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

  • 2 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 3 Waldon Triplets
  • 4 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 5 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 6 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 7 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 8 Revenge in style

  • 9 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 10 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 11 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 12 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 13 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 14 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 15

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

  • 17 Happy Days!

  • 18 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

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

  • 20 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 21 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 22 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 23 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 24 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 25 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 26 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 27

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 28 Last train from Torrington

  • 29 Clovelly nightmare

  • 30 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 31 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 32 North Devon Driving School

  • 33 Ships at Bideford

  • 34 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 35 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 36 Littleham family's five generations

  • 37 Bideford computer stars

  • 38 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 39 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 40 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 41 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 42 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

  • 43 School crossing patrol begins

  • 44

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 45 113 years at Instow

  • 46 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 47

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 48 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 49 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 50 New civic medallions

  • 51 What's the time?

  • 52 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 53 Riverside mystery

  • 54

    Was a missionary
  • 55

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 56 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 57 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 58 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 59 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 60 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 61 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 62 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 63 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 64 Dismantling of wireless mast

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

  • 66 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 67 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 68

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 69 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 70 New Post Office

  • 71 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 72 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 73 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 74 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 75 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 76 Clovelly custom

  • 77

    First prize
  • 78 Artisans' Club

  • 79 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 80

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 81 Jumble sale fever

  • 82 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 83 School's link with cargo ship

  • 84 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 85 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 86 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 87 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 88 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 89 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 90 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 91 So this is the mainland!

  • 92 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 93 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 94 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 95 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 96 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 97 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 98 No sale of Springfield House

  • 99 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 100 Peter poses for TV film

  • 101 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 102

    Exhibition of school work
  • 103 New art gallery opened

  • 104 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 105 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 106 Ten year old scrambler

  • 107 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 108 Weare Giffard potato

  • 109 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 110

    Relatives all over the world
  • 111 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 112 Twenty-one yachts

  • 113 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 114 Hartland's invitation

  • 115 For crying out loud!

  • 116 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 117 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 118 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 119 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 120 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 121 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 122 When horses score over the tractor

  • 123 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 124 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 125 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 126 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 127 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 128 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 129 Police station view of Bideford

  • 130 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 131 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 132 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 133 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 134 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 135 Torrington's new amenity

  • 136 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 137 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 138 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 139 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 140 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 141 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 142 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 143 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 144

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 145 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 146 The art of the thatcher

  • 147 In their new robes and hats

  • 148 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 149 A bird of their own!

  • 150 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 151 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 152 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 153 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 154

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 155

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 156 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 157 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 158 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 159 Recognise this resort?

  • 160 Loads of black and white

  • 161 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 162 Pannier Market's future?

  • 163 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 164 Appledore's largest

  • 165

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 166 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 167 No laughing matter

  • 168 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 169

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 170 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 171

    Building works
  • 172 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 173 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 174 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 175 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 176 Northam's almshouse

  • 177 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 178 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 179 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 180 Torrington in 1967

  • 181 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 182 Modern living at Bideford

  • 183 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 184 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 185 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 186 Bideford loses training ship

  • 187 Some 240 exhibits

  • 188 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 189 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 190 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 191 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 192 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 193 New addition to Quay front

  • 194 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 195 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 196 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 197

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 198 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 199 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 200 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 201 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 202

    New gateway
  • 203 New Lundy stamps

  • 204 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 205 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 206 A story to tell!

  • 207 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 208 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 209

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 210 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 211 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 212 Circus comes to town

  • 213 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 214

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 215 It really was the 'last time'

  • 216 All for the love of a lady!

  • 217

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 218 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 219 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 220 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 221 Filming at Hartland

  • 222 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 223 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 224 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 225 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 226 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 227 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

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

  • 229 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 230 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 231 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 232 He beat the floods

  • 233 Penny for the guy

  • 234 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 235 Emergency ferry services

  • 236 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 237 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 238 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 239 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 240 Six footed lamb

  • 241

    Bidefordians
  • 242 Finished in 1876

  • 243 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 244 Variety in summer weather

  • 245 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 246 They are parted pro-tem

  • 247 Cruising down the river

  • 248 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 249 Capers on the cobbles

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

  • 251 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 252 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 253 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 254 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 255 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 256 Torrington children build igloo
  • 257 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 258 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 259 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 260 Bridging the stream

  • 261 Northam footballers of the future

  • 262 End of the line

  • 263 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 264 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 265 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 266 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 267 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 268 Eight to strike and a race to win

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

  • 270 The Geneva marionettes

  • 271 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 272 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 273 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 274 Just over a year old

  • 275 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 276 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 277 Bideford regatta

  • 278 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 279 New shipyard on schedule

  • 280 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 281 Parkham plan realised

  • 282 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 283 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 284 The cab at the corner>
  • 285 All aboard the ark

  • 286

    Married in 1908
  • 287 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 288 Mobile missionary

  • 289 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 290

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 291 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 292

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 293 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 294 A roof-top view - where?

