• 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 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 2 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 3 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 4 Modern living at Bideford

  • 5

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 6 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 7 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 8 By pony and trap to market

  • 9 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 10 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 11 Finished in 1876

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

  • 13 What's the time?

  • 14 New Post Office

  • 15 Capers on the cobbles

  • 16 Hartland Dancers
  • 17 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 18 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 19 Bideford computer stars

  • 20 Clovelly custom

  • 21

    New gateway
  • 22 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 23 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 24 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 25 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 26 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 27 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 28 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 29 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 30 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 31 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 32 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 33 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 34 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 35 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 36 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 37 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 38 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 39

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 40 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 41 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 42 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 43 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 44 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 45 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 46 Liked holidays here - so starts business

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

  • 48 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 49 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 50 A man and his wheel

  • 51 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 52

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 53 Weare Giffard potato

  • 54 Cruising down the river

  • 55 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 56

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 57 Revenge in style

  • 58 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 59 Variety in summer weather

  • 60 New civic medallions

  • 61 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 62 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 63 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 64 No sale of Springfield House

  • 65 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 66 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 67 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 68 Northam's almshouse

  • 69 Northam footballers of the future

  • 70 Some 240 exhibits

  • 71 Hartland postman retires

  • 72 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 73 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 74 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 75 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 76 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 77 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 78 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 79 So this is the mainland!

  • 80 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 81 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 82 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 83 Picking the pops

  • 84 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 85 Artisans' Club

  • 86 Six footed lamb

  • 87 School crossing patrol begins

  • 88 Puppet characters introduced

  • 89 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 90 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 91 Off on a great adventure

  • 92 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 93 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 94 Ships at Bideford

  • 95 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 96 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 97 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 98 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

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

  • 100

    Was a missionary
  • 101 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

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

  • 103 Private home for public pump

  • 104 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 105 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 106 Clovelly nightmare

  • 107 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 108 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 109 Appledore's largest

  • 110 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 111 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 112 New art gallery opened

  • 113 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 114 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 115 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 116 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 117 Bideford loses training ship

  • 118 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 119 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 120 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 121 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 122

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 123 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 124 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 125 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 126 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 127 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 128 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 129 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 130 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 131 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 132 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 133 In their new robes and hats

  • 134 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 135 Twenty-one yachts

  • 136 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 137 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 138 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 139 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 140 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 141 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 142 The art of the thatcher

  • 143 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 144 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 145 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 146 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 147 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 148 North Devon Driving School

  • 149 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 150 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 151 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 152 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 153 Simple Item 138
  • 154 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 155

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 156 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 157 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 158 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 159 Police station view of Bideford

  • 160 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 161 Out of puff!

  • 162 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 163 Hartland's invitation

  • 164 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 165 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 166 All aboard the ark

  • 167 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 168 Bideford regatta

  • 169 Centenary of Gazette

  • 170 All for the love of a lady!

  • 171 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 172 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 173 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 174

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 175 Can spring be far away?

  • 176 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 177 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 178 Loads of black and white

  • 179 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 180 Littleham family's five generations

  • 181 A craftsman's 'potted' history

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

  • 183 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 184 Torrington children build igloo
  • 185

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 186 When horses score over the tractor

  • 187 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 188 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 189 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 190

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 191 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 192 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 193 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 194 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 195

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 196

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 197 Torrington in 1967

  • 198 Mobile missionary

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

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

  • 201 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 202 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 203 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 204 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 205

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 206

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 207 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 208 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 209 Burnard family reunion

  • 210 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 211 Torrington's new amenity

  • 212 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 213 They are parted pro-tem

  • 214 Some mushroom!

  • 215

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 216

    Bidefordians
  • 217 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 218

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 219 X-ray shoe fitting

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

  • 221 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 222 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 223 Devil sent packing

  • 224 Peter poses for TV film

  • 225 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 226 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 227

    First prize
  • 228 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 229

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 230 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 231 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 232 New shipyard on schedule

  • 233 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 234 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 235 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 236 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 237

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 238 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 239 He beat the floods

  • 240

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 241 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 242 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 243 Waldon Triplets
  • 244 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 245 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 246 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 247 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 248 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 249 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 250 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 251 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 252 It really was the 'last time'

  • 253 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 254 Pannier Market's future?

