• 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 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 2 Off on a great adventure

  • 3 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 4

    First prize
  • 5 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 6 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 7 New shipyard on schedule

  • 8 Weare Giffard potato

  • 9 New Post Office

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

  • 11 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 12 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 13 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 14 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 15 Filming at Hartland

  • 16

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 17 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 18 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 19 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 20 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 21 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 22 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 23 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 24 Circus comes to town

  • 25 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 26 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 27 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 28 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 29 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 30 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 31 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 32 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 33 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 34 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 35 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 36 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 37

    Bidefordians
  • 38 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 39

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 40 Sixty-two year old Picarooner makes ready for season

  • 41 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 42 Centenary of Gazette

  • 43 Devil sent packing

  • 44 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 45 Loads of black and white

  • 46 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 47

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 48

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 49 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 50 Last train from Torrington

  • 51 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 52 113 years at Instow

  • 53 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 54 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 55

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 56 New choral society's growing response

  • 57 Bridging the stream

  • 58 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 59 No sale of Springfield House

  • 60

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 61

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 62 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 63 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 64 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 65 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 66 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 67 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 68 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 69 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 70 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 71 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 72 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 73 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 74 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 75 Hartland Dancers
  • 76 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 77 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 78 North Devon Driving School

  • 79 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 80 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 81 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 82 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 83 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 84 Revenge in style

  • 85 In their new robes and hats

  • 86 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 87 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

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

  • 89 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

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

  • 91

    New gateway
  • 92 End of the line

  • 93 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 94 Life begins at 80

  • 95 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 96 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 97 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 98 The art of the thatcher

  • 99 Picking the pops

  • 100 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 101 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 102 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 103 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 104 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 105 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 106

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 107

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 108 Decontrol of meat

  • 109

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 110 Pannier Market's future?

  • 111 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 112 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 113 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 114 The Geneva marionettes

  • 115 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 116 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 117 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 118 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 119

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 120 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 121 A story to tell!

  • 122 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 123 Ten year old scrambler

  • 124 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 125 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 126 Bideford loses training ship

  • 127 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 128 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 129

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 130 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 131 Finished in 1876

  • 132 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 133 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 134 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 135 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 136 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 137 Capers on the cobbles

  • 138 He beat the floods

  • 139 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 140 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 141 Torrington children build igloo
  • 142 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 143 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 144 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 145 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 146 When horses score over the tractor

  • 147 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 148 Parkham plan realised

  • 149 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 150 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 151

    Married in 1908
  • 152 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 153

    Building works
  • 154 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 155 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 156 Riverside mystery

  • 157 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 158 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 159 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 160 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 161 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 162

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 163 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 164 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 165 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 166 Ships at Bideford

  • 167

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 168 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 169 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 170

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 171 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 172 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 173 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 174

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 175 Cruising down the river

  • 176

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 177 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 178 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

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

  • 180 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 181 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 182 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 183 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 184 A bird of their own!

  • 185

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 186 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 187 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 188 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 189 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 190 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 191 Can spring be far away?

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

  • 193 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 194 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 195 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 196 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 197

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 198 Six footed lamb

  • 199 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 200 Littleham family's five generations

  • 201 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 202 Appledore's largest

  • 203 Just over a year old

  • 204 Simple Item 138
  • 205 Northam's almshouse

  • 206 New life for Hartland organ

  • 207 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 208 Modern living at Bideford

  • 209 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 210 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 211 Torrington's new amenity

  • 212 New art gallery opened

  • 213 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 214 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 215 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 216 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 217 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 218 Happy Days!

  • 219 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 220 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 221 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 222 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 223 Picking the pops

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

  • 225 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 226 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 227 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 228 Sweets derationing

  • 229 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 230 Puppet characters introduced

  • 231 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 232 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

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

  • 234 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 235 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 236 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 237 Hartland's invitation

  • 238 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 239 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 240 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 241

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 242 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 243 Unique holiday adventure!

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

  • 245 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 246 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 247 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 248 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 249 Northam footballers of the future

  • 250 It really was the 'last time'

  • 251 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 252 New Lundy stamps

  • 253 School's link with cargo ship

  • 254

    Relatives all over the world
  • 255 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 256 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 257 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 258 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 259 All aboard the ark

  • 260 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 261

    Was a missionary
  • 262 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 263 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 264 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 265 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 266 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 267 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 268 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 269 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 270 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 271 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 272 Private home for public pump

  • 273 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 274 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 275 New look in the hayfields

  • 276 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 277 Burnard family reunion

  • 278 New civic medallions

  • 279 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 280 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 281 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 282 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

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

  • 284 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 285 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 286 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 287 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 288

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 289 All for the love of a lady!

