• 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 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 2 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 3 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 4 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 5 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 6 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 7 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 8 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 9 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 10

    New gateway
  • 11 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 12 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 13 All for the love of a lady!

  • 14 Designed and made in Bideford

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

  • 16 Circus comes to town

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

  • 18

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 19 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 20 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 21 Northam's almshouse

  • 22 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 23 Revenge in style

  • 24 Six footed lamb

  • 25 Decontrol of meat

  • 26 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 27 What's the time?

  • 28 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 29 Ten year old scrambler

  • 30 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 31 Artisans' Club

  • 32 Modern living at Bideford

  • 33 Clovelly custom

  • 34 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 35 School's link with cargo ship

  • 36

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 37 Life begins at 80

  • 38 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 39 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 40 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 41 New choral society's growing response

  • 42 No sale of Springfield House

  • 43 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 44 Torrington in 1967

  • 45 Twenty-one yachts

  • 46 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 47 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 48 Bideford loses training ship

  • 49 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 50 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 51 Can spring be far away?

  • 52 End of the line

  • 53 Littleham family's five generations

  • 54 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 55 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 56 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 57 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 58 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 59 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 60 Torrington children build igloo
  • 61 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 62 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 63

    Was a missionary
  • 64 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 65 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 66 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 67 Hartland's invitation

  • 68 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 69 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 70 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 71 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 72 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 73 Last train from Torrington

  • 74 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 75 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 76 North Devon Driving School

  • 77 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 78 113 years at Instow

  • 79 Torrington's new amenity

  • 80 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 81 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 82 Service with a smile

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

  • 84 Happy Days!

  • 85 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 86 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 87 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 88 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 89 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 90

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 91 Peter poses for TV film

  • 92 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 93 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 94 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 95 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 96 New shipyard on schedule

  • 97 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 98 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 99

    Exhibition of school work
  • 100 So this is the mainland!

  • 101 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 102 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 103

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 104 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 105 Bideford regatta

  • 106 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 107 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 108 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 109 Traditions and skills still there

  • 110 All aboard the ark

  • 111 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

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

  • 113 Jumble sale fever

  • 114 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 115 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 116 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

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

  • 118 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 119 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 120 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 121 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 122 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 123 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 124 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 125 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 126 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 127 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 128 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 129 From Bobby to Brian

  • 130 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 131 Off on a great adventure

  • 132 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 133 Emergency ferry services

  • 134 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 135 The Geneva marionettes

  • 136 New civic medallions

  • 137 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 138 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 139 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 140 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 141 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 142 Centenary of Gazette

  • 143 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 144 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 145 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 146 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

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

  • 148

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 149 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 150 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 151 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 152 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 153 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 154 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 155 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 156 The cab at the corner>
  • 157 Picking the pops

  • 158 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 159 It really was the 'last time'

  • 160 Puppet characters introduced

  • 161

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 162 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 163 Just over a year old

  • 164 A roof-top view - where?

  • 165 Bridging the stream

  • 166 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 167 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 168 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 169 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 170 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 171 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 172 Waldon Triplets
  • 173 New addition to Quay front

  • 174 In their new robes and hats

  • 175 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 176 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 177

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 178 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

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

  • 180 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 181 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 182 Mobile missionary

  • 183 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 184

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 185 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 186 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 187 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 188

    First prize
  • 189 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 190 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 191 They set out for Bideford and became lost

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

  • 193 New art gallery opened

  • 194 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 195 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 196 Some mushroom!

  • 197

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 198 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 199

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 200 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 201 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 202 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 203 Bideford computer stars

  • 204

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 205 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 206 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 207 For crying out loud!

  • 208 A man and his wheel

  • 209

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 210 First tankers arrive at new depot

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

  • 212 Riverside mystery

  • 213

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 214 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 215 Finished in 1876

  • 216

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 217 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 218 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 219 Filming at Hartland

  • 220 Clovelly nightmare

  • 221

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 222 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 223 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 224 New Lundy stamps

  • 225 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 226 Variety in summer weather

  • 227 They are parted pro-tem

  • 228 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 229 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 230 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 231 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 232 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 233 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 234 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 235 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

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

  • 237 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 238 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 239 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 240 Hartland postman retires

  • 241

    Relatives all over the world
  • 242 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 243 No laughing matter

  • 244 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 245 Penny for the guy

  • 246 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 247 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 248 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 249 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 250 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 251 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 252 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 253 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 254 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 255

    Married in 1908
  • 256

    Building works
  • 257 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 258 A story to tell!

  • 259 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 260 Loads of black and white

  • 261 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 262 A bird of their own!

