• 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 the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 2 Mobile missionary

  • 3 First ship in 8 years

  • 4 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 5 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 6 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 7 Artisans' Club

  • 8 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 9 Hartland postman retires

  • 10 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 11 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 12 New civic medallions

  • 13 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 14 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 15 Loads of black and white

  • 16 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 17

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 18 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 19 New Post Office

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

  • 21 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 22 Northam's almshouse

  • 23

    First prize
  • 24 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 25 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 26 Hartland's invitation

  • 27 School crossing patrol begins

  • 28 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 29 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 30 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 31 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 32 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 33 Picking the pops

  • 34 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 35 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 36 Picking the pops

  • 37 Bideford loses training ship

  • 38 Torrington's new amenity

  • 39 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 40 Six footed lamb

  • 41 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 42 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 43 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 44 Some mushroom!

  • 45 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 46 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 47 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 48 Jumble sale fever

  • 49 For crying out loud!

  • 50 Hartland Dancers
  • 51 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 52 Clovelly custom

  • 53 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 54 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 55

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 56 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 57 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 58 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 59 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 60 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

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

  • 62 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 63 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 64 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 65

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 66 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 67 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 68 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 69 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 70 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 71 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 72 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 73 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 74 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 75

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 76 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 77 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 78 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 79 New art gallery opened

  • 80 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 81 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 82 New shipyard on schedule

  • 83 Waldon Triplets
  • 84 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 85 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 86 Puppet characters introduced

  • 87 What's the time?

  • 88 Appledore's largest

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

  • 90 Clovelly nightmare

  • 91 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 92 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 93 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 94 Some 240 exhibits

  • 95 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 96 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 97

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 98 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 99 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 100

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 101 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 102 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 103 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 104 Peter poses for TV film

  • 105 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 106 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 107 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 108 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 109 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 110 New addition to Quay front

  • 111 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 112 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 113 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 114

    Building works
  • 115 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 116 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 117 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 118 Revenge in style

  • 119 Bideford computer stars

  • 120 They are parted pro-tem

  • 121 When horses score over the tractor

  • 122 End of the line

  • 123 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

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

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

  • 126 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 127 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 128 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 129 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 130 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 131 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 132 East-the-Water sets town an example

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

  • 134 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 135 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 136 Torrington children build igloo
  • 137 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 138 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 139 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 140 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 141 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 142 Decontrol of meat

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

  • 144 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 145 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 146 All aboard the ark

  • 147 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 148

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 149

    Relatives all over the world
  • 150 113 years at Instow

  • 151 Warmington's garage ad

  • 152 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 153 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 154 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 155 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 156 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 157 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 158 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 159 A story to tell!

  • 160

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 161 Off on a great adventure

  • 162 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 163 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 164 By pony and trap to market

  • 165 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 166 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 167 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 168 Recognise this resort?

  • 169

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 170 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 171 Pannier Market's future?

  • 172 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 173 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 174 Twenty-one yachts

  • 175 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 176 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 177 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 178 Last train from Torrington

  • 179 North Devon Driving School

  • 180 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 181 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 182 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 183 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 184 Can spring be far away?

  • 185

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 186

    Bidefordians
  • 187

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 188 The art of the thatcher

  • 189 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 190 Life begins at 80

  • 191 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 192 Centenary of Gazette

  • 193

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 194 Television comes to Torridge District

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

  • 196 Circus comes to town

  • 197 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 198 It really was the 'last time'

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

  • 200 He beat the floods

  • 201 Service with a smile

  • 202 Ships at Bideford

  • 203 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 204 Just over a year old

  • 205 Bideford regatta

  • 206 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 207 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 208 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

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

  • 210 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 211 Happy Days!

  • 212 Torrington to have first woman mayor

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

  • 214 So this is the mainland!

  • 215 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 216 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 217 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 218 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 219 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 220 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 221 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 222 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 223 Capers on the cobbles

  • 224 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 225 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 226 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 227 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 228 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 229 A man and his wheel

  • 230 No sale of Springfield House

  • 231 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 232 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 233 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 234 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 235 Out of puff!

