• 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 Traditions and skills still there

  • 2

    Was a missionary
  • 3 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 4 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 5 Northam's almshouse

  • 6 New shipyard on schedule

  • 7 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 8 113 years at Instow

  • 9 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 10 Some mushroom!

  • 11 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 12 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 13 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 14 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 15 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 16 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 17 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 18 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 19 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 20 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 21 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 22 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 23 Parkham plan realised

  • 24 New Post Office

  • 25

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 26 Picking the pops

  • 27 From Bobby to Brian

  • 28 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 29 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 30 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 31 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 32 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 33 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 34 New Lundy stamps

  • 35 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 36 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 37 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 38 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 39 Riverside mystery

  • 40 Colour TV salesman at eight

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

  • 42 Filming at Hartland

  • 43 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 44 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 45 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 46 A bird of their own!

  • 47 He beat the floods

  • 48 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 49 An early 'special' to Bideford

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

  • 51 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 52 Ships at Bideford

  • 53

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 54

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 55 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 56 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 57 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 58 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 59 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 60 For crying out loud!

  • 61

    Building works
  • 62 Artisans' Club

  • 63 Torrington's new amenity

  • 64 Clovelly nightmare

  • 65 Modern living at Bideford

  • 66 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 67 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 68 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 69 Finished in 1876

  • 70 The Geneva marionettes

  • 71

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 72 No sale of Springfield House

  • 73 It really was the 'last time'

  • 74 Police station view of Bideford

  • 75 Revived market off to splendid start

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

  • 77

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 78 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 79 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 80 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 81 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 82 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 83 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 84 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 85 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 86 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 87 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 88 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 89 All aboard the ark

  • 90 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 91 Sweets derationing

  • 92 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 93 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 94 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 95 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 96 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 97 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 98 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 99 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 100 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 101 Six footed lamb

  • 102 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 103 Panto time at Westward Ho!

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

  • 105 Circus comes to town

  • 106 A roof-top view - where?

  • 107

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 108 Waldon Triplets
  • 109 Hartland Dancers
  • 110 Service with a smile

  • 111

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 112 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 113 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 114 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 115 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 116 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 117 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 118

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 119 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 120 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

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

  • 122 Out of puff!

  • 123 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 124 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 125 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 126 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 127 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 128 First ship in 8 years

  • 129 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 130 Private home for public pump

  • 131 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 132 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 133 Warmington's garage ad

  • 134 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 135 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 136

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 137 Centenary of Gazette

  • 138 The art of the thatcher

  • 139 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 140 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 141 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 142 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 143 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 144 End of the line

  • 145 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 146 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 147 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 148 Bideford loses training ship

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

  • 150 Recognise this resort?

  • 151 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 152 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 153 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 154 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 155 Simple Item 138
  • 156 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 157 Variety in summer weather

  • 158 Burnard family reunion

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

  • 160 All for the love of a lady!

  • 161 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 162 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 163 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 164

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 165 New look in the hayfields

  • 166 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 167 Pannier Market's future?

  • 168 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 169 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 170 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 171 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 172 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 173 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 174 Mobile missionary

  • 175 Appledore's largest

  • 176 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 177 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 178 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 179 Bideford computer stars

  • 180 Jumble sale fever

  • 181 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 182 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 183 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 184 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 185 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 186 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 187 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 188 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 189 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 190 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 191

    Exhibition of school work
  • 192

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 193 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 194

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 195 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 196 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 197 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 198 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 199 No laughing matter

  • 200 Life begins at 80

  • 201 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 202 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 203 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 204 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 205 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 206 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 207 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 208 Northam footballers of the future

  • 209 Capers on the cobbles

  • 210 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 211 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 212

    Married in 1908
  • 213 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 214 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 215 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 216 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 217 So this is the mainland!

  • 218 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 219 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 220 Hartland's invitation

  • 221 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 222 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 223 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 224 Revenge in style

  • 225 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 226 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 227 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 228 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 229 Decontrol of meat

  • 230 The cab at the corner>
  • 231 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 232 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 233 Some 240 exhibits

  • 234 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 235 New addition to Quay front

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

  • 237 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 238 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 239 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 240

    First prize
  • 241 Hartland postman retires

  • 242 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

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

  • 244 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 245 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 246 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 247

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 248 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 249 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 250 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 251 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 252 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 253

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 254 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 255 Peter poses for TV film

  • 256 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 257 School's link with cargo ship

  • 258 They never miss a game at Torrington

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

  • 260 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 261 Torrington children build igloo
  • 262

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 263 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 264 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 265 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 266 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 267 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 268

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 269 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

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

  • 271 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 272 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 273 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 274 School crossing patrol begins

  • 275 A story to tell!

