• 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 What's the time?

  • 2 Filming at Hartland

  • 3 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 4 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 5 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 6 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 7

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 8

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 9 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 10 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 11 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 12 No laughing matter

  • 13 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 14 First ship in 8 years

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

  • 16 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 17 Faints as she wins national competition

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

  • 19 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 20 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 21 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 22 Penny for the guy

  • 23 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 24 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 25 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 26 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 27 For crying out loud!

  • 28 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 29 Bideford loses training ship

  • 30 All aboard the ark

  • 31 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 32 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 33 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 34 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 35 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 36 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 37 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

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

  • 39 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 40 He beat the floods

  • 41 A bird of their own!

  • 42 The cab at the corner>
  • 43 Torrington's new amenity

  • 44 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 45 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 46 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 47 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 48 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 49

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 50 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 51 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 52

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 53 Dismantling of wireless mast

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

  • 55 New shipyard on schedule

  • 56 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 57 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 58 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 59 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 60 Warmington's garage ad

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

  • 62 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 63 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 64 Clovelly nightmare

  • 65 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 66 Capers on the cobbles

  • 67 North Devon Driving School

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

  • 69 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 70 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 71 Northam's almshouse

  • 72 Picking the pops

  • 73 Finished in 1876

  • 74 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 75 It really was the 'last time'

  • 76 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 77 New choral society's growing response

  • 78 They are parted pro-tem

  • 79 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 80 Last train from Torrington

  • 81 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 82 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 83 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 84 Clovelly custom

  • 85 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 86 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 87 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 88 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 89 Torrington in 1967

  • 90 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 91 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 92 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 93 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 94 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

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

  • 96 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 97 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 98 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 99 Torrington children build igloo
  • 100 Riverside mystery

  • 101 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 102 Just over a year old

  • 103 Recognise this resort?

  • 104 Decontrol of meat

  • 105 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 106 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 107 Burnard family reunion

  • 108 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 109 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 110 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 111 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 112 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 113 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 114 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 115

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 116 Can spring be far away?

  • 117 Loads of black and white

  • 118 113 years at Instow

  • 119 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 120 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 121 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 122 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 123 Off on a great adventure

  • 124 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 125 Panto time at Westward Ho!

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

  • 127 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 128 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 129

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 130 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 131 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 132 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 133 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 134 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 135 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 136 Circus comes to town

  • 137 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 138 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 139

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 140 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 141 Wishing well is pixielated

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

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

  • 144 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 145 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 146 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 147

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 148 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 149 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 150 Weare Giffard potato

  • 151 Bideford computer stars

  • 152 Private home for public pump

  • 153 End of the line

  • 154 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 155 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 156 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 157 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 158 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 159 The art of the thatcher

  • 160 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 161 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 162 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 163 Bridging the stream

  • 164 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 165

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 166 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 167 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 168 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 169 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 170 The Geneva marionettes

  • 171 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 172 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 173 Ten year old scrambler

  • 174 Cruising down the river

  • 175 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 176 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 177 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 178 Bideford regatta

  • 179 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 180

    Bidefordians
  • 181 Littleham family's five generations

  • 182 Sweets derationing

  • 183 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 184 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 185 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 186 School's link with cargo ship

  • 187 Devil sent packing

  • 188 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 189 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 190 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 191 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 192 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 193 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 194

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 195 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 196 Some mushroom!

  • 197 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 198 Out of puff!

  • 199

    New gateway
  • 200 Appledore's largest

  • 201 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 202 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 203

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 204 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 205 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 206 Service with a smile

  • 207 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 208 Revenge in style

  • 209 Sight of a lifetime

  • 210 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 211 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 212 Safe door weighing two tons

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

  • 214 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 215 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 216 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 217 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 218 Police station view of Bideford

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

  • 220 Twenty-one yachts

  • 221

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 222 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 223

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 224

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 225 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 226 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 227 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 228 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 229 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 230 New civic medallions

  • 231 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 232 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 233

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 234

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 235 Mobile missionary

  • 236 Artisans' Club

  • 237 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 238

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 239 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 240

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 241 By pony and trap to market

  • 242 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 243 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 244 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 245 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 246 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 247 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 248 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 249 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 250 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 251 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 252 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 253 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 254 Puppet characters introduced

