• 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 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 2 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 3 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 4

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 5 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 6

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 7 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 8 All aboard the ark

  • 9 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 10 Centenary of Gazette

  • 11 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 12 Some mushroom!

  • 13 Torrington's new amenity

  • 14 No sale of Springfield House

  • 15 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 16 He beat the floods

  • 17 All for the love of a lady!

  • 18 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 19 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 20 A story to tell!

  • 21 Pannier Market's future?

  • 22 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 23 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 24 Northam's almshouse

  • 25 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 26 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 27 No laughing matter

  • 28 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 29 School's link with cargo ship

  • 30 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 31 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 32 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 33 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 34 Waldon Triplets
  • 35

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 36 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 37 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 38 Artisans' Club

  • 39 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 40 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 41 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 42 Bideford computer stars

  • 43 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 44 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 45 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 46 New addition to Quay front

  • 47 Private home for public pump

  • 48 Appledore's largest

  • 49

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 50 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 51 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 52 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 53 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 54 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 55 Picking the pops

  • 56 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 57 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 58 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 59

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 60 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 61 It really was the 'last time'

  • 62 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 63 The cab at the corner>
  • 64 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 65 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 66

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 67 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 68 Revenge in style

  • 69 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 70 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 71 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 72 Service with a smile

  • 73 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 74 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 75

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 76 New life for Hartland organ

  • 77 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 78 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 79 The art of the thatcher

  • 80 First ship in 8 years

  • 81 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 82 Hartland Dancers
  • 83 Picking the pops

  • 84 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 85

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 86

    Was a missionary
  • 87 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 88 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 89 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 90 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 91 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 92 End of the line

  • 93 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 94 Loads of black and white

  • 95 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 96 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 97

    Bidefordians
  • 98 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 99 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 100 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 101 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 102 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 103 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 104 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 105 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 106 Variety in summer weather

  • 107 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 108 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 109 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 110 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 111 Chess - their bridge over the years

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

  • 113 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 114 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 115 For crying out loud!

  • 116 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 117 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 118 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 119 New choral society's growing response

  • 120 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 121 113 years at Instow

  • 122 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 123 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 124 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 125 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 126 New Post Office

  • 127 Twenty-one yachts

  • 128 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 129 Circus comes to town

  • 130 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 131 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 132

    Relatives all over the world
  • 133

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 134 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 135 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

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

  • 137 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 138 Bridging the stream

  • 139 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 140 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 141 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 142 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 143 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 144 What's the time?

  • 145 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 146 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 147 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 148 Can spring be far away?

  • 149 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 150 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 151 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 152 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 153 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 154 Mobile missionary

  • 155 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 156 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 157 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 158 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 159 New look in the hayfields

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

  • 161 Recognise this resort?

  • 162 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 163 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 164 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 165 Life begins at 80

  • 166 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 167 Warmington's garage ad

  • 168 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 169 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 170 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 171 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 172 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 173 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 174 Ships at Bideford

  • 175 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 176 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 177 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 178 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 179 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 180 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 181 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 182

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 183 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 184 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 185 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 186 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 187 New Lundy stamps

  • 188

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 189 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 190 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 191 New shipyard on schedule

  • 192 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 193 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 194 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 195 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 196 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 197 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 198 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 199 Weare Giffard potato

  • 200 Clovelly nightmare

  • 201 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 202 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 203 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 204 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 205 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 206 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 207 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 208 So this is the mainland!

  • 209 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 210 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 211

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 212 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 213 A man and his wheel

  • 214 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 215

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 216 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 217 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 218 Sight of a lifetime

  • 219

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 220 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 221 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 222 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 223 Emergency ferry services

  • 224

    First prize
  • 225 Cruising down the river

  • 226 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 227 Hartland's invitation

  • 228 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 229 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 230 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 231 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 232 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 233 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 234 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 235 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 236 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 237 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 238 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 239 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 240 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 241 By pony and trap to market

  • 242

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 243 Burnard family reunion

  • 244 North Devon Driving School

  • 245 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 246 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 247 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 248 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 249 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 250 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 251 Parkham plan realised

  • 252 Modern living at Bideford

  • 253 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 254 Wishing well is pixielated

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

  • 256 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 257 Happy Days!

  • 258 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 259 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 260 Bicycle now does donkey work

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

  • 262 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 263 School crossing patrol begins

  • 264 Puppet characters introduced

  • 265 Farewell to passenger trains

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

  • 267 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 268 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 269 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

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

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

  • 272 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 273 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 274 A roof-top view - where?

  • 275 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 276 Torrington in 1967

  • 277 Filming at Hartland

  • 278 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 279 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 280

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 281 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 282 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 283 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 284 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 285 When horses score over the tractor

  • 286 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 287 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 288 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 289 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 290 Capers on the cobbles

  • 291 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 292 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 293 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 294 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 295 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 296 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 297

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 298

    Exhibition of school work
  • 299 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 300

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 301 Out of puff!

