• 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 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 2 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 3 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 4

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 5 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 6 Finished in 1876

  • 7 From Bobby to Brian

  • 8

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 9 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 10 Emergency ferry services

  • 11 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 12 Just over a year old

  • 13 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 14 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 15 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 16 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 17 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 18 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 19 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 20 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 21 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 22 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 23 New civic medallions

  • 24 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 25 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 26 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 27 Service with a smile

  • 28 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 29

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 30 Waldon Triplets
  • 31 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 32 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 33 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 34

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 35 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 36 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 37 Clovelly custom

  • 38 So this is the mainland!

  • 39 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 40 All for the love of a lady!

  • 41 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 42 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 43 School's link with cargo ship

  • 44 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 45 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 46

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 47 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 48 New addition to Quay front

  • 49

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 50 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 51

    First prize
  • 52 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 53 Bideford computer stars

  • 54 Out of puff!

  • 55 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 56 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 57 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 58 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 59 Bridging the stream

  • 60 Bideford regatta

  • 61 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 62 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 63 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 64 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 65

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 66 Devil sent packing

  • 67 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 68 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 69 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 70 Warmington's garage ad

  • 71 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 72 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 73 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 74

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 75 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 76 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 77 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 78 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 79 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 80 Variety in summer weather

  • 81 Twenty-one yachts

  • 82

    Married in 1908
  • 83 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 84 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 85 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 86 When horses score over the tractor

  • 87 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 88

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 89 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 90 They are parted pro-tem

  • 91 Loads of black and white

  • 92 Traditions and skills still there

  • 93 A story to tell!

  • 94 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 95

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 96

    New gateway
  • 97 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 98 Life begins at 80

  • 99 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 100 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 101 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 102 Burnard family reunion

  • 103 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 104 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 105 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 106 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 107 Polish custom on Pancake Day

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

  • 109 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 110 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 111 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 112

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 113 Sixty-two year old Picarooner makes ready for season

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

  • 115 No laughing matter

  • 116 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 117 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 118 What is future of railway goods yard?

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

  • 120 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 121 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 122 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 123 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 124 113 years at Instow

  • 125 Ships at Bideford

  • 126 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 127 Last train from Torrington

  • 128 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 129 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 130 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 131 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 132 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 133 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 134 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 135 He beat the floods

  • 136 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 137 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 138 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 139 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 140 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 141 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 142 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 143 The art of the thatcher

  • 144 It really was the 'last time'

  • 145 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 146 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 147 Pannier Market's future?

  • 148 Happy Days!

  • 149

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 150 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 151 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 152 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 153 Riverside mystery

  • 154 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 155 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 156 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

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

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

  • 159 Hartland's invitation

  • 160 Torrington's new amenity

  • 161 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 162 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 163 Littleham family's five generations

  • 164 Northam footballers of the future

  • 165 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 166

    Was a missionary
  • 167 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 168 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 169 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 170 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 171 Weare Giffard potato

  • 172 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 173 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 174 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 175 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 176 New art gallery opened

  • 177 The Geneva marionettes

  • 178 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 179 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 180 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 181 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 182 Filming at Hartland

  • 183

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 184 By pony and trap to market

  • 185 Some mushroom!

  • 186 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 187 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 188 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 189 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 190 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 191 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

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

  • 193 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 194 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 195 Can spring be far away?

  • 196 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 197 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 198 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 199 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 200 Modern living at Bideford

  • 201 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 202 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 203 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 204 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 205 Buckland goes to County Show

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

  • 207 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 208 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 209 Bideford loses training ship

  • 210 New life for Hartland organ

  • 211 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 212 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 213 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 214 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 215 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 216 New look in the hayfields

  • 217 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 218 Torrington children build igloo
  • 219 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 220 North Devon Driving School

  • 221

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 222 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 223 The cab at the corner>
  • 224 For crying out loud!

  • 225 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 226 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 227 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 228 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 229 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 230 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 231 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 232 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 233 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 234 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 235 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 236 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 237 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 238 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 239 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 240 Simple Item 138
  • 241 First ship in 8 years

  • 242 Six footed lamb

  • 243 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 244 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 245 In their new robes and hats

  • 246 No sale of Springfield House

  • 247

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 248 Cruising down the river

  • 249 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 250 Clovelly nightmare

  • 251 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 252 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 253 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 254 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 255 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 256 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 257 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 258 A man and his wheel

  • 259 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 260 Sweets derationing

  • 261 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 262 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 263 What's the time?

  • 264 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 265 Sight of a lifetime

  • 266 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 267 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 268 Penny for the guy

  • 269 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 270 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 271 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 272 New shipyard on schedule

  • 273 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 274

    Bidefordians
  • 275 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 276 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 277 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 278 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 279 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 280 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 281 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 282 Decontrol of meat

  • 283 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 284 All aboard the ark

  • 285 Circus comes to town

  • 286

    Relatives all over the world
  • 287 Centenary of Gazette

  • 288 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 289 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 290 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 291 Torrington in 1967

  • 292 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 293

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 294 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 295 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 296 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 297 Hartland postman retires

  • 298 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 299 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 300

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 301

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 302 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 303 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 304 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 305 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 306 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 307 Puppet characters introduced

  • 308 Recognise this resort?

  • 309 School crossing patrol begins

  • 310 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 311 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 312 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 313 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 314 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 315 New Lundy stamps

  • 316 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 317 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 318 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 319

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 320 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 321 A bird of their own!

  • 322 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 323 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 324 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 325 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 326 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 327 Revenge in style

  • 328 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 329 Hartland Dancers
  • 330 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 331 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 332 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 333 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 334 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 335 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 336 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 337 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 338 Revived market off to splendid start

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

  • 340 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 341 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 342 A roof-top view - where?

  • 343 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 344 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 345 Peter poses for TV film

  • 346 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 347 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 348 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 349 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 350 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 351 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 352 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 353 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 354 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 355 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 356 Jumble sale fever

  • 357 Light reading for the lighthouse

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

  • 359 Picking the pops

  • 360 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

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

  • 362

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 363

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 364 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 365 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 366 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 367 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 368

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 369

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 370 Police station view of Bideford

  • 371 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 372 Parkham plan realised

  • 373 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 374 Picking the pops

  • 375 Northam's almshouse

  • 376 Artisans' Club

  • 377 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 378 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 379

    Exhibition of school work
  • 380 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 381

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 382 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 383 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 384 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 385 Some 240 exhibits

  • 386 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 387 End of the line

  • 388 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 389 New Post Office

  • 390 Mobile missionary

  • 391 Private home for public pump

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

  • 393 Ten year old scrambler

  • 394 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 395 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 396 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 397 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 398 Capers on the cobbles

  • 399 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 400 New choral society's growing response

  • 401 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 402 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 403 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 404

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 405 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 406

    Building works
  • 407 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 408 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 409 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 410 Appledore's largest

  • 411 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 412 Off on a great adventure

  • 413 Practical sympathy at Northam

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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