  • 255 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 256 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 257 New choral society's growing response

  • 258 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 259 Just over a year old

  • 260 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 261 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 262

    Exhibition of school work
  • 263

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 264 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 265 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 266 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 267 Happy Days!

  • 268

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 269 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 270 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 271 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 272 Circus comes to town

  • 273 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 274 Last train from Torrington

  • 275 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 276 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 277 Parkham plan realised

  • 278 Decontrol of meat

  • 279 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 280 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 281 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 282

    Relatives all over the world
  • 283 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 284 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 285 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 286 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 287 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 288 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 289 New life for Hartland organ

  • 290 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 291 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 292 New look in the hayfields

  • 293 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 294

    Building works
  • 295 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 296 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 297

    Married in 1908
  • 298 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 299 The Geneva marionettes

  • 300

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 301 A bird of their own!

  • 302 Sight of a lifetime

  • 303 Traditions and skills still there

  • 304 For crying out loud!

  • 305 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 306 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 307 New addition to Quay front

  • 308 Service with a smile

  • 309 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 310 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 311 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 312 No laughing matter

  • 313 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 314

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 315 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 316 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 317 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 318 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 319 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 320 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 321 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 322

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 323 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 324 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 325 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 326 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 327

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 328 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 329 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 330 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 331 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 332 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 333 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 334 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 335 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 336 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 337 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 338

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 339 Emergency ferry services

  • 340 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 341 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 342 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 343 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 344 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 345 Ten year old scrambler

  • 346 First ship in 8 years

  • 347 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 348 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 349 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 350 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 351 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

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

  • 353 Picking the pops

  • 354 School's link with cargo ship

  • 355 A roof-top view - where?

  • 356 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 357 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 358 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 359 Jumble sale fever

  • 360 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 361 Recognise this resort?

  • 362 Penny for the guy

  • 363 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 364 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 365 Bridging the stream

  • 366 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 367 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 368 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 369 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 370 Riverside mystery

  • 371 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 372 New Lundy stamps

  • 373 113 years at Instow

  • 374 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 375 A story to tell!

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

  • 377 Students help model St Sidwell

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

  • 379 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 380 Warmington's garage ad

  • 381 End of the line

  • 382 Life begins at 80

  • 383 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 384 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 385 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

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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Centenary of the Gazette

Gazette celebrates 100 years

The infant Gazette, which was first published as a monthly and then became a weekly, soon began to build up its circulation. Today it is estimated each issue is seen by some 30,000 people actual copies sold having increased by over 50 per cent since 1939.

12 March 1954 Centenary of Gazette

Today, a home of ships, a busy main road, and a pleasant promenade, Bideford Quay is all these and more .

The magic of far-away places and strange-sounding names is still to be found along Bideford Quay which was reconstructed in its present form 64 years ago.

Gazette article 12 March 1954

 

 

New Post Office

As planned for Bideford in 1939

In 1939 a new post office building for Bideford, costing in the region of £15,000 was planned and the design illustrated was published. The war came soon afterwards, plans were shelved for more pressing needs and no such building has materialized as yet.

26 February 1954 New post office

Gazette article 26 February 1954

New Estate’s view of estuary activities

Vantage point at Appledore

From a vantage point below the ‘Lookout’, Appledore, the panorama of the estuary stretches out to the bar and here the m.v. ‘Fluidity’ is seen nosing her way in on the flooding tide accompanied by the pilot boat.

22 January 1954 New estates view of estuary activities

This splendid view will greet the residents of the new housing estate which Northam Urban District Council are erecting at West Appledore. The converted huts of the former naval camp there will be removed.

Gazette article 22 January 1954

 

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