  • 302 Just over a year old

  • 303 Bideford regatta

  • 304 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 305

    Building works
  • 306 Bideford loses training ship

  • 307 Hartland postman retires

  • 308 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 309 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 310 Ten year old scrambler

  • 311 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 312 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 313 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 314 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 315 Peter poses for TV film

  • 316 They are parted pro-tem

  • 317 Police station view of Bideford

  • 318 Riverside mystery

  • 319 Off on a great adventure

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

  • 321 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 322 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 323 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 324 Penny for the guy

  • 325 New art gallery opened

  • 326 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 327 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 328 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 329

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 330 From Bobby to Brian

  • 331 Sweets derationing

  • 332 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 333 Some 240 exhibits

  • 334 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 335 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 336 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 337 Floral dancing at Appledore

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

  • 339 Northam footballers of the future

  • 340 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 341 In their new robes and hats

  • 342 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 343 Six footed lamb

  • 344 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 345 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 346 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

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

  • 348 Littleham family's five generations

  • 349 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 350 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 351 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 352 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 353 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 354 A bird of their own!

  • 355 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 356 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 357

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 358 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 359 Simple Item 138
  • 360 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 361

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 362 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 363 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 364 Decontrol of meat

  • 365 New civic medallions

  • 366 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 367 Traditions and skills still there

  • 368 Jumble sale fever

  • 369 Finished in 1876

  • 370 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 371 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 372 Clovelly custom

  • 373 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 374 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 375

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 376 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 377 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 378

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 379 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 380 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 381

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 382 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 383 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 384 The Geneva marionettes

  • 385 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 386 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 387 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 388 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 389 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 390 Devil sent packing

  • 391

    Married in 1908
  • 392 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 393 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 394 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 395 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 396 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 397 Unique holiday adventure!

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

  • 399 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 400 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 401 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 402 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 403 Appledore schooner broadcast

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

  • 405 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 406

    New gateway
  • 407 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 408 Torrington children build igloo
  • 409 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 410 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 411 Last train from Torrington

  • 412

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 413 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

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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  • 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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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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She Calls Time at The Ship!

Many foreign tourists dream of finding the ‘Typical British Pub’

visualising it as old and cosy, gleaming with polished wood and brass, filled with good company and presided over by a genial landlord. But now that so many breweries are pursuing ‘modernisation’ policies that de-humanise their premises, visitors are more likely to encounter an atmosphere of clinical artificiality. But not so at one little house at East-the-Water, Bideford. Oh no! where a tradition of national hospitality rests safe in the hand of a licensee who has been in the business for 30 years.

April 1975 Bideford Ship on Launch Bond

Mrs Ella Bond took over ‘The Ship On Launch’ when her mother-in-law died, so an unusual sequence of female management had been sustained for 60 years. Mrs Bond junr became licensee when her late husband joined the RAF in World War II. When he returned home, she continued to take her full share of the work. Though ably supported by her daughter and son-in-law, who live on the premises, and by other helpers, Mrs Bond’s day starts at 7.30am and ‘it is always gone midnight before get to bed.’

As one would expect, Mrs Bond’s premises are spick and span – sparkling with rows of hanging glass tankards, and shining with copper and brass. There is parquet flooring underfoot, a high-backed settle here and there, and wood-topped Victorian tables with decorative cast-iron tables. Round beams support the low ceilings – obviously masts from the shipyard which used to be opposite, and from which the house derives its most unusual name.

April 1975 Bideford Ship on Launch Bond2

“I could write a book about my experiences” she smiled – but pressed for details, was too discreet to divulge any. “We hold a Harvest Festival service here when customers bring in produce that is later auctioned for the blind, and for the funds of St Peter’s Church. Then at Christmas time, the Rector of Bideford conducts carols in the bar.”

1975 is ‘European Heritage Year’ What could be more worthy of preservation, and more typical of our way of life, that the genuine family occupied, well-run, characteristic ‘local’ as exemplified by Mrs Bond and her fascinating ‘Ship On Launch.;

Gazette article dated April 1975

Mr Hobbs retires

Leaves Toy Works Ltd

Mr Bill Hobbs, who has retired after 30 years with Toy Works Ltd, of Handy Cross, Bideford, with the car radio presented to him by workmates, some of long standing and some comparatively new.

27.3.1975 Bideford Toy Works

He began to work for the father of the present chairman and managing director, Mr L Holzer, in Marlow at the end of World War II and after 20 years was one of the employees who opted to ‘go West’ when the company transferred to Bideford in 1965.

But in retirement he is returning ‘home.’

Gazette article April 1975

John Short Braddick

Guaranteed Absolutely Pure

Braddicks Meat Bideford

Under council news it was clear that the advert was the result of a petition to close the slaughterhouse due to bad smells.

Gazette advert dated 2 December 1913

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