• 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 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 2 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 3 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 4 Bideford loses training ship

  • 5 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 6 Littleham family's five generations

  • 7 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 8 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 9 Parkham plan realised

  • 10 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 11 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 12 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 13 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 14 Ships at Bideford

  • 15

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 16

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 17 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 18 Finished in 1876

  • 19 Pannier Market's future?

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

  • 21 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 22 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 23 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 24 All aboard the ark

  • 25 A story to tell!

  • 26 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 27

    New gateway
  • 28 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 29 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 30 Sweets derationing

  • 31 Mobile missionary

  • 32

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 33 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 34 By pony and trap to market

  • 35

    Married in 1908
  • 36 End of the line

  • 37 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 38

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 39 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 40 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 41 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 42 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 43 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 44 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 45 Torrington children build igloo
  • 46 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 47 Capers on the cobbles

  • 48 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 49 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 50 Six footed lamb

  • 51 Devil sent packing

  • 52 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 53 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 54 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 55 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 56 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 57 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 58 School crossing patrol begins

  • 59 Last train from Torrington

  • 60 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 61 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 62 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 63 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 64 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 65 Bideford regatta

  • 66 Bideford computer stars

  • 67 Police station view of Bideford

  • 68 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 69 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 70 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 71 For crying out loud!

  • 72 Peter poses for TV film

  • 73 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 74 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 75 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 76 New Post Office

  • 77 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 78 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 79 Emergency ferry services

  • 80 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 81 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 82 Variety in summer weather

  • 83 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 84 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 85 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 86 Riverside mystery

  • 87 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 88 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 89 Hartland's invitation

  • 90 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 91 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 92 Northam's almshouse

  • 93 Hartland Dancers
  • 94

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 95 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 96 The Geneva marionettes

  • 97

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 98 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 99 A roof-top view - where?

  • 100 They are parted pro-tem

  • 101 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 102 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 103 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 104 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 105 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 106 Bridging the stream

  • 107 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 108 113 years at Instow

  • 109 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 110 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 111 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 112 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 113 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 114 Weare Giffard potato

  • 115

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 116 Traditions and skills still there

  • 117 Filming at Hartland

  • 118 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 119

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 120 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 121 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 122 Clovelly nightmare

  • 123 He beat the floods

  • 124 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 125

    First prize
  • 126 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 127 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 128

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 129 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 130 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 131 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 132 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 133

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 134 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 135 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 136 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 137 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 138 No sale of Springfield House

  • 139 Penny for the guy

  • 140 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 141 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 142 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 143 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 144 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 145 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 146 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 147 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 148 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 149 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 150 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 151 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 152 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 153 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 154 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 155 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 156 Puppet characters introduced

  • 157 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 158

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 159 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 160 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 161 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 162 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 163 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 164 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 165 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 166

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 167 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

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

  • 169 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 170 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 171 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 172 New life for Hartland organ

  • 173 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

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

  • 175 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 176 New choral society's growing response

  • 177 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 178 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 179

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 180 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 181 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 182 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 183 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 184 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 185 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 186 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 187 What's the time?

  • 188 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 189 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 190 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 191 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 192 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 193 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 194 Cruising down the river

  • 195 Sight of a lifetime

  • 196 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 197 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 198 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 199 Happy Days!

  • 200 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 201 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 202 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 203 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 204

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 205

    Bidefordians
  • 206 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 207 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 208 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

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

  • 210

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 211

    Exhibition of school work
  • 212 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 213 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 214 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 215

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 216 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 217

    Was a missionary
  • 218 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 219 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 220 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 221 When horses score over the tractor

  • 222 So this is the mainland!

  • 223 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 224 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 225

    Relatives all over the world
  • 226 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 227

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 228 Ten year old scrambler

  • 229 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 230 Decontrol of meat

  • 231 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 232 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 233 New shipyard on schedule

  • 234 No laughing matter

  • 235 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 236 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 237 Circus comes to town

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

  • 239 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 240 Revenge in style

  • 241 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 242 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 243 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 244 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 245 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 246 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 247 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 248 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 249 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 250 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 251 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 252 North Devon Driving School

  • 253 Waldon Triplets
  • 254 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 255 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 256

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 257 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 258 New civic medallions

  • 259

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 260 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 261

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 262 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 263 New Lundy stamps

  • 264 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 265 The cab at the corner>
  • 266 Artisans' Club

  • 267 Just over a year old

  • 268 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 269 Simple Item 138
  • 270 A man and his wheel

  • 271 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 272 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 273

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 274 School's link with cargo ship

  • 275

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 276 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 277 Torrington in 1967

  • 278 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 279 Life begins at 80

  • 280 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 281 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 282 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 283 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 284 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 285 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 286 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 287 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 288 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 289 New look in the hayfields

  • 290 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 291 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 292 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 293 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 294 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 295 New art gallery opened

  • 296 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 297 Warmington's garage ad

  • 298 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

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

  • 300 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 301 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 302 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 303 First steel ship built at Bideford

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

  • 305 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 306 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 307 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 308 Private home for public pump

  • 309 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 310 Service with a smile

  • 311 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 312 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 313 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 314 In their new robes and hats

  • 315 Torrington's new amenity

  • 316 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 317 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 318 Hartland postman retires

  • 319 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 320 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 321 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 322 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 323 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 324 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 325 Clovelly custom

  • 326 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 327 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 328 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 329 Burnard family reunion

  • 330 Loads of black and white

  • 331 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 332 New addition to Quay front

  • 333 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 334 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 335 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 336 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 337 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 338 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 339 A lost Bideford 'island'

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

  • 341 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 342

    Building works
  • 343 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 344 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 345 Some 240 exhibits

  • 346 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 347 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 348 From Bobby to Brian

  • 349 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 350 It really was the 'last time'

  • 351 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 352 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 353 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 354 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 355 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 356 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 357 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 358 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 359 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 360 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 361 Centenary of Gazette

  • 362 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 363 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 364 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 365 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 366 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 367 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 368 Recognise this resort?

  • 369 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 370 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 371 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 372 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

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

  • 374 Modern living at Bideford

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

  • 376 All for the love of a lady!

  • 377 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 378 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 379 Twenty-one yachts

  • 380 Northam footballers of the future

  • 381

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 382 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 383 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 384 Picking the pops

  • 385 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 386

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 387 Off on a great adventure

  • 388 First ship in 8 years

  • 389 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 390 Appledore's largest

  • 391 Can spring be far away?

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

  • 393 A bird of their own!

  • 394 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 395 The art of the thatcher

  • 396 Some mushroom!

  • 397 Out of puff!

  • 398 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 399 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 400 Jumble sale fever

  • 401 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 402 Picking the pops

  • 403 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 404 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 405 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 406 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 407 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 408 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 409 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 410

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 411 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 412 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

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

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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  • 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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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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