  • 295 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 296 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 297

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 298

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 299 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 300 New choral society's growing response

  • 301 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 302 By pony and trap to market

  • 303 Hartland postman retires

  • 304 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 305 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 306 Traditions and skills still there

  • 307 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 308 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 309 Out of puff!

  • 310 Puppet characters introduced

  • 311 Simple Item 138
  • 312 Some mushroom!

  • 313 Warmington's garage ad

  • 314 A man and his wheel

  • 315

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 316 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 317 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 318 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 319 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 320 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 321 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 322 Life begins at 80

  • 323

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 324 Sweets derationing

  • 325 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 326 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 327 Hartland Dancers
  • 328 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

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

  • 330 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 331 Service with a smile

  • 332 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 333 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 334 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 335 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 336 First ship in 8 years

  • 337 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 338 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 339 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 340 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 341 Centenary of Gazette

  • 342 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 343 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 344 Burnard family reunion

  • 345 From Bobby to Brian

  • 346 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 347 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 348 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 349 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

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

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

  • 352 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 353 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 354 X-ray shoe fitting

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

  • 356 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 357 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 358 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 359 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 360 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 361 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 362 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

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

  • 364 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 365 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 366 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 367 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 368 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 369 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 370 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 371 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 372 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 373 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 374

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 375 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 376 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 377 Off on a great adventure

  • 378 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 379 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 380 New look in the hayfields

  • 381 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 382

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 383 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 384 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 385 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 386 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 387 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 388 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 389 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 390 Bideford - as Rowlandson saw it about 1810-15

  • 391 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 392 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 393 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 394 Picking the pops

  • 395

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 396 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 397 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 398 Decontrol of meat

  • 399 Devil sent packing

  • 400 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 401 New life for Hartland organ

  • 402 Private home for public pump

  • 403 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 404 Sight of a lifetime

  • 405 Picking the pops

  • 406 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

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

  • 408 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 409 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 410 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 411 Can spring be far away?

  • 412 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 413 Allhalland Street - then and now

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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Green fingers at Pynes School

The small girl and the large daffodils

6.3.1964 Y Olins Pynes Infant School

made a picture that the photographer could not resist when he visited Bideford Pynes County Infants' School.

The children are encouraged to grow bulbs and obviously someone has green fingers.

The girl is Yasmin Olins, aged five, and for the horticulturists among our readers, the daffodils are 'Golden Harvest'.

Gazette article dated 6 March 1964

The Undefeated Torritonians

Early 1900s

31.8.1951 Torrington Blue Coat Church School football

Reproduced is a photograph of the football team of the Torrington Blue Coat Church School (Barley Grove) which played in the seasons 1900-01 and 1901-02 without losing a single match.

Standing at the rear is Mr B Watkins, the others are: L Blatchford, P Piper, H Wightman, J Barrow (USA), K Atwell, G Hartnoll (USA), J Bowden, W Hartnoll, J Pinkham, J Watkins, H Bell, W J Blatchford, R Bray, D Watkins, and P Bennett.

Gazette article dated 31 August 1951

Cross Country Championship For Torrington SM School

Torrington Secondary Modern School’s winning team:

29.3.1956 Schools Torrington

N Poole, M Kelland, C Jenkins, R Ball, A Smale, P Baker, P Reed and B Broad.

With two of their team finishing in the first three, Torrington Secondary Modern School, hosts to the competition this year, won the North Devon Schools cross-country championship on Monday.

First home was Alan Smale, who lives at Little Orchard, Goose Green, Torrington. Smale was the winner of his school’s second year pupils cross-country and on that occasion he put up a faster time than the winner of the senior event, Charles Jenkins, of Sunnycroft, Horns Cross, who finished third in the inter-schools event.

Ten schools competed and the eighty competitors were mass started by Mr R Mayo, sports master of Torrington Secondary Modern School. As the runners jostled together over the first hundred yards, three runners fell and Tony Marsh, the Bideford Grammar School cross-country winner, lost a shoe but, although he sacrificed a great deal of ground when he stopped to replace it, he finished 15th.

Final team placings were: Torrington Secondary Modern; Braunton SM; Bideford Grammar School; Barnstaple SM; Bideford SM; North Devon Technical School; Chulmleigh SM; Ilfracombe SM; Combe Martin SM; South Molton SM.

Article dated 29 March 1956

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