• 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 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 2 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

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

  • 4 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 5 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 6 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 7 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

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

  • 9 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 10 Picking the pops

  • 11 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 12 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

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

  • 14 Weare Giffard potato

  • 15 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 16 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 17 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 18

    Was a missionary
  • 19 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 20 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 21 Burnard family reunion

  • 22 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 23 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 24 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 25 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 26 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 27 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 28

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 29 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 30 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 31 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 32 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 33

    New gateway
  • 34 Some 240 exhibits

  • 35 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 36 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 37 Warmington's garage ad

  • 38 Clovelly custom

  • 39 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 40 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 41 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 42 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 43 Just over a year old

  • 44 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 45 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 46 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 47 They are parted pro-tem

  • 48 Cruising down the river

  • 49 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 50 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 51 A roof-top view - where?

  • 52 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 53 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 54 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 55

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 56 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 57 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 58 Clovelly nightmare

  • 59 Hartland's invitation

  • 60 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 61 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 62 Decontrol of meat

  • 63 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 64 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 65

    Bidefordians
  • 66 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 67 Ships at Bideford

  • 68 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 69 Hartland Dancers
  • 70 Service with a smile

  • 71 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 72

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 73 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 74 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 75 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 76 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 77

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 78 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 79 Private home for public pump

  • 80 Northam footballers of the future

  • 81 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 82 Parkham plan realised

  • 83 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 84 Northam's almshouse

  • 85 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 86 Mobile missionary

  • 87 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 88 Sight of a lifetime

  • 89 Picking the pops

  • 90 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 91 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 92 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 93 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 94 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 95 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 96 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 97 Traditions and skills still there

  • 98 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 99 Centenary of Gazette

  • 100 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 101 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 102 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 103 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 104 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 105 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 106 Out of puff!

  • 107 New life for Hartland organ

  • 108

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 109 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 110 Life begins at 80

  • 111 Peter poses for TV film

  • 112 Passing of a Torrington landmark

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

  • 114 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 115 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 116 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 117 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 118

    First prize
  • 119 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 120 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 121 New Lundy stamps

  • 122 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 123 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 124 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 125 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 126 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 127 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 128 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 129 New art gallery opened

  • 130 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 131 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 132

    Married in 1908
  • 133 Artisans' Club

  • 134 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 135 For crying out loud!

  • 136 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 137 Riverside mystery

  • 138

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 139 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 140 Landmark at Bradworthy

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

  • 142 Torrington in 1967

  • 143 School crossing patrol begins

  • 144 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 145 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 146 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 147 The art of the thatcher

  • 148 North Devon Driving School

  • 149

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 150 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 151 Jumble sale fever

  • 152 Hartland postman retires

  • 153

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 154 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 155 Recognise this resort?

  • 156 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 157

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 158 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 159

    Building works
  • 160 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 161 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 162 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 163 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 164 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 165 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 166 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 167 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 168 No sale of Springfield House

  • 169 Police station view of Bideford

  • 170 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 171

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 172

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 173 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 174 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 175

    Relatives all over the world
  • 176 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 177 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 178 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 179 Bideford regatta

  • 180 Variety in summer weather

  • 181 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 182 Revenge in style

  • 183 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 184 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 185 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 186 Puppet characters introduced

  • 187 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 188 No laughing matter

  • 189 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 190 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 191 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 192 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 193 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 194 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 195 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 196 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 197 Pannier Market's future?

  • 198

    Exhibition of school work
  • 199 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 200 A man and his wheel

  • 201 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 202

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 203 Twenty-one yachts

  • 204 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 205 End of the line

  • 206 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 207 Can spring be far away?

  • 208 Littleham family's five generations

  • 209

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 210 Bideford computer stars

  • 211 Finished in 1876

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

  • 213

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 214 Circus comes to town

  • 215

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 216 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 217 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 218 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

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

  • 220 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 221 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 222 What's the time?

  • 223 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 224 Torrington's new amenity

  • 225 Loads of black and white

  • 226

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 227 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 228 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 229 So this is the mainland!

  • 230 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 231 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 232 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 233

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 234 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 235 All for the love of a lady!

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

  • 237 In their new robes and hats

  • 238 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 239 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 240 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 241 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 242 Capers on the cobbles

  • 243 New Post Office

  • 244 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 245 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 246 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 247 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 248 Modern living at Bideford

  • 249 Bridging the stream

  • 250 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 251 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 252 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 253 It really was the 'last time'

  • 254 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 255 Six footed lamb

  • 256 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 257 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 258 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 259 A bird of their own!

