• 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 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 2 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 3 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 4 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 5 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 6

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 7 Northam's almshouse

  • 8 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 9 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 10 Life begins at 80

  • 11 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 12

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 13 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 14 Capers on the cobbles

  • 15 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 16 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 17 Simple Item 138
  • 18 No sale of Springfield House

  • 19

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 20 In their new robes and hats

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

  • 22 Six footed lamb

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

  • 24 Hartland's invitation

  • 25 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 26

    First prize
  • 27 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 28 New Post Office

  • 29 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 30 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 31 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 32 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 33 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 34

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 35 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 36

    New gateway
  • 37 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

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

  • 39

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 40 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 41 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 42 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 43 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 44 Some 240 exhibits

  • 45 New life for Hartland organ

  • 46 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 47 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 48 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 49 Off on a great adventure

  • 50 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 51 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 52 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 53 Pannier Market's future?

  • 54 A roof-top view - where?

  • 55 A man and his wheel

  • 56 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 57 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 58 What is future of railway goods yard?

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

  • 60 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 61 Warmington's garage ad

  • 62 New choral society's growing response

  • 63 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 64 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 65 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 66

    Married in 1908
  • 67 Hartland postman retires

  • 68 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 69 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 70 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 71 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 72 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 73 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 74 Recognise this resort?

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

  • 76 End of the line

  • 77 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 78 Loads of black and white

  • 79 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 80 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 81 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 82 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 83 Northam footballers of the future

  • 84 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 85 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 86 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 87

    Bidefordians
  • 88 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 89 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 90 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 91 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 92 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 93 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 94 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 95 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 96 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 97 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 98 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

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

  • 100 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 101 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 102 So this is the mainland!

  • 103 Circus comes to town

  • 104

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 105 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 106 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 107 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 108 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 109 Can spring be far away?

  • 110 He beat the floods

  • 111

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 112 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 113 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 114 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 115 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 116 New look in the hayfields

  • 117 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 118 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 119

    Exhibition of school work
  • 120 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 121 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 122 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 123 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 124 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 125 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 126 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 127 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 128 All for the love of a lady!

  • 129 New addition to Quay front

  • 130

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 131 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 132 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 133 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 134 Sweets derationing

  • 135 Bridging the stream

  • 136 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 137 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 138

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 139 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 140 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 141 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 142 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 143 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 144 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 145 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 146 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 147 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 148

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 149 Centenary of Gazette

  • 150 Police station view of Bideford

  • 151 The art of the thatcher

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

  • 153

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 154 No laughing matter

  • 155 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 156 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

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

  • 158 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 159 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 160 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 161 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

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

  • 163 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 164 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 165 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 166 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 167 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 168 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 169 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 170 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 171 Out of puff!

  • 172 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 173 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 174 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 175 A bird of their own!

  • 176 School's link with cargo ship

  • 177 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 178 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 179 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 180 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 181 Ships at Bideford

  • 182 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 183 Some mushroom!

  • 184 By pony and trap to market

  • 185 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 186 Mobile missionary

  • 187 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 188 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 189 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 190 Happy Days!

  • 191 Service with a smile

  • 192

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 193 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 194 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 195 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 196 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 197 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 198 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 199 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 200 New Lundy stamps

  • 201

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 202 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 203 Sight of a lifetime

  • 204 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 205 Torrington in 1967

  • 206 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 207 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 208 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 209 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 210 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 211 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 212 Riverside mystery

  • 213 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 214 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 215 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 216 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

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

  • 218 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 219 Revenge in style

  • 220 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 221

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 222 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 223

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 224 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 225 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 226 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 227 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 228 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 229 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 230 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 231 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 232 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 233 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 234 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 235 Cruising down the river

  • 236 Puppet characters introduced

  • 237 Artisans' Club

  • 238 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 239 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 240

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 241 When horses score over the tractor

  • 242 From Bobby to Brian

  • 243 Finished in 1876

  • 244 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 245 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 246 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 247 Torrington's new amenity

  • 248 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 249 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 250 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 251 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 252

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

  • 254 Bideford regatta

  • 255 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 256 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 257 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 258 They are parted pro-tem

  • 259 Just over a year old

  • 260 Waldon Triplets
  • 261 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 262 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 263 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 264

    Building works
  • 265 Emergency ferry services

  • 266 It really was the 'last time'

  • 267 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 268 Penny for the guy

  • 269 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 270 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 271 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 272 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 273 Filming at Hartland

  • 274 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 275 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 276 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 277 Clovelly nightmare

  • 278 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 279 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 280 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 281 Appledore's largest

  • 282 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 283 Peter poses for TV film

  • 284 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 285 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 286 Clovelly custom

  • 287 Littleham family's five generations

  • 288 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 289 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 290 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 291

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 292 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 293 For crying out loud!

