• 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
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 2 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 3 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 4 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 5 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 6 Circus comes to town

  • 7 Service with a smile

  • 8 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 9 So this is the mainland!

  • 10 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 11 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 12 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 13 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 14

    Relatives all over the world
  • 15 Fish nearly pulled him in

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

  • 17 New addition to Quay front

  • 18 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 19 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 20 Sooty is quick on the draw

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

  • 22 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 23 Life begins at 80

  • 24 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 25 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 26 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 27 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 28 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 29 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 30 All for the love of a lady!

  • 31 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 32 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 33 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 34 Weare Giffard potato

  • 35

    First prize
  • 36 Riverside mystery

  • 37 Picking the pops

  • 38 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 39 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 40 Symbol of Lundy independence

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

  • 42 Cruising down the river

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

  • 44 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 45 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 46 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 47 Simple Item 138
  • 48

    Building works
  • 49 Torrington in 1967

  • 50 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 51 A story to tell!

  • 52

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 53 Torrington's new amenity

  • 54 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 55 First ship in 8 years

  • 56 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 57 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 58 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 59 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 60 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 61 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 62

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 63 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 64 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 65 No sale of Springfield House

  • 66 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 67 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 68 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 69 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 70 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 71 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 72 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 73 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 74 Loads of black and white

  • 75 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 76

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 77 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

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

  • 79

    Married in 1908
  • 80 Appledore's largest

  • 81 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 82

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 83 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 84 A bird of their own!

  • 85 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 86 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 87 113 years at Instow

  • 88 New civic medallions

  • 89 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 90 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 91 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 92 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 93 Clovelly custom

  • 94 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 95 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 96 Six footed lamb

  • 97 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 98 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 99 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 100 Capers on the cobbles

  • 101 Recognise this resort?

  • 102 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 103 New shipyard on schedule

  • 104 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 105 It really was the 'last time'

  • 106 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 107 Puppet characters introduced

  • 108 The Geneva marionettes

  • 109 New choral society's growing response

  • 110

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 111 Decontrol of meat

  • 112 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 113 Modern living at Bideford

  • 114 What's the time?

  • 115 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 116 Centenary of Gazette

  • 117 Off on a great adventure

  • 118 Bideford loses training ship

  • 119 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 120 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 121 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 122

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 123 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 124

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 125 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 126 Hartland postman retires

  • 127 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 128 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 129 New life for Hartland organ

  • 130 Farewell to passenger trains

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

  • 132 Bideford computer stars

  • 133 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 134 Pannier Market's future?

  • 135 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 136 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 137 School's link with cargo ship

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

  • 139 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 140

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 141 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 142 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 143

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 144 Burnard family reunion

  • 145 New Post Office

  • 146 Clovelly nightmare

  • 147 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 148 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 149 School crossing patrol begins

  • 150 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 151 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 152

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 153 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 154 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 155 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 156 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 157 Warmington's garage ad

  • 158 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 159 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 160 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 161 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 162 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 163 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 164 The art of the thatcher

  • 165 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 166 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 167 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 168 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 169 Private home for public pump

  • 170 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 171

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 172 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 173

    New gateway
  • 174 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 175 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 176 In their new robes and hats

  • 177

    Bidefordians
  • 178 Finished in 1876

  • 179 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 180 Some mushroom!

  • 181 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 182 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 183 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 184 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 185 Artisans' Club

  • 186 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 187 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 188 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 189 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 190 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 191

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 192 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 193

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 194 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 195 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 196 For crying out loud!

  • 197 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 198 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 199 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 200 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 201 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 202 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 203 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 204 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 205 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 206 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 207 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 208 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 209 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 210 A roof-top view - where?

  • 211 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 212 He beat the floods

  • 213 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 214 Ten year old scrambler

  • 215 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 216 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 217 Sight of a lifetime

  • 218 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 219 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 220 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 221 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 222 Parkham plan realised

  • 223 New art gallery opened

  • 224 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 225 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 226 Hartland's invitation

  • 227 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 228 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 229 Penny for the guy

  • 230 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 231 They are parted pro-tem

  • 232 Just over a year old

  • 233

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 234 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 235 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 236 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 237 Last train from Torrington

  • 238 Police station view of Bideford

  • 239 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 240

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 241 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 242 Bideford regatta

  • 243 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 244 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 245 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 246 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 247 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 248 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 249 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 250

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 251 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 252 Picking the pops

  • 253 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 254 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 255 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 256 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 257

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 258 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 259 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 260 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 261 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 262 Out of puff!

