• 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
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1 The Geneva marionettes

  • 2 A sense of humour in advertising

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

  • 4 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 5 Weare Giffard potato

  • 6 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 7 Just over a year old

  • 8 Clovelly custom

  • 9 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 10 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 11 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 12 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 13 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 14 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 15 New Post Office

  • 16 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 17 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 18 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 19 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 20 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 21 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 22 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 23 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 24 Service with a smile

  • 25 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 26 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 27 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 28 Loads of black and white

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

  • 30 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 31 Bideford regatta

  • 32 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 33 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 34 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 35 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 36 A bird of their own!

  • 37 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 38 Simple Item 138
  • 39 A roof-top view - where?

  • 40

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 41 School's link with cargo ship

  • 42

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 43 Devil sent packing

  • 44 Jumble sale fever

  • 45 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 46 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 47

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 48 Police station view of Bideford

  • 49

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 50 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 51 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 52 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 53 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 54

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 55 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 56 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 57

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 58 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 59 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 60 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 61 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 62 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 63 Artisans' Club

  • 64

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 65 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 66 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 67 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 68 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 69 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 70 Parkham plan realised

  • 71 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 72 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 73 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 74 Littleham family's five generations

  • 75 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 76 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 77 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 78 Life begins at 80

  • 79 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 80 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 81 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 82 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 83

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 84 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 85 Six footed lamb

  • 86 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 87 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 88 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 89 Last train from Torrington

  • 90 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 91 Ten year old scrambler

  • 92 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 93 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 94

    Married in 1908
  • 95

    Building works
  • 96 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 97 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 98 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 99 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 100 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 101

    Exhibition of school work
  • 102 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 103 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 104 Variety in summer weather

  • 105 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 106 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 107 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 108 Torrington children build igloo
  • 109 Bridging the stream

  • 110 Warmington's garage ad

  • 111 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 112 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 113 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 114 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 115

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 116 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 117 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 118 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 119 They are parted pro-tem

  • 120 North Devon Driving School

  • 121 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 122

    New gateway
  • 123 Torrington in 1967

  • 124 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 125 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 126 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 127 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 128 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 129

    Was a missionary
  • 130 New life for Hartland organ

  • 131 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 132 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 133 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 134 Sight of a lifetime

  • 135 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 136 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 137 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 138 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 139 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 140 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 141 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

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

  • 143

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 144 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 145 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 146 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 147 Emergency ferry services

  • 148 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 149 Can spring be far away?

  • 150 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 151 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 152 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 153 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 154 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 155 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 156

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 157 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 158 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 159 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 160 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 161 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 162 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 163 Hartland postman retires

  • 164 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 165 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 166 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 167 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 168 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 169 Bideford loses training ship

  • 170

    Relatives all over the world
  • 171 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 172 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 173

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 174 Private home for public pump

  • 175 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 176 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 177 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 178 Picking the pops

  • 179 No sale of Springfield House

  • 180 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 181 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 182 Waldon Triplets
  • 183 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 184 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 185 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 186 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 187 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 188 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 189 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 190 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 191 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 192 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 193 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 194

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 195

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 196

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 197 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 198 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 199 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 200 A story to tell!

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

  • 202 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 203 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 204 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 205 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 206 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 207 When horses score over the tractor

  • 208 Northam footballers of the future

  • 209 From Bobby to Brian

  • 210 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 211 Cruising down the river

  • 212 Appledore's largest

  • 213 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 214

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 215 New Lundy stamps

  • 216

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 217 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 218 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 219 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 220 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 221 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 222 The art of the thatcher

  • 223 New art gallery opened

  • 224 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 225 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 226 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 227 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 228 Filming at Hartland

  • 229 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 230 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 231 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 232 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 233 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 234 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 235 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 236 Mobile missionary

  • 237 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 238 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 239 End of the line

  • 240 Torrington's new amenity

  • 241 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 242 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 243 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 244 Circus comes to town

  • 245 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 246 Sweets derationing

  • 247 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 248 Puppet characters introduced

  • 249 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 250 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 251 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 252 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 253 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 254 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 255 Traditions and skills still there

  • 256

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 257 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 258 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 259 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 260 No laughing matter

  • 261 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 262

    Bidefordians
  • 263 What's the time?

  • 264 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 265 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 266 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 267 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 268 Some 240 exhibits

  • 269 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 270 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 271 All for the love of a lady!