  • 294 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 295 New shipyard on schedule

  • 296 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 297 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 298 A story to tell!

  • 299 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 300 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 301

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 302

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 303 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 304 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 305 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 306 What's the time?

  • 307

    Relatives all over the world
  • 308 113 years at Instow

  • 309 Jumble sale fever

  • 310 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 311 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 312 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 313

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 314

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 315 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 316 Twenty-one yachts

  • 317 North Devon Driving School

  • 318 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 319 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 320 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 321 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 322 Picking the pops

  • 323 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 324 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 325 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 326 Decontrol of meat

  • 327 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 328 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 329 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 330 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 331 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 332 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 333 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 334 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 335 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 336 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 337

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 338 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 339 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 340 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 341 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 342 Ten year old scrambler

  • 343 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 344 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 345 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 346 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 347 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 348 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 349 Private home for public pump

  • 350 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 351 Picking the pops

  • 352 Torrington children build igloo
  • 353 Devil sent packing

  • 354 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 355 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 356 Parkham plan realised

  • 357 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 358 First ship in 8 years

  • 359 Traditions and skills still there

  • 360 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 361 School crossing patrol begins

  • 362 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 363 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 364 New art gallery opened

  • 365 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 366 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 367 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 368

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 369 Weare Giffard potato

  • 370 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 371 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 372 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 373 Variety in summer weather

  • 374 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 375 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 376 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 377 Last train from Torrington

  • 378 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

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

  • 380 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 381 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 382 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 383 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 384 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 385 New civic medallions

  • 386 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 387 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 388 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 389 The cab at the corner>
  • 390 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 391 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 392 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 393 Bideford computer stars

  • 394 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 395 All aboard the ark

  • 396 Revived market off to splendid start

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

  • 398 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 399 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 400 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 401 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 402 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 403 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 404 The Geneva marionettes

  • 405 Bideford loses training ship

  • 406 Hartland Dancers
  • 407 Modern living at Bideford

  • 408 Burnard family reunion

  • 409

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 410 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 411 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 412 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 413

    10-year-old scrambler practices
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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  • 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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  • 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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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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Blending With The Countryside

Blending With The Countryside - 6th January 1948

6 January 1948 Airey type Council houses
 

These are the first 'Airy' type Council houses to be constructed in Bideford Rural District. They are also understood to be the first of their type in England to have colour-washed exteriors and tarred plinths to blend with the countryside.
These houses, which are at Monkleigh and have been named Lee Avenue as a tribute to Mr W G Lee (Monkleigh representative on the Rural District Council), have aroused the special interest of the Ministry of Health. Representatives of the Ministry are shortly to inspect them with a view to considering the adoption of the external finish technique elsewhere. It is expected the houses will be completed early in the New Year.

Mystery Fire Shuts Westward Ho! Cafe

Mystery Fire Shuts Westward Ho! Cafe - 4th June 1971

4.6.1971 Fire at WHo
 

The cause of a fire that did thousands of pounds of damage at the Malibu Restaurant in Westbourne Terrace, Westward Ho! at about 8am on Saturday remains a mystery. The alarm was given by staff members when the outbreak occurred in the kitchen and firemen from Appledore and Bideford (the latter with two appliances) had to wear breathing apparatus because of the smoke. It was thought that damage had largely been confined to that caused by smoke, but subsequent examination revealed that although this was so on the first floor, formica walls and ceilings downstairs were so badly affected that they have to be renewed. Mr and Mrs K C Tarrant, of Bognor Regis, took over the business from Mr J W Needs about a month ago. 'My wife and I had worked from early morning until late at night to set the place as we wanted it,' said Mr Tarrant. 'We had started trading, were doing well and everything was just right.' Even if things go well, it will be a month before the business reopens. The new centre of the cafe was a fish and chip range, which was destroyed, and the makers have given a delivery date in August. Mr and Mrs Tarrant, who do not live on the premises, have been overwhelmed by the kindness of fellow traders who had offered practical help, including equipment and stock. 'We are deeply grateful' said Mr Tarrant. 'Until this time we had felt outsiders. It has helped us to that extent.'

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