  • 276

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 277 North Devon Driving School

  • 278 Torrington in 1967

  • 279 Puppet characters introduced

  • 280 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 281

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 282 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 283 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 284 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 285 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 286 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 287 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 288 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 289 Loads of black and white

  • 290 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 291 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 292

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 293 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 294 Ten year old scrambler

  • 295 New civic medallions

  • 296 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 297 A man and his wheel

  • 298 Emergency ferry services

  • 299

    Relatives all over the world
  • 300 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 301 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 302

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 303 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 304 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 305 They are parted pro-tem

  • 306 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 307 Last train from Torrington

  • 308

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 309 Off on a great adventure

  • 310 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 311 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 312 Littleham family's five generations

  • 313 Happy Days!

  • 314 By pony and trap to market

  • 315 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 316 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 317 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 318 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 319 Bideford regatta

  • 320 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 321 Weare Giffard potato

  • 322 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 323 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 324 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 325 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 326 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 327 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 328 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 329 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 330 Cruising down the river

  • 331 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 332 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 333 Penny for the guy

  • 334 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 335 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 336 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 337 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 338 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 339 Twenty-one yachts

  • 340 Picking the pops

  • 341 Just over a year old

  • 342 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 343 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 344 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 345 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 346 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

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

  • 348

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 349

    Bidefordians
  • 350 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 351 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 352 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 353 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 354

    New gateway
  • 355 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 356 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 357 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 358 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 359 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 360 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 361 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 362 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 363 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 364 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 365 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 366 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 367 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 368 In their new robes and hats

  • 369 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 370 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 371 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 372 Bridging the stream

  • 373 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 374 Sight of a lifetime

  • 375 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 376 What's the time?

  • 377 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 378 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 379 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 380 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 381 New art gallery opened

  • 382 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 383 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 384 Can spring be far away?

  • 385 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 386 New choral society's growing response

  • 387 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 388 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 389 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 390 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 391 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 392 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 393 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 394

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 395 Clovelly custom

  • 396 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 397

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 398 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 399 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 400 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 401 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 402 New life for Hartland organ

  • 403 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 404 When horses score over the tractor

  • 405 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 406 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 407 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 408 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 409 Devil sent packing

  • 410

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 411 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 412 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 413 Childrens' model of Torrington

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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  • 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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  • 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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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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Victory Scenes: Happy Memories

15.5.1945 pictures

15.5.1945 Pictures1

 

Northam

At Northam, the story was just the same – streets and the Northam Urban District Council offices decorated, etc.

15.5.1945 Northam

On VE Day 2 morning, a united service was held at St Margaret’s Church, conducted by the Rev Rev E Basil Bridger (Vicar), assisted by the Rev A E Green (Congregational) and the Rev F E Paod (Methodist), the service being relayed by loudspeaker to the Square. In the evening another thanksgiving service was held at the Congregational Church, conducted by the Pastor (Rev A E Green).

Dances and community singing were held in the square on the eve of VE Day and on VE night and the night after – a dance also taking place at the YMCA – while bonfires proclaimed the good news as in olden times.

The celebration for the children is to be held at some future date.

Members of Northam Urban District Council and staff were among the large and representative congregation attending on Sunday morning at a thanksgiving service at St Margaret’s Church, Northam. The Vicar (Rev E Basil Bridger), conducted the service and gave the address.

Organisations attending included: Detachments of the Regular Forces with the ATS; Home Guards, Civil Defence, WVS, Special Constables, British Legion, and Girl Guides, etc.

The service concluded with singing. Mr H E Champion being the organist.

Gazette article dated

Langtree

Merry peals were rung on the bells at the church throughout the day on Tuesday to celebrate the surrender of Germany.

15.5.1945 Langtree

Mr Charles Walters had the misfortune to break his leg owing to the bell rope breaking. Everyone wishes him a speedy recovery.

Thanksgiving services were held in the evening at both the church and chapel. In the evening a grand social was held in the Old Schoolroom where there was a large gathering and all thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Mrs Barrows, Mrs Madge, Mrs Curtis and Miss Joan Moore supplied the music. Funds were in aid of Welcome Home to the Forces.

Gazette article dated 15 May 1945

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