• 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 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 2 Parkham plan realised

  • 3 Waldon Triplets
  • 4 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 5 Service with a smile

  • 6 So this is the mainland!

  • 7 Riverside mystery

  • 8 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 9 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 10 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 11 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 12 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 13 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 14 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 15 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 16 No sale of Springfield House

  • 17 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 18 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 19 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 20 They are parted pro-tem

  • 21 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 22

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 23 Picking the pops

  • 24

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 25 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 26

    Building works
  • 27 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 28 What's the time?

  • 29 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 30 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 31 New shipyard on schedule

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

  • 33 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 34 New look in the hayfields

  • 35 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 36 For crying out loud!

  • 37 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 38

    First prize
  • 39 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 40 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 41 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 42 Penny for the guy

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

  • 44 A story to tell!

  • 45 Can spring be far away?

  • 46 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 47 Littleham family's five generations

  • 48 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 49 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 50 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 51 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 52 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 53 Torrington children build igloo
  • 54 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 55 Picking the pops

  • 56 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 57 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 58 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 59 The Geneva marionettes

  • 60 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 61 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 62 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 63 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 64 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 65

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 66 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 67 Hartland postman retires

  • 68 Clovelly custom

  • 69 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 70 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 71 A roof-top view - where?

  • 72 Six footed lamb

  • 73 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 74 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 75 Simple Item 138
  • 76 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 77 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 78 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 79 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 80 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 81 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 82 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 83 End of the line

  • 84 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 85

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 86

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 87 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 88 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 89 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 90 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 91 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 92 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 93 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 94 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 95 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 96 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 97 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 98 He beat the floods

  • 99 Circus comes to town

  • 100

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 101

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 102 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 103 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 104 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 105 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 106 Life begins at 80

  • 107

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 108 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 109 Revenge in style

  • 110 Devil sent packing

  • 111 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 112 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 113 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 114 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 115 Pannier Market's future?

  • 116 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 117 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 118 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 119 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 120 Out of puff!

  • 121 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 122 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 123 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 124 Designed and made in Bideford

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

  • 126 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 127 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 128 Hartland's invitation

  • 129 Burnard family reunion

  • 130 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 131 Northam's almshouse

  • 132 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 133 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 134 It really was the 'last time'

  • 135 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 136 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 137

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 138 New civic medallions

  • 139

    Relatives all over the world
  • 140 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 141 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 142 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 143 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 144 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 145 Cruising down the river

  • 146 Modern living at Bideford

  • 147 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 148 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 149 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 150 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 151

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 152 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 153

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 154 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

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

  • 156 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 157 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 158 Emergency ferry services

  • 159 Some mushroom!

  • 160 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 161 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 162 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 163 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 164 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 165 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 166 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 167 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 168 In their new robes and hats

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

  • 170 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 171 New Post Office

  • 172 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 173 Some 240 exhibits

  • 174

    Exhibition of school work
  • 175 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 176 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 177 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 178 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 179 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 180 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 181 Off on a great adventure

  • 182 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 183 New addition to Quay front

  • 184 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 185 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 186 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 187 All aboard the ark

  • 188 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 189 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 190

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 191 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 192 Mobile missionary

  • 193 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 194

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 195 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 196 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 197 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 198 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 199 New choral society's growing response

  • 200 Ten year old scrambler

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

  • 202

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 203 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 204 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 205 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 206 All for the love of a lady!

  • 207 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 208 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 209 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 210 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 211

    Was a missionary
  • 212 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 213 When horses score over the tractor

  • 214 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 215 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 216 A man and his wheel

  • 217 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 218 Appledore's largest

  • 219

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 220 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 221 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 222 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 223 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 224 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 225

    New gateway
  • 226 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 227 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 228 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 229 Torrington's shelter for the aged

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

  • 231 Decontrol of meat

  • 232 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 233 Sight of a lifetime

  • 234 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 235 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 236 Bideford regatta

  • 237 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 238 Torrington in 1967

  • 239 Private home for public pump

  • 240 Loads of black and white

  • 241 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 242 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 243 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 244

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 245 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 246 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 247 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 248 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 249 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 250 First ship in 8 years

  • 251 Torrington's new amenity

  • 252

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 253 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 254 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 255 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 256 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 257 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 258

