• 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 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 2 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 3 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 4 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 5 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

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

  • 7 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 8 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 9 Modern living at Bideford

  • 10 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 11 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 12 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 13 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 14 Some 240 exhibits

  • 15 Waldon Triplets
  • 16 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 17 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 18 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 19 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 20 New addition to Quay front

  • 21 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 22 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

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

  • 24 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 25 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 26 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 27 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 28 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 29 North Devon Driving School

  • 30 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 31 Loads of black and white

  • 32

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 33 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 34 Police station view of Bideford

  • 35 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 36 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 37 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 38 For crying out loud!

  • 39

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 40 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 41 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 42 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 43 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 44 New life for Hartland organ

  • 45 Hartland's invitation

  • 46 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 47 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 48 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 49 Out of puff!

  • 50 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 51 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 52 Happy Days!

  • 53

    Married in 1908
  • 54 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 55 Circus comes to town

  • 56 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 57 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 58 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 59 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 60 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 61 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 62 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 63 Mobile missionary

  • 64 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 65

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 66 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 67

    Was a missionary
  • 68 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 69 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 70 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 71 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 72 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 73

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 74

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 75 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 76 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 77 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 78 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 79 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 80

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 81 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 82 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 83 Bideford regatta

  • 84 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 85 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 86 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 87 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 88 Private home for public pump

  • 89 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 90 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 91 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 92 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 93 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 94 When horses score over the tractor

  • 95 First ship in 8 years

  • 96 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 97 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 98

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 99 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 100 End of the line

  • 101 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 102 Bridging the stream

  • 103 Torrington children build igloo
  • 104 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 105 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 106 Last train from Torrington

  • 107 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 108 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 109

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 110 Chess - their bridge over the years

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

  • 112 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 113 Warmington's garage ad

  • 114

    Relatives all over the world
  • 115 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 116 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 117 A man and his wheel

  • 118 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 119 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 120 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 121 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 122 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 123 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 124 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 125 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 126 Twenty-one yachts

  • 127 Hartland postman retires

  • 128 Capers on the cobbles

  • 129 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 130 Artisans' Club

  • 131 Recognise this resort?

  • 132 Revenge in style

  • 133 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 134 Devil sent packing

  • 135 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 136 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 137 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 138 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 139 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 140 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 141 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 142 Life begins at 80

  • 143 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 144 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 145 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 146 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 147

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 148 Finished in 1876

  • 149 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 150 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 151 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 152 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 153 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 154 The art of the thatcher

  • 155 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 156 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 157 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 158 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 159 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 160

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 161 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 162 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 163 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 164 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 165 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 166 Burnard family reunion

  • 167 Torrington's new amenity

  • 168 Polish custom on Pancake Day

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

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

  • 171 113 years at Instow

  • 172 Traditions and skills still there

  • 173 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 174 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 175 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 176 All aboard the ark

  • 177 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 178 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 179 Bideford loses training ship

  • 180 A sense of humour in advertising

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

  • 182 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 183

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 184 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 185 No laughing matter

  • 186 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 187 No sale of Springfield House

  • 188 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 189 In their new robes and hats

  • 190 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 191 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 192 Variety in summer weather

  • 193 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 194 Bideford computer stars

  • 195 Northam's almshouse

  • 196 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 197 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 198

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 199 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 200 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 201 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 202 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 203 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 204 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 205 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 206 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 207 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 208 A story to tell!

  • 209 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 210

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 211 Appledore's largest

  • 212

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 213 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 214 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 215 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 216 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 217 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 218 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 219 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 220 Little 'Big Ben'

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

  • 222 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 223 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 224 New Lundy stamps

  • 225 It really was the 'last time'

  • 226 Cruising down the river

  • 227 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 228 Ten year old scrambler

  • 229 By pony and trap to market

  • 230 Northam footballers of the future

  • 231

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 232 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 233 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 234 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 235 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 236

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 237 They are parted pro-tem

  • 238 Pannier Market's future?

  • 239 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 240 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 241 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 242 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 243 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 244 New shipyard on schedule

  • 245 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 246 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 247 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 248 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 249

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 250 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 251 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 252 Picking the pops

  • 253 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 254 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 255 Puppet characters introduced

  • 256

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 257

    Bidefordians
  • 258

    Exhibition of school work
  • 259 Hartland Dancers
  • 260 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 261 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 262 So this is the mainland!

  • 263 Six footed lamb

  • 264 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 265 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 266 Penny for the guy

  • 267 Parkham plan realised

  • 268 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 269 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 270 Clovelly custom

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

  • 272 Centenary of Gazette

  • 273 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

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

  • 275 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 276 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 277 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 278 New civic medallions

  • 279 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 280 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 281 Peter poses for TV film

  • 282 Can spring be far away?

  • 283 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 284 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 285 A bird of their own!

  • 286 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 287 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 288 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 289 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 290 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 291 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 292 What's the time?