  • 236 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 237 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 238 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 239 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 240 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 241 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 242 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 243 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 244 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 245 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 246 The Geneva marionettes

  • 247 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 248 New look in the hayfields

  • 249 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 250

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 251 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 252

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 253 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 254 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 255 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 256 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 257 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 258 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 259 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 260 Cruising down the river

  • 261 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 262 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 263 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 264 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 265 Private home for public pump

  • 266 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 267 Weare Giffard potato

  • 268 Traditions and skills still there

  • 269 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 270 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 271 Simple Item 138
  • 272 Parkham plan realised

  • 273

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 274 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 275

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 276 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 277 All for the love of a lady!

  • 278 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 279 Burnard family reunion

  • 280 Sight of a lifetime

  • 281 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 282

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 283 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 284 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 285 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 286 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 287 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 288 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 289 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 290 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 291 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 292 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 293 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 294

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 295 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 296 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 297 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 298 Pretty pennies at Beaford

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

  • 300 Riverside mystery

  • 301 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 302 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 303 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 304 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 305 Modern living at Bideford

  • 306 New life for Hartland organ

  • 307 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 308 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 309 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 310 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 311 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 312

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 313 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 314 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 315

    Was a missionary
  • 316 Ten year old scrambler

  • 317 Torrington in 1967

  • 318 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 319

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 320 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 321

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 322 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 323 Northam footballers of the future

  • 324 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 325 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 326 New Lundy stamps

  • 327 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 328 No laughing matter

  • 329 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 330 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 331 Calligrapher extraordinary

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

  • 333 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 334 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 335 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 336 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 337 Bridging the stream

  • 338 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 339 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 340 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 341 Penny for the guy

  • 342 Police station view of Bideford

  • 343

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 344 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 345 Devil sent packing

  • 346 In their new robes and hats

  • 347 Emergency ferry services

  • 348 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 349 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 350 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 351 Finished in 1876

  • 352 Littleham family's five generations

  • 353 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 354 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 355 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 356 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 357 A bird of their own!

  • 358 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 359 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 360 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 361 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 362 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 363 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 364

    Married in 1908
  • 365 New choral society's growing response

  • 366 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 367 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 368 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 369 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 370 A roof-top view - where?

  • 371 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 372 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 373 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 374

    New gateway
  • 375 School's link with cargo ship

  • 376 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 377 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 378

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 379

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 380 Variety in summer weather

  • 381 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 382

    Exhibition of school work
  • 383 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 384

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 385 Record player of 80 years ago

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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Confirmation in school gym 21st February 1964

Confirmation in school gym 21st February 1964

confirmation in school gymTwo of 52 boys of Grenville College who were confirmed on Sunday morning kneel before the Bishop of Crediton (Right Rev. Wilfred Westall) who officiated at this, the first such service to be held at the college.  The Bishop was assisted by the school chaplain (Rev. D R Jones) and during the Communion, which over 200 took, two other priests assisted.  One of these was a great uncle of one of the candidates and the other, the Rev E G  Bevan (Vicar of Abbotsham), who is a member of the school's teaching staff.

The boys were presented to the Bishop by Mr J R Crabbe (headmaster).

Death of Mr Sidney G Rendle

38 Years with Gazette

1964 Rendle

Mr Sidney G Rendle, of 14 Coldharbour, Bideford whose death occurred on Sunday in Bideford Hospital, retired in February of this year after 38 years as billposter and storeman with the Bideford Gazette.
Aged 65 and a member of a well known Northam family, he volunteered for the Army in the First World War at the age of 16, joining the Devonshire Regiment. In four and a half years, he served in Mesopotamia, India, Salonika and Italy. After the war he was for four years engaged on the construction of Bideford Sports Ground and as a groundsman there, where he came into touch with Mr Frederick Lee, then editor of Bideford Gazette.
He leaves a widow and married daughter, Mrs Olive Patt.

Making a splash in Torrington Pool in 1978

Proving a popular attraction at Torrington swimming pool is a new springboard, recently installed at a cost of £600.

1978 Torrington pool

Much of the money for the board, which is designed to fold back when the pool is too crowded for its use, was raised by pool superintendent Mr John Langmead and his wife.

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