• 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 craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 2 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 3 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 4 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 5 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 6 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 7

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 8 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 9 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 10 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 11 Finished in 1876

  • 12

    New gateway
  • 13

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 14

    Exhibition of school work
  • 15 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 16

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 17 Emergency ferry services

  • 18

    Married in 1908
  • 19 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 20 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 21 Devil sent packing

  • 22 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 23

    Building works
  • 24 Simple Item 138
  • 25 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 26 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 27 Circus comes to town

  • 28 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 29 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 30 Burnard family reunion

  • 31 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 32 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 33 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 34 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 35 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 36 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 37 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 38 Mobile missionary

  • 39 Penny for the guy

  • 40

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 41 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 42 First ship in 8 years

  • 43 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 44 New Post Office

  • 45 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 46 Faints as she wins national competition

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

  • 48 Traditions and skills still there

  • 49 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 50 Torrington's new amenity

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

  • 52 Some 240 exhibits

  • 53 So this is the mainland!

  • 54 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 55 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 56

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 57 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 58 Twenty-one yachts

  • 59 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 60 Police station view of Bideford

  • 61 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 62 Northam's almshouse

  • 63 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 64 New shipyard on schedule

  • 65

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 66 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 67 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 68 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 69 Decontrol of meat

  • 70 Sight of a lifetime

  • 71 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 72 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 73 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 74 Centenary of Gazette

  • 75 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 76

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 77 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 78 Capers on the cobbles

  • 79 He beat the floods

  • 80 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 81 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 82 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 83

    First prize
  • 84 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 85 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 86 End of the line

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

  • 88 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 89 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 90 They are parted pro-tem

  • 91 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 92 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 93 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 94 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 95 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 96 School's link with cargo ship

  • 97 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 98 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 99 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 100 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 101 The cab at the corner>
  • 102 Warmington's garage ad

  • 103 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 104 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 105 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 106 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 107 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 108 New addition to Quay front

  • 109 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 110 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 111 Hartland postman retires

  • 112 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 113 Recognise this resort?

  • 114 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 115 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 116 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 117 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 118 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 119 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 120 New art gallery opened

  • 121

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 122 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 123 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 124 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 125 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 126 When horses score over the tractor

  • 127 Quads join a Langtree happy family

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

  • 129

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 130 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 131

    Bidefordians
  • 132 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 133 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 134 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 135 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 136 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 137 Clovelly nightmare

  • 138 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 139 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 140 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 141 Sweets derationing

  • 142 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 143 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 144 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 145 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 146 Service with a smile

  • 147 For crying out loud!

  • 148 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 149 Puppet characters introduced

  • 150 Peter poses for TV film

  • 151 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 152 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 153

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 154 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 155 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 156 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 157 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 158 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 159 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 160 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 161 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 162 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 163 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 164 Happy Days!

  • 165 A roof-top view - where?

  • 166 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 167

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 168 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

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

  • 170 Picking the pops

  • 171

    Relatives all over the world
  • 172 New Lundy stamps

  • 173 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 174 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 175 No sale of Springfield House

  • 176 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 177 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 178 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 179 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 180 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 181 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 182 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 183 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 184 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 185 All for the love of a lady!

  • 186 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 187 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 188 New life for Hartland organ

  • 189 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 190 A man and his wheel

  • 191 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 192 Loads of black and white

  • 193 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 194 Ten year old scrambler

  • 195 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 196 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 197 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 198

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 199 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 200 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 201

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 202 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 203 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 204

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 205 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 206 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 207 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 208 All aboard the ark

  • 209 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 210 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 211 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 212 Out of puff!

  • 213 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 214 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 215 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 216 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 217 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

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

  • 219 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 220 School crossing patrol begins

  • 221 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 222 The Geneva marionettes

  • 223 Just over a year old

  • 224 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 225 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 226 Bideford regatta

  • 227 New civic medallions

  • 228 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 229 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 230 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 231 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 232 No laughing matter

  • 233 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 234 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 235 Quads at Thornhillhead

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

  • 237 Bideford loses training ship

  • 238 113 years at Instow

  • 239 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 240 The art of the thatcher

  • 241 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 242 By pony and trap to market

  • 243 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 244 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 245

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 246 Hartland Dancers
  • 247 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 248 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 249 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 250 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 251 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 252 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 253 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 254 Can spring be far away?

  • 255 Filming at Hartland

  • 256 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 257 Revenge in style

  • 258 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 259 New choral society's growing response

  • 260 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 261 Off on a great adventure

  • 262

    Was a missionary
  • 263 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 264 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 265 Weare Giffard potato

  • 266 Torrington in 1967

  • 267 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 268 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 269 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 270 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 271 Riverside mystery

  • 272 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 273 Artisans' Club

  • 274

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 275 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 276 Watch the dicky bird!

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

  • 278 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 279 From Bobby to Brian

  • 280 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 281 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 282 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 283 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 284 In their new robes and hats

  • 285 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 286 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 287 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 288 Life begins at 80

  • 289 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 290 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 291 Last train from Torrington

  • 292 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 293 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 294 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 295 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 296 Pannier Market's future?

  • 297 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 298 Picking the pops

  • 299

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 300 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 301 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 302 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 303 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 304 It really was the 'last time'

  • 305 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 306 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 307 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 308 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

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

  • 310 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 311 Modern living at Bideford

  • 312 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 313 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 314 Some mushroom!

  • 315 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 316 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 317 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 318 Appledore's largest

  • 319 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 320

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 321 A bird of their own!

  • 322 Jumble sale fever

  • 323 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 324 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 325 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 326 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 327 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 328 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 329 Littleham family's five generations

  • 330 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 331 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 332 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 333 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 334 Clovelly custom

  • 335 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 336 Salmon netting at Bideford

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

  • 338 New look in the hayfields

  • 339 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 340 What's the time?

  • 341

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 342 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 343 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 344 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 345 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 346 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 347 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 348

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 349 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 350 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 351 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 352 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 353 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 354 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 355 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 356 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 357 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

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

  • 359 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 360 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 361 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 362 Torrington children build igloo
  • 363 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 364 A story to tell!

  • 365 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 366 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 367 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 368 Six footed lamb

  • 369 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 370 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 371 Bridging the stream

  • 372 Parkham plan realised

  • 373 Hartland's invitation

  • 374 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 375 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 376 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 377 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 378 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 379 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 380 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 381 North Devon Driving School

  • 382 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 383 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 384 Waldon Triplets
  • 385

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 386

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 387 Bideford computer stars

  • 388 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 389 Variety in summer weather

  • 390 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 391 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 392 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 393 Huntshaw TV mast

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

  • 395 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 396 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 397 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 398 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 399 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 400 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 401 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 402 Cruising down the river

  • 403

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 404 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 405 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 406 Northam footballers of the future

  • 407

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 408 Private home for public pump

  • 409 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 410

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 411 Ships at Bideford

  • 412 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 413 Down at the 'Donkey House'

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

  • 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

  • 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
  • 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

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

  • 1

Login Form