    Married in 1908
  • 259 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 260 No laughing matter

  • 261 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 262 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 263 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 264 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 265 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 266 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 267 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 268 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 269 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 270 North Devon Driving School

  • 271 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 272 Sixty-two year old Picarooner makes ready for season

  • 273 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 274 By pony and trap to market

  • 275 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 276 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 277 Jumble sale fever

  • 278

    Bidefordians
  • 279 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 280 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 281 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 282 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 283 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 284 Centenary of Gazette

  • 285 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 286 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 287 School's link with cargo ship

  • 288 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 289 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 290 Twenty-one yachts

  • 291 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 292 Bideford computer stars

  • 293 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 294 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 295 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 296

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 297 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 298 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 299 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 300 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 301 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 302

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 303 Puppet characters introduced

  • 304 Weare Giffard potato

  • 305 Traditions and skills still there

  • 306

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 307 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 308 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 309 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 310 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 311 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 312 Ships at Bideford

  • 313 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 314 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 315 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 316 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 317 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 318 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 319 The art of the thatcher

  • 320 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 321 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 322 New Lundy stamps

  • 323 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 324 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 325 113 years at Instow

  • 326 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 327 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 328 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 329 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 330 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 331 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 332 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 333 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 334 Hartland Dancers
  • 335 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 336 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 337 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 338

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 339

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 340 Police station view of Bideford

  • 341 Bridging the stream

  • 342 Just over a year old

  • 343 Peter poses for TV film

  • 344 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 345 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 346 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 347 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 348

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 349 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 350 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 351 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 352 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 353 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 354 Happy Days!

  • 355 School crossing patrol begins

  • 356 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 357 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 358 New life for Hartland organ

  • 359 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 360 Last train from Torrington

  • 361 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 362

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 363 Northam footballers of the future

  • 364 Artisans' Club

  • 365 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 366

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 367 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 368 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 369 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 370 Variety in summer weather

  • 371 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 372 New art gallery opened

  • 373 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 374 Bideford loses training ship

  • 375 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 376 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 377 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 378 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 379 Finished in 1876

  • 380 A bird of their own!

  • 381 Clovelly nightmare

  • 382 Warmington's garage ad

  • 383 Recognise this resort?

  • 384 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 385 Capers on the cobbles

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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Air Raid Shelters At Home

Morrison and Anderson Shelters Available

14.12.1943 air raid shelters

Sir – I again feel it is my duty to draw the attention of householders to the facilities which have been provided at very considerable expense but which, for various reasons, do not appear to be widely known. I refer to the availability of Morrison (and Anderson) Shelters.

Approximately 150 householders have seen the wisdom of acquiring and installing a shelter in their homes and this comparatively small number is a cause of some concern in official circles.

The lives of many children and adults have been saved by the possession of such shelters.

I am aware that there are various reasons why these shelters cannot be placed in some houses but where neither Morrisons nor Andersons are suitable, then, in certain conditions, a grant is available for strengthening a specially selected portion of a house. The Borough Surveyor is willing at all times to give advice on the matter.

The Council have not received instructions to despatch a considerable number of shelters to other places where the demand is more insistent and this may be the last opportunity of securing this valuable form of protection in Bideford.

At some risk of being labelled as an alarmist my personal advice is to ‘make sure rather than to be sorry.’

J H Sharley
Mayor of Bideford

Mayor’s Office
Bideford,
Devon

December 6th, 1943

Gazette articled dated 14 December 1943

Memories of the VJ Celebrations

No need to tell it to the Marines,

they know how much the children enjoyed the trips on the river in the light naval craft on the second of the VJ holidays.

The top photograph (by I C Williams, Bideford) shows a happy boatload of youngsters about to leave Bideford Quay for a trip. ‘The spirit of Victory’ was the title given to the galaxy of fancy dress, music and merriment photographed at Torrington’s VJ Carnival procession by Pringle and Woodward, Torrington.

Picture 1

What’s the Queue for This Time?

Perhaps there was some tasty speciality on sale?

No; guess again. Remember the fireworks during the VJ holiday? They provided quite a lot of fund, although some of the more boisterous spirits used them thoughtlessly. Well this photograph shows a queue outside a Bideford shop selling fireworks on a VJ morning.

Queue

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