  • 263 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 264

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 265 North Devon Driving School

  • 266 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 267 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 268 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 269 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 270 Hartland Dancers
  • 271 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 272 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 273 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 274

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 275 Jumble sale fever

  • 276 Waldon Triplets
  • 277 Mobile missionary

  • 278 Littleham family's five generations

  • 279 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 280 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 281 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 282 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 283 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 284 Emergency ferry services

  • 285 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 286 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 287 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 288 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 289 All aboard the ark

  • 290 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 291 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 292 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 293 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 294 End of the line

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

  • 296 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 297 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 298 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 299 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 300 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 301 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 302 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 303 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 304 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 305 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 306 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 307 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 308 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 309 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 310 Can spring be far away?

  • 311 A man and his wheel

  • 312 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 313 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 314 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 315

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 316 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 317 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 318 When horses score over the tractor

  • 319 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 320 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 321 Some 240 exhibits

  • 322 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 323 Revenge in style

  • 324 Bridging the stream

  • 325 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 326 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 327 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 328 By pony and trap to market

  • 329 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 330

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 331 Bideford - as Rowlandson saw it about 1810-15

  • 332 Northam's almshouse

  • 333 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 334 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 335

    Was a missionary
  • 336 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 337 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 338 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 339 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 340 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 341 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 342 No laughing matter

  • 343 Northam footballers of the future

  • 344 Children's procession with foxgloves

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

  • 346

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 347 Devil sent packing

  • 348 New look in the hayfields

  • 349 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 350 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 351 Traditions and skills still there

  • 352

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 353

    Exhibition of school work
  • 354 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 355 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 356 Twenty-one yachts

  • 357

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 358 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 359 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 360 What is future of railway goods yard?

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

  • 362 New Lundy stamps

  • 363 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 364 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 365 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 366 Torrington children build igloo
  • 367 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 368 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 369 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 370 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 371 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 372 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 373 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 374 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 375 Peter poses for TV film

  • 376 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 377 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 378 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 379 Happy Days!

  • 380

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 381 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 382 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 383 Variety in summer weather

  • 384 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 385 Ships at Bideford

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

Read More
and suddenly it's spring

Cadds Down Farm

1 March 1974

Joined by Trixie, the pony

READ MORE

  • 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.

    Read More

  • 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.

    Read More

  • 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;

    Read More
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
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...

Read More
 

Shipyard goes into liquidation 1963

Liquidator appointed

4 January 1963

Difficulty in retaining labour...

Read More

No Coronation Day Babies

For mothers-to-be in Bideford, Torrington and the surrounding districts Coronation day was tinged with disappointment for, so far as can be ascertained from exhaustive Bideford and North Devon Gazette inquiries, not a single baby was born in this area on Coronation day.

5.6.1953 Coronation babies


Several babies were expected to be born at about Coronation day but twins born at Beaford to Mrs Bright, on the Monday, and a boy to Mrs Johns, of St Leonards, Hartland, on the Wednesday were among the nearest to the actual day.
Quite a number of districts had offered silver spoons as souvenirs to Coronation babies and at Westleigh, where the souvenir takes the form of a set of Coronation coins, the offer is open for a week.
The full Gazette article is dated 5 June 1953

 

West Women Win

Women’s Football At Bideford

5.6.1953 Bideford Womens football


In a women’s Coronation soccer match at the King George V Memorial Ground on Coronation Eve, the Bideford West team, by scoring eight goals in the second half, made their total ten goals without reply against their East-the-Water rivals.
Both teams had trained seriously and considerable interest had been aroused by this match. Hard as both teams tried, however, their efforts were generally accompanied by the laughter from the large crowd present.
At regular intervals, a flock of about a dozen sheep galloped playfully across the pitch and the referee, Mr L M J Sharley, had the rather difficult task of trying to control the sheep and ladies ‘trying’ to play football.
Bideford West attacked throughout this 70 minute game so much that their goalkeeper, M Oke, never touched the ball. Without the good work of the Shamwickshire keeper, C Harris, the score might have been doubled.
The teams were – M Oke, M Rowse, B Nichols, M Potter, M Tucker, F Cole, M England, M Joy, K England, A Beer, J Bryant; C Harris, D Tyrell, L Hutchings, R Rendle, G Spry, R Lamey, M Hewins, B Hill,

5.6.1953 Bideford Womens football1


The full Gazette article is dated 5 June 1953

Coronation Day 1953

With appropriate ceremony the Union Jack is hoisted at Bideford Quayside, typical of the loyal displays made throughout our towns and villages.

5.6.1953 Bideford

Gazette article dated 5 June 1953

  • 1

Login Form