• 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 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 2 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 3

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 4 Capers on the cobbles

  • 5 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 6 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 7 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 8 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 9 Decontrol of meat

  • 10 Hartland's invitation

  • 11 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 12 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 13

    Relatives all over the world
  • 14 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 15 Twenty-one yachts

  • 16 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 17 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 18 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 19 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 20 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 21 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 22 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 23 Picking the pops

  • 24 Devil sent packing

  • 25 Torrington in 1967

  • 26 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 27 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 28 Variety in summer weather

  • 29 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 30 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 31 New Post Office

  • 32 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 33 Clovelly donkey film star

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

  • 35 So this is the mainland!

  • 36 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 37 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 38 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 39 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 40 A man and his wheel

  • 41 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 42 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 43 New Lundy stamps

  • 44

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 45 Parkham plan realised

  • 46 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 47 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 48 No sale of Springfield House

  • 49 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 50 Simple Item 138
  • 51

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 52 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 53

    Building works
  • 54 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 55 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 56 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 57 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 58 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 59 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 60 Last train from Torrington

  • 61

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

  • 63 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 64 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 65 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 66 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 67 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

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

  • 69 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 70 Revenge in style

  • 71 In their new robes and hats

  • 72 Off on a great adventure

  • 73 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 74 Picking the pops

  • 75 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 76 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 77 New shipyard on schedule

  • 78 Littleham family's five generations

  • 79 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 80 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 81 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 82 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 83 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 84 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 85 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 86 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 87 Happy Days!

  • 88 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 89 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 90 Circus comes to town

  • 91

    Was a missionary
  • 92 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 93 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 94 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 95 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 96

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 97 Jumble sale fever

  • 98

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 99 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 100 All for the love of a lady!

  • 101 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 102 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 103 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 104 New addition to Quay front

  • 105 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 106 Six footed lamb

  • 107 School crossing patrol begins

  • 108 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 109 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 110 New art gallery opened

  • 111

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 112 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 113 Peter poses for TV film

  • 114

    First prize
  • 115 It really was the 'last time'

  • 116 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 117 Calf thinks of mare as mum

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

  • 119 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 120 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 121 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 122 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 123 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 124 Waldon Triplets
  • 125 The art of the thatcher

  • 126

    Exhibition of school work
  • 127 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 128 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 129 For crying out loud!

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

  • 131 School's link with cargo ship

  • 132 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 133 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 134 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 135 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 136 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 137

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 138 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 139 End of the line

  • 140 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 141 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 142 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 143 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 144 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 145 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 146

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 147 Sight of a lifetime

  • 148 Bideford loses training ship

  • 149 What's the time?

  • 150 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 151 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 152 Mobile missionary

  • 153 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 154 Hartland Dancers
  • 155 Loads of black and white

  • 156 Train returns to Westleigh straight

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

  • 158 Puppet characters introduced

  • 159 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 160 Penny for the guy

  • 161 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 162 Artisans' Club

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

  • 164 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 165 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 166 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 167

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 168 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 169 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 170 New civic medallions

  • 171 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 172 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 173

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 174 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 175 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 176 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 177 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 178 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 179 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 180 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 181 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 182

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 183 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 184 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 185 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 186 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 187 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 188 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

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

  • 190 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 191 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

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

  • 193 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 194 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 195 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 196 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 197 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 198

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 199 Ships at Bideford

  • 200

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 201 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 202 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 203 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 204 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 205 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 206 The Geneva marionettes

  • 207 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 208 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 209 Torrington's new amenity

  • 210 113 years at Instow

  • 211 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 212

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 213 New look in the hayfields

  • 214 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 215 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 216 Northam footballers of the future

  • 217 Hartland postman retires

  • 218 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 219 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 220 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 221 Modern living at Bideford

  • 222

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 223 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 224 When horses score over the tractor

  • 225 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 226 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 227 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 228 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 229

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 230 Bideford regatta

  • 231 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 232 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 233 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 234 Some mushroom!

  • 235 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 236 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 237 Ten year old scrambler

  • 238 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 239 A story to tell!

  • 240 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 241

    Bidefordians
  • 242 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 243 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 244 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 245 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 246 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 247 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 248

    New gateway
  • 249 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 250 Holiday scene near Sandymere

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

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

  • 253 New life for Hartland organ

  • 254 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 255 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 256 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 257

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 258 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 259 A roof-top view - where?

  • 260 Making way for the double-deckers

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

  • 262 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 263 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 264 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 265 Can spring be far away?

