• 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 Circus comes to town

  • 2 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 3 From Bobby to Brian

  • 4 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 5 Private home for public pump

  • 6

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 7 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 8 Northam footballers of the future

  • 9

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 10 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 11 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

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

  • 13 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 14 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 15 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 16 Last train from Torrington

  • 17 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 18 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

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

  • 20 Littleham family's five generations

  • 21 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 22

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 23 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 24 Jumble sale fever

  • 25 For crying out loud!

  • 26 They are parted pro-tem

  • 27 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 28 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 29 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 30 New addition to Quay front

  • 31 Ten year old scrambler

  • 32 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 33 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 34 Torrington children build igloo
  • 35 It really was the 'last time'

  • 36 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 37 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 38 Picking the pops

  • 39 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 40 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 41 Bideford loses training ship

  • 42 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 43 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 44 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 45 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 46 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 47 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 48

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 49 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 50 What's the time?

  • 51 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 52 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 53

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 54 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

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

  • 56 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 57 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 58 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 59 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 60 Centenary of Gazette

  • 61 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 62 Riverside mystery

  • 63 Puppet characters introduced

  • 64 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 65 Mobile missionary

  • 66 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 67 By pony and trap to market

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

  • 69 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 70 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 71 No laughing matter

  • 72 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 73 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 74 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 75 Weare Giffard potato

  • 76 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 77 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 78 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 79 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

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

  • 81 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 82 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 83 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 84 Happy Days!

  • 85 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 86 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 87 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 88 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 89 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 90 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 91 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 92 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 93 A story to tell!

  • 94 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 95 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 96 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 97

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 98 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 99 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 100 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 101 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 102 Filming at Hartland

  • 103 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 104 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 105 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 106 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 107 Police station view of Bideford

  • 108 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 109 Six footed lamb

  • 110 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 111 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 112 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 113 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 114

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 115 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 116 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 117 Traditions and skills still there

  • 118 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 119 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 120

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 121 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 122 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 123 113 years at Instow

  • 124 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 125 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 126 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 127 Sight of a lifetime

  • 128 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 129 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 130 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 131 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 132

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 133

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 134 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 135

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 136 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 137 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 138 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 139 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 140 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 141 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 142 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 143 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 144 Burnard family reunion

  • 145 New life for Hartland organ

  • 146 Off on a great adventure

  • 147 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 148 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 149 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 150 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 151 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 152 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 153 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 154 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 155 The cab at the corner>
  • 156 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 157 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 158 Parkham plan realised

  • 159 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 160 Bideford regatta

  • 161 In their new robes and hats

  • 162 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 163 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 164 Simple Item 138
  • 165 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 166 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 167 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 168 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 169 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 170 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 171 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 172 Capers on the cobbles

  • 173 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 174 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 175 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 176 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 177 When horses score over the tractor

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

  • 179 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 180 He beat the floods

  • 181 So this is the mainland!

  • 182 School crossing patrol begins

  • 183 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 184 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 185 New Post Office

  • 186 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 187 Just over a year old

  • 188 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 189

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 190 New Estate's view of estuary activities

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

  • 192 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 193 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 194

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 195 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 196 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 197 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 198 New shipyard on schedule

  • 199

    Married in 1908
  • 200 New Lundy stamps

  • 201 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 202 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 203 The Geneva marionettes

  • 204 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 205 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 206 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 207 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 208 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 209 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 210 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 211 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 212 Torrington's new amenity

  • 213 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 214 Warmington's garage ad

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

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

  • 217 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 218 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 219 Modern living at Bideford

  • 220 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 221 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 222 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 223 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 224

    Relatives all over the world
  • 225 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 226 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 227 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 228 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 229 A man and his wheel

  • 230 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 231 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 232 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 233 Out of puff!

  • 234 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 235 Picking the pops

  • 236 Sweets derationing

  • 237 Can spring be far away?

  • 238 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 239 New art gallery opened

  • 240 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 241 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 242 Hartland Dancers
  • 243 A bird of their own!