  • 290 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 291 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 292 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 293 Warmington's garage ad

  • 294 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 295 What's the time?

  • 296 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 297 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 298 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 299 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 300 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 301 They are parted pro-tem

  • 302 Twenty-one yachts

  • 303

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 304 Waldon Triplets
  • 305 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 306 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 307 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 308 Sight of a lifetime

  • 309 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 310 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 311 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 312 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 313 New addition to Quay front

  • 314 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 315 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 316 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 317 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 318 Police station view of Bideford

  • 319 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 320 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 321 No laughing matter

  • 322 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 323 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 324 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 325 The cab at the corner>
  • 326 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 327 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 328 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 329 Torrington in 1967

  • 330 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 331 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 332 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 333 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 334 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 335

    Exhibition of school work
  • 336 Hartland postman retires

  • 337 Penny for the guy

  • 338 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 339 So this is the mainland!

  • 340 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

  • 341 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 342 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 343 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 344 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 345 Some mushroom!

  • 346 Traditions and skills still there

  • 347 Out of puff!

  • 348 Clovelly nightmare

  • 349 A roof-top view - where?

  • 350 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 351 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 352 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 353 School crossing patrol begins

  • 354 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 355 Jumble sale fever

  • 356 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 357 Variety in summer weather

  • 358 By pony and trap to market

  • 359 Bideford regatta

  • 360 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 361 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 362 Bideford computer stars

  • 363 Some 240 exhibits

  • 364 For crying out loud!

  • 365 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 366 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 367 Clovelly custom

  • 368 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 369 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 370 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 371 Artisans' Club

  • 372 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 373 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 374 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 375 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 376 First ship in 8 years

  • 377 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 378 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 379 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 380 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 381 Service with a smile

  • 382 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 383 Television comes to Torridge District

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

  • 385 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 386 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 387 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 388 Emergency ferry services

  • 389 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 390 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 391 From Bobby to Brian

  • 392

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 393

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 394 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 395 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 396 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 397 Mobile missionary

  • 398

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 399 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 400 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 401 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 402 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 403 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 404 A man and his wheel

  • 405 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 406 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 407 Recognise this resort?

  • 408 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 409 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 410 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 411 Designed and made in Bideford

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

  • 413 Peter poses for TV film

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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

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

Westward Ho! Memento of Queen’s Broadcast

Her Majesty’s ‘Invitation to Youth’ broadcast from Capetown in 1947 on the occasion of her 21st birthday, has been printed on a card together with a reproduction of a photograph of the Queen seated at the microphone before making that famous speech and copies will be distributed as a Coronation memento to all children at Westward Ho!

29.5.1953 WHo

The day’s celebrations commence with a united service at Holy Trinity Church at 9.15am. To conclude the day a gala evening, which will include olde-time and modern dancing, games and a fancy dress parade, commences in the Kingsley Hall at 8pm. 

The old people of Westward Ho! have not been forgotten. A coach outing has been arranged for them for the Thursday after the Coronation and Mrs M D Rowe and Miss V Lewis, of Lewis’s Café will be carrying out the invitation extended by their late mother, Mrs H Lewis, for the party to take tea at the café at the conclusion of the tour. To commemorate the Coronation, Westward Ho! Women’s Institute are planning to plant two flowering trees in the autumn. 

To help raise funds, a large cake was given for competition by Mrs W Powell. Bideford and District Cricket Club, whose playing pitch is at Westward Ho! made a donation.

Chairman of the Coronation Committee is Mr J Wickham and Mrs N M Gibbs is secretary. 

The full Gazette article is dated 29 May 1953

Bidefordian Among Mounted Escort

He is Trooper J Bright, of the Household Cavalry (The Life Guards), grandson of the late Ald. J H Bright (a former Mayor of Bideford).

29.5.1953 Trooper Bright

Born in 1934, he left with his parents to live at Stockport in 1939 but has since spent several holidays at Bideford. He will be recalled in particular by members of the BARC. After the Coronation Trooper Bright will be going to Scotland for escort duties during the Queen's visit there. 

The Gazette article is dated 19 May 1953

  • 1

Login Form