• 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 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 2 Clovelly custom

  • 3 School crossing patrol begins

  • 4 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 5 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 6 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 7 Artisans' Club

  • 8 First ship in 8 years

  • 9 Bideford loses training ship

  • 10 Littleham family's five generations

  • 11 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 12 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 13 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 14 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 15 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 16 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 17 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 18 Ships at Bideford

  • 19 Modern living at Bideford

  • 20 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 21 New addition to Quay front

  • 22 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 23 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 24 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 25 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 26 Penny for the guy

  • 27 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 28 Revenge in style

  • 29 End of the line

  • 30 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 31 New shipyard on schedule

  • 32 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 33 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 34 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 35 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 36 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 37 All aboard the ark

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

  • 39 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 40 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 41 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 42 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 43 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 44 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 45 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 46 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 47 North Devon Driving School

  • 48 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 49 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 50 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 51 They are parted pro-tem

  • 52 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 53 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 54 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 55 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 56 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 57 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 58

    Exhibition of school work
  • 59 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 60 The art of the thatcher

  • 61 Can spring be far away?

  • 62 Waldon Triplets
  • 63 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 64 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 65 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 66 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 67 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 68 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 69 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 70

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 71 Holiday scene near Sandymere

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

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

  • 74 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 75 Pannier Market's future?

  • 76 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 77 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 78 Jumble sale fever

  • 79 Warmington's garage ad

  • 80 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 81

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 82 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 83 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 84 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 85 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 86 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 87 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 88 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 89 Ten year old scrambler

  • 90 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 91 Hartland postman retires

  • 92 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 93 New choral society's growing response

  • 94

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 95 Parkham plan realised

  • 96 Circus comes to town

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

  • 98 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 99

    Building works
  • 100 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 101 Bideford regatta

  • 102 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 103 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 104 No sale of Springfield House

  • 105 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 106 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 107 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 108 Torrington in 1967

  • 109 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 110 Happy Days!

  • 111 All for the love of a lady!

  • 112 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 113

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 114 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 115 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 116 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 117 Simple Item 138
  • 118 It really was the 'last time'

  • 119 A roof-top view - where?

  • 120 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 121

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 122

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 123 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 124

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 125 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 126 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 127 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 128 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 129 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 130 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 131 Decontrol of meat

  • 132 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 133 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 134 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 135 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 136 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 137 New life for Hartland organ

  • 138 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

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

  • 140

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 141 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 142 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 143 Childrens' model of Torrington

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

  • 145 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 146 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 147 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 148 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 149 Puppet characters introduced

  • 150 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 151 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 152 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 153 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 154 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 155

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 156 New look in the hayfields

  • 157 Peter poses for TV film

  • 158 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 159 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

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

  • 161 Northam footballers of the future

  • 162 By pony and trap to market

  • 163 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 164 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 165

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 166 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 167 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 168 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 169 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 170 Twenty-one yachts

  • 171 Weare Giffard potato

  • 172 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 173 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 174 He beat the floods

  • 175 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 176 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 177 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 178 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 179 A story to tell!

  • 180 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 181 Variety in summer weather

  • 182 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 183 Appledore's largest

  • 184 Some mushroom!

  • 185 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 186 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 187 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 188 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 189 Recognise this resort?

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

  • 191

    Bidefordians
  • 192 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 193 Devil sent packing

  • 194 Out of puff!

  • 195 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 196 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 197 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 198 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 199

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 200 Torrington children build igloo
  • 201 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 202 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 203 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 204 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 205 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 206 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

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

  • 208 Picking the pops

  • 209 Last train from Torrington

  • 210 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 211

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 212 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 213 New Post Office

  • 214 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 215 When horses score over the tractor

  • 216

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 217 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 218 Hartland's invitation

  • 219 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 220 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 221 Private home for public pump

  • 222

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 223 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 224 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 225 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 226 In their new robes and hats

  • 227 Loads of black and white

  • 228 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 229 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 230 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 231 Clovelly nightmare

  • 232

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 233 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 234 Bridging the stream

  • 235 New art gallery opened

  • 236 No laughing matter

  • 237 Mobile missionary

  • 238 Police station view of Bideford

  • 239 Off on a great adventure

  • 240 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 241 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 242 New Lundy stamps

  • 243 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 244

    First prize
  • 245 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 246 Service with a smile

  • 247 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 248

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 249

    Relatives all over the world
  • 250 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 251 A bird of their own!