  • 266 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 267 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 268 He beat the floods

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

  • 270 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 271 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 272 All aboard the ark

  • 273 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 274 Finished in 1876

  • 275 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 276 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 277 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 278 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 279 Burnard family reunion

  • 280 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 281 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 282 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 283 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 284 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 285 Recognise this resort?

  • 286 Service with a smile

  • 287 A bird of their own!

  • 288 First ship in 8 years

  • 289 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 290 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 291 Out of puff!

  • 292 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 293 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 294 Clovelly custom

  • 295 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 296 Bridging the stream

  • 297 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 298 Cruising down the river

  • 299

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 300 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 301 Traditions and skills still there

  • 302 Clovelly nightmare

  • 303 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 304 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 305 Just over a year old

  • 306 Emergency ferry services

  • 307 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 308 Weare Giffard potato

  • 309 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 310 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 311 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 312 Police station view of Bideford

  • 313 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 314 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 315 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 316 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 317 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 318 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 319 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 320 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 321 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 322

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 323 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 324

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 325 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 326 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 327 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 328 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 329 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 330

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 331 Torrington children build igloo
  • 332 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 333 Life begins at 80

  • 334 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 335 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 336 No laughing matter

  • 337

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 338 Private home for public pump

  • 339 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 340 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 341 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 342 They are parted pro-tem

  • 343 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 344 Centenary of Gazette

  • 345 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 346 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 347 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 348 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 349 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 350 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 351 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 352 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 353 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 354

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 355 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 356 Pannier Market's future?

  • 357 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 358

    Married in 1908
  • 359 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 360 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 361 Appledore's largest

  • 362 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 363 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 364 New choral society's growing response

  • 365 By pony and trap to market

  • 366 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 367 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 368 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 369 Riverside mystery

  • 370 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 371 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 372 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 373 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 374 Warmington's garage ad

  • 375 North Devon Driving School

  • 376 Bideford computer stars

  • 377 Northam's almshouse

  • 378 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 379 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 380

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 381 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 382 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 383 Some 240 exhibits

  • 384 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 385 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

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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  • 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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  • 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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Here's Health Unto Her Majesty!

Pupils of Bideford Secondary Modern School raise their Coronation beakers as if in toast to Her Majesty...

5.6.1953 Bideford School

a photograph taken after the distribution of these souvenirs to the Bideford schoolchildren by the Mayor, Mr C A Grant. Standing at the back is the headmaster, Mr J E Down.
Gazette article dated 5 June 1953

Coronation Cameos

Mt Everest to the 'Fishermen of England'

5.6.1953 Appledore1

Time and tide wait for no man, not even for a Queen, but whether it be at Mt Everest, where Britishers had climbed the world's highest mountain, or at Appledore, where the 'Fisherman of England' were not missing the fine catch of salmon from the Torridge Estuary, mugs of beverage were raised in loyal toasts.... Brandy at Mt Everest and Beer at the 'George' and 'Beaver' at Appledore!

Gazette article dated 5 June 1953

6am Call For Decoration Duty

Appledore’s Proud Array

5.6.1953 Appledore

Appledore’s narrow streets lent themselves well to decoration and last weekend found groups of neighbours hard at work erecting archways and crowns, flags and other expressions of loyalty and affection. There was scarcely a house that did not have at least one Royal portrait exhibited in its windows and a feature of the decorations was the great care which individual houses had been decorated.
Tomouth Terrace and Crescent won the prize of £2 for the best decorated street and this money went towards the street tea for the children who live there. At 6am on Coronation Day residents were called by Bugler Ken Smallridge to fall in for decoration duty. The competition was judged by Mrs Holt and Dr Palethorpe who placed One End Street second, and Richmond Road and Odun Terrace third.
Children’s sports in the Paddock at the Holt in the afternoon presented a very happy sight. Long queues of children waited of rides in the swing boats and there was scarcely a child to be seen without a large bottle of pop or an ice-cream.
It was noted that the stalwarts of local events during the year were once again well to the fore taking charge of various sections of the arrangements.
Later, open air dancing was staged in sheltered Marine Parade. After the bonfire at the new housing estate, near Western Hill, a large crowd continued the celebrations into the early hours of the next day at a dance at the Appledore Hall.
On Wednesday the old folk were given a special treat. Appledore Boys’ Brigade were hosts at the Appledore Hall to some 80 people between the ages of 70 and 90. After a free meat supper party followed by free cigarettes, came a concert which included selections by the band, community singing, sketches by Rev A E Green and party, and piano solos by Edward Popham, a member of the Brigade. On behalf of the guests, Mr F Cox voiced thanks to the Brigade.
The full Gazette article is dated 5 June 1953.

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