• 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 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 2 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 3 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 4 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 5 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 6 It really was the 'last time'

  • 7 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 8 First ship in 8 years

  • 9 Torrington's new amenity

  • 10

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 11 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 12 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 13 So this is the mainland!

  • 14

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 15 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 16 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 17 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 18 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 19 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 20 New Lundy stamps

  • 21 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 22 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 23

    Building works
  • 24 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

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

  • 26 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 27 Appledore's largest

  • 28 Life begins at 80

  • 29 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 30 Circus comes to town

  • 31 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 32

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 33 Sixty-two year old Picarooner makes ready for season

  • 34 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 35 Last train from Torrington

  • 36 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

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

  • 38 New art gallery opened

  • 39 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 40 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 41 Centenary of Gazette

  • 42 When horses score over the tractor

  • 43 Loads of black and white

  • 44 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 45 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 46 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 47 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 48 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 49 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 50 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 51 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 52 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

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

  • 54 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 55 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 56 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 57 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 58 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 59 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 60

    New gateway
  • 61 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 62

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 63 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 64 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 65 Police station view of Bideford

  • 66 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 67 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 68 Revenge in style

  • 69 Private home for public pump

  • 70 Traditions and skills still there

  • 71 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 72 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 73 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 74 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 75 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 76 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 77 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 78 Happy Days!

  • 79 All aboard the ark

  • 80 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 81 Hartland Dancers
  • 82 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 83 Emergency ferry services

  • 84 Northam footballers of the future

  • 85 For crying out loud!

  • 86

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 87 Six footed lamb

  • 88 Bideford computer stars

  • 89 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 90 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 91 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 92

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 93 End of the line

  • 94 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 95 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 96 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 97 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 98 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 99 Passing of a Torrington landmark

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

  • 101

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 102 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 103 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 104

    Married in 1908
  • 105 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 106 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 107 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 108 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 109 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 110 Clovelly custom

  • 111 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 112 Modern living at Bideford

  • 113 Variety in summer weather

  • 114 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 115 Waldon Triplets
  • 116 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 117 Finished in 1876

  • 118 Decontrol of meat

  • 119 Daisy's pride and joy

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

  • 121 Peter poses for TV film

  • 122 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 123 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 124

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 125 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 126 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 127 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 128 Weare Giffard potato

  • 129 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 130 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 131 Penny for the guy

  • 132 Picking the pops

  • 133 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 134 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 135 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

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

  • 137 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 138 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 139 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 140 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 141 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 142

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 143 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 144 New choral society's growing response

  • 145

    Bidefordians
  • 146 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 147 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 148 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 149 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 150 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 151 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 152

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 153 Simple Item 138
  • 154 New look in the hayfields

  • 155 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 156 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 157 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 158 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 159 Ten year old scrambler

  • 160 Recognise this resort?

  • 161 A bird of their own!

  • 162 Ships at Bideford

  • 163 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 164 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 165 School's link with cargo ship

  • 166 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 167 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 168 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 169 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 170 Artisans' Club

  • 171

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 172 Can spring be far away?

  • 173

    Was a missionary
  • 174 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 175 Puppet characters introduced

  • 176 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 177 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 178 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 179 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 180 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 181 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 182 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 183 Torrington children build igloo
  • 184 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 185 Jumble sale fever

  • 186 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 187 Warmington's garage ad

  • 188 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 189 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 190 Meredith's ironmongers

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

  • 192 Some 240 exhibits

  • 193 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 194 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 195 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 196 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 197 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 198 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 199 Torrington in 1967

  • 200 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 201 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 202 The art of the thatcher

  • 203 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 204 In their new robes and hats

  • 205 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 206

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 207 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 208 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 209 Littleham family's five generations

  • 210 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 211 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 212 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 213 Burnard family reunion

  • 214 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 215

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 216 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 217 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 218 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 219 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 220 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 221 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 222 No sale of Springfield House

  • 223 A roof-top view - where?

  • 224 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 225 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 226 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 227 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 228 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 229 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 230 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 231 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

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

  • 233 Mobile missionary

  • 234 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 235 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 236 New civic medallions

  • 237 New shipyard on schedule

  • 238 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 239 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 240 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 241 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 242 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 243 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 244

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 245 Clovelly nightmare

  • 246 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 247 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 248 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 249 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 250 Pannier Market's future?