  • 252 Bideford computer stars

  • 253 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 254 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 255 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 256 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 257

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 258 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 259 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 260 Northam's almshouse

  • 261 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 262 Burnard family reunion

  • 263 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 264 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 265 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 266 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 267 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 268 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 269

    Married in 1908
  • 270 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 271 Capers on the cobbles

  • 272 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 273 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 274 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 275 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 276 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 277 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 278

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 279 Torrington's new amenity

  • 280 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 281 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

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

  • 283 Some 240 exhibits

  • 284 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 285 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 286 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 287 So this is the mainland!

  • 288 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 289 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 290 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 291 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 292

    New gateway
  • 293 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 294 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 295 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 296

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 297 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 298 Six footed lamb

  • 299 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 300 Finished in 1876

  • 301 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 302

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 303 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 304 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 305 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 306 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

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

  • 308 Sight of a lifetime

  • 309 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 310 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 311 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 312 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 313 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 314 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 315 Hartland Dancers
  • 316 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 317 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 318 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 319 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 320 For crying out loud!

  • 321 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 322 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 323 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 324 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 325 The Geneva marionettes

  • 326 Centenary of Gazette

  • 327 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 328

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 329 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 330 Riverside mystery

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

  • 332 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 333 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 334 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 335 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

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

  • 337 A man and his wheel

  • 338 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 339 Just over a year old

  • 340 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 341 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 342 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 343 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 344 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 345

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 346 Cruising down the river

  • 347 School's link with cargo ship

  • 348 What's the time?

  • 349 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 350 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 351 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 352 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 353 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 354 Life begins at 80

  • 355 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 356 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 357 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 358 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 359 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 360 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 361 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 362

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 363 Emergency ferry services

  • 364 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 365 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 366 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 367 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 368

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 369 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 370 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 371 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 372 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 373 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 374 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 375 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 376 Picking the pops

  • 377 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 378 113 years at Instow

  • 379 Traditions and skills still there

  • 380

    Was a missionary
  • 381 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 382 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 383 New civic medallions

  • 384

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 385 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

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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  • 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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  • 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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Foundation Stone For New Parish Hall

Laying the foundation stone of the new parish hall gave an additional local significance to the celebrations at Alverdiscott.

5.6.1953 Alverdiscott

It saw the first stage of the fulfillment of a long awaited and long worked for scheme. The photograph shows Mr George Ford, chairman of the Parish Hall Committee and of the Parish Council, and a most stalwart worker on behalf of the hall, laying the stone.

The Gazette article is dated 5 June 1953

Great Day For Alverdiscott

Foundation Stone Laid Of Parish Hall

5.6.1953 Alverdiscott great day

Alverdiscott will have two permanent memorials to the Coronation. Between the Parish Church and the Methodist Chapel and near the bus stop, an oak wayside seat, which she and her husband presented, was unveiled by Mrs A B Leitch and later, at Stoney Cross, Mr George Ford, chairman of the Parish Council and of the Coronation Committee, laid the foundation stone of the new Parish Hall.
In addition to their souvenir mugs presented at the free tea, children of the parish were given souvenir tins of toffees.
Sports went with a swing, young and old eagerly joining in the fun and games. A fireworks display was also provided by the committee.

The full Gazette article is dated 5 June 1953.

1953 Coronation Day Celebrations

These happy youngsters at Abbotsham's tea party illustrate that everywhere in Coronation celebrations it was essentially a children's day.

5.6.1953 Abbotsham
Gazette article dated 5 June 1953

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