190 Six footed lamb

  • 191 Police station view of Bideford

  • 192 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 193 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 194 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 195 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 196 Just over a year old

  • 197 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

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

  • 199 All for the love of a lady!

  • 200 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 201

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 202 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 203 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 204 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 205 Pannier Market's future?

  • 206 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 207 What's the time?

  • 208 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 209 Hartland's invitation

  • 210 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 211 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 212 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 213 Last train from Torrington

  • 214

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 215 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 216 Ships at Bideford

  • 217 Waldon Triplets
  • 218

    Building works
  • 219 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 220 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 221 So this is the mainland!

  • 222 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 223 Picking the pops

  • 224

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 225 Clovelly donkey film star

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

  • 227 Bridging the stream

  • 228 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 229 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 230 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 231 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 232 Variety in summer weather

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

  • 234 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 235 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 236 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 237 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 238 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 239 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 240 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 241 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 242 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 243 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 244

    Was a missionary
  • 245 School's link with cargo ship

  • 246 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 247 New Post Office

  • 248 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 249 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 250 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 251 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 252 Traditions and skills still there

  • 253 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 254 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 255 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 256 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 257

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 258 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 259 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 260 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 261 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 262 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 263 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 264 Filming at Hartland

  • 265 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 266 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 267 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 268 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 269 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 270 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 271 Parkham plan realised

  • 272 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 273 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 274 Appledore's largest

  • 275 Ten year old scrambler

  • 276 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 277 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 278 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 279 Off on a great adventure

  • 280 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 281 Hartland Dancers
  • 282 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 283

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 284 New life for Hartland organ

  • 285 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 286 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 287 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 288 Emergency ferry services

  • 289 Decontrol of meat

  • 290 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 291 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 292 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 293 A roof-top view - where?

  • 294 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 295 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 296 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 297 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 298 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 299 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 300 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 301 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 302

    First prize
  • 303 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 304 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 305 Down at the dump something stirs

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

  • 307 New look in the hayfields

  • 308 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 309 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 310 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 311

    Relatives all over the world
  • 312

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 313 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 314 Out of puff!

  • 315 Sight of a lifetime

  • 316 Penny for the guy

  • 317 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 318 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 319

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 320 Burnard family reunion

  • 321

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 322 Artisans' Club

  • 323 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 324 Finished in 1876

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

  • 326 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 327 Modern living at Bideford

  • 328 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 329 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 330 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 331 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 332 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 333

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 334 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 335 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 336 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 337

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 338

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 339 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 340 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 341 For crying out loud!

  • 342

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 343 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 344 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 345 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 346 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 347 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 348 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 349 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 350 No sale of Springfield House

  • 351 Bideford regatta

  • 352 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 353 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 354 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 355 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 356 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 357 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 358 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 359 Capers on the cobbles

  • 360 Torrington's new amenity

  • 361 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 362 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 363 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 364 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 365 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 366 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 367 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 368 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 369 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

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

  • 371 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 372

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 373 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 374 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 375 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 376 No laughing matter

  • 377 Picking the pops

  • 378 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 379 Devil sent packing

  • 380 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 381 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 382 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 383 Some mushroom!

  • 384 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 385 New Lundy stamps

  • 386 New art gallery opened

  • 387 Torrington children build igloo
  • 388 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 389 Northam's almshouse

  • 390 In their new robes and hats

  • 391 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 392 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 393 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 394 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 395 It really was the 'last time'

  • 396 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 397 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 398 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 399 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 400 They are parted pro-tem

  • 401 By pony and trap to market

  • 402 Northam footballers of the future

  • 403 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 404 Clovelly custom

  • 405 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 406 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 407 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 408 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 409 Daisy's pride and joy

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

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

  • 412 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 413 The art of the thatcher

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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Riverside mystery

How many can fix this Bideford object?

Is it St George? Is it one of Caesar’s men? Does it depict the guarding spirit of a reputable centre of hospitality?

We know it is a familiar symbol above the main entrance to Tanton’s Hotel, Bideford, where it commands the river stretch and Long Bridge.

29 August 1952 Riverside mystery

One supposition is that it was a ship’s figurehead from an old sailing vessel repaired in the port which found its way into the hands of a previous owner of the hotel. Mr Berale, the manager of the hotel, said he understood the legend to be that a sea captain who couldn’t pay his bill and left his ship’s figurehead in lieu in about 1865.

Gazette article 29 August 1952

 

Unique holiday adventure!

In the footsteps of Dr Johnson and Mr Boswell

James Boswell, the biographer of Dr Johnson, showed an admiration for literary men. He made a tour of the Hebrides with him in 1773, the Journal of which he afterwards published.

At the present moment, a Bidefordian, Miss E.F. (Betty) Stucley, daughter of Sir Hugh Stucley of Moreton, is following in the footsteps taken by that famous partnership nearly 200 years ago. She is accompanied by her adopted son, David, aged 8 and her companion.

15 August 1952 Unique holiday adventure

The picture above shows the disused Bideford motor ambulance which has been converted into a caravan for the tour at Messrs. Petherick’s Northam Road garage, Bideford. The name plate ‘Dr Johnson and Mr Boswell’ has pride of place on the front.

Gazette article 15 August 1952

 

Television comes to Torridge District

Thanks to new Wenvoe station

Official opening planned for 15 August. During the past few weeks test signals have been sent out daily, giving local radio dealers an opportunity to adjust sets to this frequency.

Mr Leslie Braddick of Westward Ho! was completely satisfied with results obtained in Northam and Westward Ho!. Reception in Bideford was reported last week as fair. Isolated instances of poor reception will no doubt occur but these will be gradually cleared-up.

8 August 1952 Television comes to Torridge district

Television is virtually new to the district with only a few scattered sets being installed.

Gazette article 8 August 1952

 

 

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