  • 293 New art gallery opened

  • 294 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 295 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 296 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 297 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 298 Littleham family's five generations

  • 299 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 300 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 301 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

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

  • 303

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 304 He beat the floods

  • 305 Emergency ferry services

  • 306 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 307 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 308 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 309 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 310 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 311 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 312 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 313 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 314 School crossing patrol begins

  • 315 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 316 Just over a year old

  • 317 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 318 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 319 Off on a great adventure

  • 320 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 321 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 322 Decontrol of meat

  • 323 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 324 Clovelly nightmare

  • 325

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 326 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 327

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 328

    New gateway
  • 329 The Geneva marionettes

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

  • 331 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 332 New choral society's growing response

  • 333 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 334 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 335 Service with a smile

  • 336 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 337 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 338 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 339 A roof-top view - where?

  • 340 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 341 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 342 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 343 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 344 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 345 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 346 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 347 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 348 Allhalland Street - then and now

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

  • 350 Weare Giffard potato

  • 351

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 352 New look in the hayfields

  • 353 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 354 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 355 Some mushroom!

  • 356 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 357 Torrington in 1967

  • 358 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 359

    First prize
  • 360 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 361 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 362 Sight of a lifetime

  • 363 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 364 Ships at Bideford

  • 365 All for the love of a lady!

  • 366 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 367 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 368

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 369

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 370 Jumble sale fever

  • 371 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 372 School's link with cargo ship

  • 373 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 374 New Post Office

  • 375

    Building works
  • 376

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 377 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 378 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 379 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 380 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 381 Picking the pops

  • 382 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 383 Simple Item 138
  • 384 Riverside mystery

  • 385 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

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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  • 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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  • 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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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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Lifeboat Rescue Thrill For holidaymakers at Westward Ho! and Bideford

Motor Cabin cruiser in difficulty

In full view of thousands of holiday makers at Westward Ho! at about six o’clock on Saturday evening the Appledore Lifeboat rendered assistance to a motor cabin cruise ‘Helen Mary’ of about four tons in difficulty about one and a half miles from Westward Ho! took her in tow and brought her to Bideford Quay where another large crowd, including many visitors, assembled. There were three occupants of the cabin cruiser, a Mr and Mrs McAlister and their son understood to be from Scotland and cruising around the coast. They came from Ilfracombe on Saturday. On Sunday morning’s tide they left Bideford Quay for Appledore Pool

Several messages to the effect that a vessel was apparently in difficulty and a flag was being waved from it were received within a short space of one another at the Appledore Lifeboat station. One was from Mr B Blake, hon. treasurer and acting secretary of the Appledore Branch of the RNLI. Coastguards at Westward Ho! were in constant touch and sent up a rocket to assure those in the cabin cruiser that their plight had been noticed. As the Appledore Lifeboat under Coxswain Cann was launched, information was also received that the Clovelly Lifeboat under Coxswain Lamey had also been launched. Both lifeboats preceded to the scene, but naturally the Appledore boat, being nearer, was on the scene first, and found the occupants of the cabin cruiser which was approaching the shore and tossing about in the somewhat choppy seas, prepared with life jackets in the emergency. Within six minutes of receiving the call, the Appledore Lifeboat was in the water and took advantage of the wind by using her sails as well as the motor to get to the scene as quickly as possible.

This was the second call within a week for the Clovelly Lifeboat as they were called out a few days previously to search for a man on a raft, who afterwards reported safe. The Clovelly boat was also quick to respond to the call, but on arrival, found that it had been dealt with by their Appledore colleagues.

When the vessel came alongside Bideford Quay, Mr R G Lovell, Receiver of Wreck, and Registrar of shipping, of Appledore, paid a visit.

Lifeboat rescue

Gazette article dated 10 August 1937

With Flowers and Song at Hartland

Annual meeting

Hartland WI

This colourful scene was included in the programme of entertainment presented by members of Hartland WI to the Atlantic Group of WIs, whose annual meeting was held this year at Hartland.

Seen in the photograph are: L Goaman, T Johns, F Webber, J Jeffery, J Pillman, W Cottle, S Heard, D Heard, A Short, A George, L Finch, I Pillman, P R Yeomans, A Cory, W Turner, L Jeffery, M Jeffery, G Heywood, F Thorne, J Clarke, E Davey, J Johns, R Johns, K Homewood, A Jeffery.

Gazette article dated 9 May 1958

Darby and Joan Club party

Two hundred and seventy one years handle the knife for the cutting-the-cake ceremony at Appledore

4.1.1974 Appledore Darby and Joan

 

Left to right - Mrs Bridger, aged 91; Mrs Gayette, 90; and Miss Willard, 90.

The Appledore club has now been in existence for 16 years - but as with most clubs of this kind, there is a shortage of Darbys!

Gazette article dated 4 January 1974

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