  • 255 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 256 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 257 Jumble sale fever

  • 258 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 259 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 260

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 261 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 262 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 263 Picking the pops

  • 264

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 265

    Was a missionary
  • 266 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 267 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 268 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 269 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 270 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 271 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 272 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 273 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 274 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 275 School crossing patrol begins

  • 276 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 277

    Exhibition of school work
  • 278 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 279 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 280 Simple Item 138
  • 281

    First prize
  • 282 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 283 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 284 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 285 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 286 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 287 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 288 New life for Hartland organ

  • 289 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 290 Emergency ferry services

  • 291 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 292 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 293 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 294 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 295 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 296 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 297 Northam footballers of the future

  • 298

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 299 No sale of Springfield House

  • 300 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 301 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 302 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 303 A roof-top view - where?

  • 304 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 305 Waldon Triplets
  • 306 New Post Office

  • 307 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 308 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 309 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 310 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 311 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 312

    Relatives all over the world
  • 313 Six footed lamb

  • 314 So this is the mainland!

  • 315 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 316 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 317 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 318 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 319 A story to tell!

  • 320 From Bobby to Brian

  • 321 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 322

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 323 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 324 Hartland's invitation

  • 325 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 326 Variety in summer weather

  • 327 In their new robes and hats

  • 328 Centenary of Gazette

  • 329 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 330

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 331 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 332 Traditions and skills still there

  • 333 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 334 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 335 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 336 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 337 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 338 Ships at Bideford

  • 339 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 340 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 341 Modern living at Bideford

  • 342 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 343 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 344 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 345 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 346 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 347 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 348 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 349 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 350 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 351 Hartland Dancers
  • 352 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 353 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 354 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 355 Happy Days!

  • 356

    Building works
  • 357 Some 240 exhibits

  • 358 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 359 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 360 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 361 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 362 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 363 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 364

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 365 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

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

  • 367 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 368 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 369 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 370 Pannier Market's future?

  • 371

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 372 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 373 New Lundy stamps

  • 374 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 375 When horses score over the tractor

  • 376 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 377 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 378 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 379 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 380 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 381 New look in the hayfields

  • 382 New art gallery opened

  • 383 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 384

    Married in 1908
  • 385 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 386 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 387 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 388 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 389 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 390 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 391 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 392 Life begins at 80

  • 393 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 394 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 395 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 396 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 397 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 398 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 399 All for the love of a lady!

  • 400 A man and his wheel

  • 401 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 402 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 403 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 404 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 405 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 406 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 407 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 408 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 409 Parkham plan realised

  • 410 Hartland postman retires

  • 411 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 412 New addition to Quay front

  • 413 Peter poses for TV film

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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  • 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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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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Bideford 60-ft stack felled

Impressive start to new housing plans

Bideford’s last link with collar-factory days went down with a wallop! It was the 60-ft. high chimney stack, last remnant of the factory off Northam Causeway, Bideford, that was in full operation some 50 years ago. Before the last war it had become Bideford and District Laundry until during the war years it was completely gutted by fire. Recently Bideford Bridge Trust sold the site of the old factory to Mr Arthur Beer for purposes of housing development.

19 November 1954 Last of Bideford factory chimney

Two carpenters and a labourer began preparations at 8 a.m, replacing one side of the base of the chimney with wood props which they set fire to. As the wood burnt through, the huge column of red bricks fell over dead-on line with an impressive thump.

Gazette article 19 November 1954

 

Bideford ‘What’s my line?” challenger

Mrs Patt on T.V.

Mrs F. Patt of Bideford failed to beat the ‘What’s my line?’ television panel on Sunday evening’s programme.

5 November 1954 Bideford whats my line challenger

The panel were up to their last two questions when they discovered her occupation which she gave as ‘putting jam into doughnuts’. Earlier Gilbert Harding had made a geographical guess that Mrs Patt might be a ‘Cornish pasty filler-upper’.

Mrs Patt brought a ‘very nice cake from the people of Bideford’ and invited the panel – David Nixon, Lady Barnett, Gilbert Harding and Barbara Kelly – to sample it after the show.

In the photograph of the T.V. picture Mrs Patt is seen next to Eamonn Andrews, the Question Master.

Gazette article 5 November 1954

 

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

 

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