  • 244 All for the love of a lady!

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

  • 246 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 247 Some 240 exhibits

  • 248 No sale of Springfield House

  • 249 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 250 Variety in summer weather

  • 251 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 252 A roof-top view - where?

  • 253 Loads of black and white

  • 254

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 255 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 256 School's link with cargo ship

  • 257 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 258 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 259 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 260 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 261 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 262 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 263

    New gateway
  • 264 Bridging the stream

  • 265 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 266 New civic medallions

  • 267 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 268 Emergency ferry services

  • 269 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 270 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 271 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 272 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 273 North Devon Driving School

  • 274 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 275 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 276 Hartland postman retires

  • 277 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 278 End of the line

  • 279 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 280 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 281 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 282 Ships at Bideford

  • 283 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 284 Revenge in style

  • 285 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 286

    Exhibition of school work
  • 287 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 288 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 289 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 290 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 291 New choral society's growing response

  • 292 Appledore's largest

  • 293 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 294 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 295 First ship in 8 years

  • 296 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 297 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 298 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 299 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 300

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 301

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 302 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 303 All aboard the ark

  • 304 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 305 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 306 Decontrol of meat

  • 307 Devil sent packing

  • 308 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 309 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 310 Peter poses for TV film

  • 311 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 312 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 313 Clovelly nightmare

  • 314

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 315 Bideford computer stars

  • 316 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 317 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 318 New look in the hayfields

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

  • 320

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 321

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 322 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 323

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 324 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 325

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 326 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 327 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 328 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 329 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 330 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 331 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 332 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 333 Northam's almshouse

  • 334 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 335 Finished in 1876

  • 336 Twenty-one yachts

  • 337 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 338 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 339 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 340 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 341 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 342 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 343 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 344 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 345 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 346 Cruising down the river

  • 347 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 348

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

  • 350 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 351 The art of the thatcher

  • 352 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 353

    Building works
  • 354 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 355 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 356 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 357 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 358 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 359 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 360

    First prize
  • 361 Bideford - as Rowlandson saw it about 1810-15

  • 362 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 363 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 364 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 365 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 366 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 367 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 368 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 369 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 370 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 371 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 372 Penny for the guy

  • 373 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 374 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 375 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 376 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 377 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 378

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 379 Service with a smile

  • 380 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 381 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 382 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 383 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 384 Recognise this resort?

  • 385

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 386

    Bidefordians
  • 387 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 388 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 389 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 390 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 391 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 392 Hartland's invitation

  • 393 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 394 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 395 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 396

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 397 Some mushroom!

  • 398 Clovelly custom

  • 399

    Was a missionary
  • 400 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 401 Waldon Triplets
  • 402 Life begins at 80

  • 403 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 404 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 405 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 406 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 407 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 408 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 409 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 410 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 411 Torrington in 1967

  • 412 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 413 Pannier Market's future?

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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Making way for the double-deckers

Road widening in Northam

During the past week, work has been progressing on the widening of the corner at the junction of Burrough road with Castle street, Northam, so as to make it easier for double-decked omnibuses to use the Lenard road route on the way to Appledore and so by-pass narrow Cross Street.

27 June 1952 Making way for the double deckers

When the work is complete the buses will return to this alternative route on the run from Bideford to Appledore. Buses returning from Appledore to Bideford will continue to use the Cross Street route.

Gazette article 27 June 1952

 

 

New look in the hayfields

Harvest at Westward Ho!

Hayfields in the district are being given a ‘new look’ when the Vendeuvre hay baling machine gets to work, rectangular bales taking the place of the familiar rounded pokes of hay. After the hay has been cut, dried and raked into rows stretching the length of the field, the Vendeuvre is brought in and picks up the hay, feeds it into the machine where a number of arms pummel the hay into tightly-packed rectangular bales which are then tied twice with cord and deposited on the ground.

27 June 1952 New look in the hayfields

This photograph was taken in a three-acre field at Westward Ho! which yielded nearly 400 bales of hay.

Gazette article 27 June 1952

 

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

 

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