  • 263 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 264 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 265 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 266 Picking the pops

  • 267 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 268 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 269 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 270 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 271 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 272 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 273 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 274 Hartland Dancers
  • 275 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 276 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 277 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 278 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 279 Big develolpment at Calveford

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

  • 281 New Post Office

  • 282 Calligrapher extraordinary

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

  • 284 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 285 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 286 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 287 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 288 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 289 Sight of a lifetime

  • 290 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 291 Warmington's garage ad

  • 292

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

  • 294 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 295 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 296 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 297 Capers on the cobbles

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

  • 299 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 300 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 301 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 302 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 303 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 304 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 305 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 306 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 307 The art of the thatcher

  • 308 Sweets derationing

  • 309 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 310 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 311 Northam footballers of the future

  • 312 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 313 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 314 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 315 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 316 School crossing patrol begins

  • 317 Some 240 exhibits

  • 318 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 319 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 320 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 321 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 322 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 323 Appledore's largest

  • 324 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 325

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 326

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 327 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 328 Ships at Bideford

  • 329 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 330 First ship in 8 years

  • 331 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 332 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 333 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 334 Police station view of Bideford

  • 335 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 336 Simple Item 138
  • 337 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 338 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 339 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 340 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 341 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 342 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 343 Devil sent packing

  • 344 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 345

    Bidefordians
  • 346 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 347 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 348 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 349 New look in the hayfields

  • 350 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 351 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 352 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 353 He beat the floods

  • 354 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 355 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 356 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 357 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 358 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 359 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 360

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 361 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 362 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 363 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 364 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 365 Pannier Market's future?

  • 366 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 367 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 368 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 369 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 370 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 371

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 372 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 373 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 374

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 375 When horses score over the tractor

  • 376 By pony and trap to market

  • 377 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 378

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 379

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 380 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 381 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 382 Parkham plan realised

  • 383 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 384 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 385 Burnard family reunion

  • 386 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 387 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 388 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 389 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 390 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 391 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 392 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 393

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 394 Cruising down the river

  • 395 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 396 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 397 First steel ship built at Bideford

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

  • 399 Recognise this resort?

  • 400 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 401 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 402 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 403 Out of puff!

  • 404 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 405 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 406 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 407 New life for Hartland organ

  • 408 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 409 Weare Giffard potato

  • 410 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 411 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 412 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 413

    Successful motor cycling team
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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  • 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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  • 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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Fined £1

‘Nothing To Do With Me’

26.1.1951 Frithelstock Glover finedFor driving an agricultural tractor with thresher attached without lights at Landcross on December 18th, Merlin Glover, of Ebber Down, Frithelstock, was fined £1 by Bideford County Magistrates.

Police Inspector E H Turner said he overtook the tractor at 5.20pm on December 18th, forty-four minutes after lighting up time. There was a considerable amount of traffic on the road and the night was dark. When asked why he was driving without lights, Glover said ‘It’s nothing to do with me, you had better ask the boss.’

Glover told the magistrates the lights had failed to work.

Gazette article dated 26 January 1951

Bideford tops the crime polls

Bideford Top For Crime?

25.3.1977 crime Bideford

For a town of its size Bideford has one of the worst crime rates in the country, Woman Police Sergeant Rowe, of Barnstaple, told Bideford WI. She talked about her job as juvenile liaison officer and told how the police in conjunction with the Social Services deal with problem families and runaways and work to combat juvenile delinquency. Mrs Beaumont thanked her.

Mrs Poore reported on the inaugural meeting of a proposed Bideford Amenity Society.

The competition – decorated birthday cake – was won by Mrs Peake, with Mrs Leigh and Mrs Davies second and third. But as another entry was said by the judge to be the best sponge it was agreed that she should make the cake for competition at Bideford and Mrs Peake should ice it. A tablecloth made by Mrs Davies for the group meeting was on display. Mrs Lewis won a raffle.

Gazette article dated 25 March 1977

Langtree Man Fined At Torrington

A larch pole, six feet long, was carried into Torrington County Magistrates Court. Pleading ‘guilty’ to the larceny of the pole, Barnabas Box, of The Village, Langtree, was fined 10s with £1 4s 10d costs.

1950 Langtree

Police Inspector H Burrows explained that the owner’s (Mr Vanstone’s) property adjoined the defendant’s garden. On January 28th the larch pole was in the yard with other timber. A Mr William Johns saw defendant standing in his garden path. With a four-pronged dung fork he was putting the pole over the hedge into his own garden. Mr Johns reported the matter, and on going back found the pole was lying in defendant’s garden path. Johns recovered the pole.
Defendant, said the inspector, admitted taking the pole, saying he wanted some firing for the children.
Gazette article dated 24 February 1950

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