• 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 Revenge in style

  • 2 Alwington School closing after 120 years

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

  • 4

    Relatives all over the world
  • 5 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 6 Burnard family reunion

  • 7 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 8 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 9 New Lundy stamps

  • 10 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 11

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 12 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 13 Northam's almshouse

  • 14 Twenty-one yachts

  • 15 All for the love of a lady!

  • 16 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 17 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 18 No sale of Springfield House

  • 19 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 20 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 21 Some 240 exhibits

  • 22 Life begins at 80

  • 23 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 24 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 25 Torrington's new amenity

  • 26

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 27 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 28 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 29 Ten year old scrambler

  • 30 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

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

  • 32 Some mushroom!

  • 33 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 34 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 35 Hartland's invitation

  • 36 The art of the thatcher

  • 37

    Married in 1908
  • 38 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 39 New civic medallions

  • 40 Variety in summer weather

  • 41 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 42 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 43 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 44 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 45

    Bidefordians
  • 46 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 47 Picking the pops

  • 48 Bideford country dancers on TV

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

  • 50 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 51 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 52

    First prize
  • 53 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 54 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 55 Bideford regatta

  • 56 New look in the hayfields

  • 57 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 58 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 59 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 60 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 61 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 62 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 63 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 64 Littleham family's five generations

  • 65

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 66 School's link with cargo ship

  • 67 Cruising down the river

  • 68 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 69

    Was a missionary
  • 70 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 71 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 72 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 73 New art gallery opened

  • 74 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 75 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 76 They are parted pro-tem

  • 77 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 78 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 79 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 80 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 81 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 82 Out of puff!

  • 83 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 84 All aboard the ark

  • 85 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 86

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 87 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

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

  • 89 Clovelly nightmare

  • 90 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 91 Just over a year old

  • 92 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 93 Off on a great adventure

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

  • 95 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 96 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 97

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 98 Circus comes to town

  • 99 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 100 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 101 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 102 New life for Hartland organ

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

  • 104 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 105 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 106 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 107 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 108 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 109 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 110 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 111 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 112 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 113

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 114 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 115 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 116 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 117 Puppet characters introduced

  • 118 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 119 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 120 A man and his wheel

  • 121 Decontrol of meat

  • 122 In their new robes and hats

  • 123 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 124 Simple Item 138
  • 125 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 126 New gateway to King George's Fields

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

  • 128 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 129

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 130

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 131 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 132

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 133 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 134 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 135 Devil sent packing

  • 136 For crying out loud!

  • 137 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 138 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 139 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 140 Modern living at Bideford

  • 141 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 142 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 143 Appledore's largest

  • 144 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 145 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 146 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 147 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 148 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 149 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

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

  • 151

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 152 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 153 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 154 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 155 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 156 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 157 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 158 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 159 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 160 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 161

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 162 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 163 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 164 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 165 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 166 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 167 North Devon Driving School

  • 168 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 169 A roof-top view - where?

  • 170 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 171 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 172 Six footed lamb

  • 173 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 174 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 175 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 176

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 177 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 178

    New gateway
  • 179 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 180 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 181 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 182 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 183 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 184 Picking the pops

  • 185 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 186 Loads of black and white

  • 187 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 188 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 189 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 190

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 191 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 192 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 193 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 194 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 195

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 196 Penny for the guy

  • 197

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 198 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 199 Hartland postman retires

  • 200 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 201 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 202 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 203 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 204 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 205 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 206 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 207 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 208 Centenary of Gazette

  • 209 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 210 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 211 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 212 Police station view of Bideford

  • 213 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 214 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 215 Jumble sale fever

  • 216 Weare Giffard potato

  • 217 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 218 Bridging the stream

  • 219 Waldon Triplets
  • 220

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 221 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 222 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 223 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 224 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 225 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 226

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 227 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 228 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 229 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 230 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 231 First ship in 8 years

  • 232 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 233 Torrington in 1967

  • 234 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 235 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 236 Traditions and skills still there

  • 237 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 238 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 239 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 240 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 241 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 242 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 243 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 244 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 245 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 246 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 247 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 248 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 249 Bideford loses training ship

  • 250

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 251 A story to tell!