  • 260 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 261 School's link with cargo ship

  • 262 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 263 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 264 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 265 The Geneva marionettes

  • 266 A story to tell!

  • 267 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 268 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 269 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 270 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 271 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 272 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 273 113 years at Instow

  • 274 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 275 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 276 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 277 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 278

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 279 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 280 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 281 Devil sent packing

  • 282

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 283 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 284 New addition to Quay front

  • 285 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 286 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 287 Appledore's largest

  • 288

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 289 New choral society's growing response

  • 290 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

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

  • 292 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 293 New civic medallions

  • 294 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 295 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 296 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 297 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 298 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 299 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 300 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 301 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 302 He beat the floods

  • 303 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 304 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 305 By pony and trap to market

  • 306 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 307 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 308

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 309 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 310 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 311 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 312 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 313 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 314 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 315 New look in the hayfields

  • 316 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 317 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 318 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 319 Bideford loses training ship

  • 320 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 321 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 322 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 323 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 324 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 325 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 326 First ship in 8 years

  • 327 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 328 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 329 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 330 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 331 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 332 New shipyard on schedule

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

  • 334 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 335 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 336 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 337 Ten year old scrambler

  • 338 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 339 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 340 Torrington children build igloo
  • 341 Waldon Triplets
  • 342 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

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

  • 344 When horses score over the tractor

  • 345 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 346 Simple Item 138
  • 347

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 348 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 349

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 350 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 351 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 352 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 353 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 354 Off on a great adventure

  • 355 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 356 All aboard the ark

  • 357 Emergency ferry services

  • 358 Last train from Torrington

  • 359 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 360 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 361 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 362 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 363 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 364 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 365 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 366 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 367 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 368 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 369 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 370 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 371 Some mushroom!

  • 372 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 373 Happy Days!

  • 374 Penny for the guy

  • 375 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 376 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 377

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 378

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 379 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 380 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 381 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 382 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 383 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 384 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 385 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

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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Student’s Escape In Cliff Fall

Falling 60ft down a cliff face on to rocks at Hartland Quay,

9.2.1973 Hartland rescue

when out for a midnight walk on Friday with a friend, a geology student had a remarkable escape from serious injury. 

Mr Paul Day, aged 22, who lives at Willenhall, Staffordshire, one of a party of students from Leeds University staying at Hartland Quay Hotel, escaped with a fractured elbow and scalp wounds.

With him on the walk was Mr Graham Wilkinson, aged 24, who ran back to the hotel after the accident to raise the alarm. 

Hartland Coastguards and Hartland Cliff Rescue Team were alerted and made their way to the bottom of the cliff. They placed Mr Day in a stretcher and hoisted him to the top of the cliff where he was put into a waiting ambulance and taken to the North Devon Infirmary.

He was able to leave hospital on Sunday to return to his university. 

Gazette article published 9 February 1973

Injured Seamen Brought Ashore By Clovelly Lifeboat

Explosion aboard Guernsey Collier

28.9.1951 Clovelly Lifeboat1

Holiday makers and residents helped St John Ambulance men as they carried a seriously injured seaman by stretcher up Clovelly’s cobbled High Street.
The seaman, Patrick Hagan, of Gleneravon, County Antrim, was one of three brought ashore by Clovelly lifeboat following an explosion aboard the 95- tons ss Rocquaine while she was sheltering in Lundy Roads. The two other men were Able Seaman Alexander Oboyle and Able Seaman Patrick Murray, both of Glenariff, County Antrim.
The Rocquaine, owned by Messrs Dorey and Sons, Guernsey, was on her way from Cardiff to Guernsey with a cargo of coal.
At 9.30am the three injured men were engaged in trimming cargo in the forward hold when an explosion occurred.
Hartland Point Coastguards picked up the distress call and passed the message to Clovelly where the lifeboat was launched under Coxswain George Lamey.
The two less seriously injured men were able to walk ashore from the lifeboat and they were taken by the Red Lion jeep to the top of the village.
At the Quayside, the men were attended by Dr W McIntosh, the locum tenens for Dr W K Somerton, of Hartland, and by members of the Bideford St John Ambulance Brigade.
Through the courtesy of Mr R G Lovell, of HM Customs, Appledore, and Capt John Hobbs, ship broker, the Vicar of Appledore, Rev H C A S Muller, who is honorary representative of the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society, was advised of the arrival of the two sailors at Bideford Hospital. He was to arrange to communicate with their relatives and also advised Rev Father C Scanlan.

 

Gazette article dated 28 September 1951

Accidents

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