  • 251 New Post Office

  • 252

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 253 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 254 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 255 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 256 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 257 They are parted pro-tem

  • 258 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 259

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 260 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 261 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 262 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 263 Hartland's invitation

  • 264

    Relatives all over the world
  • 265 The Geneva marionettes

  • 266 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 267 Bideford regatta

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

  • 269 Northam's almshouse

  • 270 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 271 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 272 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 273 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 274 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 275 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 276 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 277 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 278 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 279 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 280 Hartland postman retires

  • 281

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 282 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 283 School crossing patrol begins

  • 284 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 285 Bridging the stream

  • 286 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 287 A man and his wheel

  • 288 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 289

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 290 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 291 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 292 Riverside mystery

  • 293

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 294

    First prize
  • 295

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 296 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 297 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 298 Some mushroom!

  • 299 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 300 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 301 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 302 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 303 New life for Hartland organ

  • 304 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 305 Capers on the cobbles

  • 306 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 307 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 308 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 309 All for the love of a lady!

  • 310 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 311 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 312 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 313

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 314 He beat the floods

  • 315 What's the time?

  • 316 North Devon Driving School

  • 317 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 318 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 319 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 320

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 321 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 322 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 323

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 324 Cruising down the river

  • 325 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 326 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 327 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 328 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 329 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 330 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 331 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 332 New addition to Quay front

  • 333 Twenty-one yachts

  • 334 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 335 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 336 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 337 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 338 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 339 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 340 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 341 Bideford loses training ship

  • 342 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 343 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 344 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 345 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 346 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 347 Picking the pops

  • 348

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 349

    Exhibition of school work
  • 350 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 351 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 352 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 353 113 years at Instow

  • 354

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 355 No laughing matter

  • 356 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 357 Out of puff!

  • 358 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 359 By pony and trap to market

  • 360 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 361 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 362 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 363 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 364 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 365 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 366 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 367 Service with a smile

  • 368 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 369 Off on a great adventure

  • 370 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 371 A story to tell!

  • 372 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 373 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 374 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 375 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 376 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 377 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 378 Devil sent packing

  • 379 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 380 Just over a year old

  • 381 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 382 Sight of a lifetime

  • 383 Parkham plan realised

  • 384 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 385 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

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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Dancing Benefits the Sick 19.6.1981

Dancing Benefits the Sick 19.6.1981

Dancing Benefits the Sick 19.6.1981

Charities. 6 years ago a group of farmers and their wives formed themselves into the Alwington Dance Club. Bideford and District Hospital benefit by some £4000. Mrs Pat Blight, Cyril Blight, John Barker

Lundy Canoeists Help Cancer Patients 28.8.1981

Lundy Canoeists Help Cancer Patients 28.8.1981

Lundy Canoeists Help Cancer Patients 28.8.81

Charities. A group of Torridge-side canoeists, including two policemen, a lighthouse keeper and a teacher plus 19 others raised £2000 for the Cancer and Leukemia in Childhood Trust. Chief Inspector Godfrey Matthews, Constable Jeff Blaydon, Frank Elson, Don Appleby, Mrs Pat Elson, Miss Samantha Elson, John Moore, Nick Walters

Houdini Effort at Bideford in 1975

The famous underwater escape of Houdina, the greatest escape artist of all time, is to be re-enacted in the river Torridge at Bideford next month.

1975 Houdini escape at Bideford

As a feature of the water festival being organised by Bideford Round Table in aid of local charities, Karl Bartoni of Blackpool, will be locked in several pairs of police handcuffs, secured in ankle stocks and chains, put into a padlocked canvas mailbag and then into a weighted packing case before being lowered to the bottom of the river.
The stunt, which almost cost the life of the famous Houdini in the frozen Hudson River 40 years ago, nearly put an end to Karl Bartoni too, when he tried to emulate the feat in Blackpool in 1970. But sure that he has found the secret that made Houdini the legend he is today Karl, an experienced stunt man with many circus and outdoor feats to his credit, says he is looking forward to attempting the experiment.
It is a particularly dangerous stunt for him as he is a non-swimmer and as soon as he surfaces, divers will have to get him ashore.
Other attractions at the water festival include sponsored raft races, side shows and a display by the Paragliders, water skiers from London.

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