  • 252 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 253 End of the line

  • 254 So this is the mainland!

  • 255 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 256 When horses score over the tractor

  • 257 Happy Days!

  • 258 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 259 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 260 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 261 Private home for public pump

  • 262 Service with a smile

  • 263

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 264 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 265 New shipyard on schedule

  • 266 Finished in 1876

  • 267 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 268 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 269 Artisans' Club

  • 270 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 271 New choral society's growing response

  • 272 Ship-in-bottle world record

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

  • 274 Warmington's garage ad

  • 275 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 276 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 277 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 278 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 279 Peter poses for TV film

  • 280 Hartland Dancers
  • 281

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 282 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 283 He beat the floods

  • 284 New addition to Quay front

  • 285 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 286 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 287 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 288 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 289 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 290 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 291 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 292 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 293 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

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

  • 295 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 296 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 297 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 298 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 299 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

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

  • 301 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 302

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 303 Torrington children build igloo
  • 304 Bideford computer stars

  • 305 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 306 Emergency ferry services

  • 307 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 308 Northam footballers of the future

  • 309 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 310 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 311 Clovelly custom

  • 312 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 313 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

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

  • 315 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 316 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 317 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 318 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 319 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 320 Recognise this resort?

  • 321 New Post Office

  • 322 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 323 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 324 No laughing matter

  • 325 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 326 113 years at Instow

  • 327 Pannier Market's future?

  • 328 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 329

    Building works
  • 330 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 331 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 332 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 333 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 334 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 335 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 336 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 337 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 338 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 339 Ships at Bideford

  • 340 Sight of a lifetime

  • 341

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 342 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 343 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 344 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 345

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 346 Capers on the cobbles

  • 347 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

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

  • 349 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 350 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 351

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 352 It really was the 'last time'

  • 353

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 354 Can spring be far away?

  • 355 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 356 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 357 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 358 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 359 Riverside mystery

  • 360 By pony and trap to market

  • 361 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 362

    Exhibition of school work
  • 363 Parkham plan realised

  • 364 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 365 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 366 The Geneva marionettes

  • 367 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 368 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 369 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 370 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 371 What's the time?

  • 372 Mobile missionary

  • 373 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 374 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 375 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 376 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 377 School crossing patrol begins

  • 378 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 379 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 380 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 381 Last train from Torrington

  • 382 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 383 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 384 A bird of their own!

  • 385 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

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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  • 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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  • 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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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 Red junior crew cause a major surprise

This Bideford Reds junior crew caused one of the major surprises of Saturday's regatta by beating West of England champions Torquay.

1964 Bideford Reds win


The oarsmen are Terry Palmer, Len White, G Kelly, Owen Sims and Dave Curtis.

BOOK WE SHOULD ALL READ - 1944

THRILLING STORY OF THE FIGHTING DEVONS – NOW ON SALE 2/6

31 October 1944 Lieut Colonel A Valentine

With Christmas approaching, readers in Bideford and throughout the Torridge District especially, are recommended to buy up every available copy they can of ‘We Landed in Sicily and Italy’, that excellent and glorious story of the fighting Devons, intimately illustrated with maps and charts, written by its popular Commanding Officer, Lt-Col A W Valentine, DSO, CBE. Priced at 2s 6d per copy, the publishers, Messrs Gale and Polden Ltd have been instructed by Lt-Col to pay all royalties direct to the Devonshire Regiment Old Comrades Association. Men of the 5th (Bideford) Battalion of the Home Guard well remember the graphic preview of this book, Col Valentine gave them with the aid of blackboard sketches in a talk when he first returned from Italy. 

The story takes the reader . Malta where the Devon Regiment played their varied part in the Isle’s heroic resistance against unparalled attack, to Egypt for special assault training, and it was a happy ship that transferred the regiment to their first assault at Sicily. ‘We were a very Devon ship, our captain came from South Devon. The Brigadier, Brigadier R E Urquhart (who has since won fame at Arnhem commanding the Airborne troops), had left his family at Crediton, and our SNOL Lord Ashbourne, had made his wartime home in North Devon. Colonel Dewhurst, of the Royal Marines, our Brick Commander, is a well known figure in South Devon circles’.

31 October 1944 Lieut Colonel A Valentine

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