  • 272 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 273 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 274 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 275 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 276 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 277 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 278 By pony and trap to market

  • 279 Capers on the cobbles

  • 280 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 281 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 282 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 283 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 284 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 285 The cab at the corner>
  • 286 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 287

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 288 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 289 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 290 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 291

    First prize
  • 292 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 293

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 294 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 295 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 296 Out of puff!

  • 297 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 298 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 299 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 300

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 301 He beat the floods

  • 302 For crying out loud!

  • 303 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 304 Pannier Market's future?

  • 305 Modern living at Bideford

  • 306 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 307 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 308 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 309 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 310 A man and his wheel

  • 311 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 312 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 313 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 314 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 315 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 316 Hartland Dancers
  • 317 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 318 Recognise this resort?

  • 319 All aboard the ark

  • 320 Decontrol of meat

  • 321 So this is the mainland!

  • 322 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 323 Some mushroom!

  • 324 X-ray shoe fitting

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

  • 326 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 327 Gloves fit for a king!

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

  • 329 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 330 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 331 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 332

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 333 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 334 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 335 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 336 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 337 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 338 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 339 Peter poses for TV film

  • 340 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 341 New addition to Quay front

  • 342 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 343 Happy Days!

  • 344 New shipyard on schedule

  • 345 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 346 113 years at Instow

  • 347 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 348 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 349 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 350 Riverside mystery

  • 351 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 352 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 353 Northam's almshouse

  • 354 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

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

  • 356 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 357 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 358

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 359 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 360 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 361 Ships at Bideford

  • 362 New choral society's growing response

  • 363 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 364 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 365 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 366 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 367 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 368 Finished in 1876

  • 369 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 370 Picking the pops

  • 371 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 372 Clovelly nightmare

  • 373 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 374 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 375 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 376 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 377 New civic medallions

  • 378 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 379 School crossing patrol begins

  • 380 First ship in 8 years

  • 381 Twenty-one yachts

  • 382 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 383 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 384 Bideford computer stars

  • 385 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 386

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 387 Westward Ho! combined op

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

  • 389 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 390 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 391 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 392 Revenge in style

  • 393 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 394 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 395 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

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

  • 397 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 398 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 399 It really was the 'last time'

  • 400 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 401 New look in the hayfields

  • 402 Centenary of Gazette

  • 403 Off on a great adventure

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

  • 405 Hartland's invitation

  • 406 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 407 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 408 Penny for the guy

  • 409 Burnard family reunion

  • 410 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 411

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 412 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 413 In their new robes and hats

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

Read More
and suddenly it's spring

Cadds Down Farm

1 March 1974

Joined by Trixie, the pony

READ MORE

  • 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.

    Read More

  • 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.

    Read More

  • 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;

    Read More
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
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...

Read More
 

Shipyard goes into liquidation 1963

Liquidator appointed

4 January 1963

Difficulty in retaining labour...

Read More

Born 1883, still going strong

Last ketch left at sea

The ketch Emma Louise, photographed recently upon the Hubbastone patent slip, Appledore, for repairs, is the last of the ships built at Westacott’s yard, Barnstaple, left at sea. In the eighteen eighties there were at least 30 of them.

6 June 1952 Born 1883 still going strong

Built in 1883 she was John Westacott’s last ship in his Barnstaple yard before moving to the river Torridge at Lower Cleavehouses. She is registered at Bideford and is owned at Minehead.

Gazette article 6 June 1952

 

400 Ton cargo landed at East-the-Water

Vessel at Clarence Wharf

No trading vessel of size had berthed at Clarence Wharf owned by the Devon Trading Company at East-the-Water, Bideford for eight years until the m.v. Futurity docked on Friday morning of last week.

16 May 1952 400 ton cargo landed at East the Water

The company decided to dredge an eight years accumulation of silt from the Quay wall at their wharf and to re-open it for heavier vessels. It is now possible for vessels up to 400 tons to come alongside.

The Futurity arrived from the Medway with 400 tons of cement at 5.45 a.m. and orders placed were already being delivered, some going to the East Yelland Power Station.

Gazette article 16 May 1952

 

 

Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

New headquarters for Rural Council

The photograph shows th new headquarters-to-be of Bideford Rural Council, the draft of the lease from Bideford Bridge Trust having been approved by their special committee and the tenancy dated from 9 May.

2 May 1952 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

The Western National Bus Co. had been tenants of Grenville House for ten years. At one time it was the private residence of a Dr Thompson. In those days it was known as ‘The Mansion House’. It is believed to be just over 100 years old. When repairs to the building were being carried out it was found that some of its bricks had been made at Cleavehouses, Northam.

Gazette article 2 May 1952

 

  • 1

Login Form