• 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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    First prize
  • 2 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 3 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 4 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 5 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 6 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 7 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 8 No laughing matter

  • 9 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

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

  • 11

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

  • 13

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 14 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 15 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 16 New life for Hartland organ

  • 17 Littleham family's five generations

  • 18 New Lundy stamps

  • 19 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 20 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 21 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 22 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 23 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 24 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 25 Peter poses for TV film

  • 26 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 27 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 28 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 29 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 30 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 31 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 32 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 33 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 34 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 35 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 36 Weare Giffard potato

  • 37 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 38 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 39 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 40 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 41 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 42 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 43 Modern living at Bideford

  • 44

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 45 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 46 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 47

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 48 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 49 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 50 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 51 Off on a great adventure

  • 52 Northam's almshouse

  • 53 Ten year old scrambler

  • 54 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 55 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 56 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 57 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 58

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 59 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 60 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 61 Hartland's invitation

  • 62 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 63 New Post Office

  • 64 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 65

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 66

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 67

    Married in 1908
  • 68 Revenge in style

  • 69 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 70

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 71 Appledore's largest

  • 72 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 73 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 74 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 75 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 76

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 77 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 78

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 79 Finished in 1876

  • 80 All aboard the ark

  • 81 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 82 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 83

    Bidefordians
  • 84 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 85 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 86 First ship in 8 years

  • 87 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 88 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 89 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 90 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 91 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 92 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 93 The Geneva marionettes

  • 94 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 95 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 96 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 97 Puppet characters introduced

  • 98 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 99 A bird of their own!

  • 100 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 101 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

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

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

  • 104 Last train from Torrington

  • 105 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 106 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 107 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 108 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 109 Simple Item 138
  • 110 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 111 Warmington's garage ad

  • 112 113 years at Instow

  • 113

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 114 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 115 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 116 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 117 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 118 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 119 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 120 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 121 For crying out loud!

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

  • 123 Can spring be far away?

  • 124 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 125 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 126 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 127 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 128 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 129 New addition to Quay front

  • 130

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 131 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 132 Service with a smile

  • 133 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 134 A man and his wheel

  • 135 Torrington children build igloo
  • 136 Life begins at 80

  • 137 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 138 Recognise this resort?

  • 139 Jumble sale fever

  • 140 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 141 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 142 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 143 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 144 End of the line

  • 145 Private home for public pump

  • 146 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 147

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 148 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 149 Parkham plan realised

  • 150 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 151 So this is the mainland!

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

  • 153 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 154 New shipyard on schedule

  • 155 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 156 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 157

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 158 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 159 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 160 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 161 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 162 Waldon Triplets
  • 163 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 164 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 165 He beat the floods

  • 166 Variety in summer weather

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

  • 168 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 169 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 170 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 171 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 172 Loads of black and white

  • 173 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 174 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 175 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 176 They are parted pro-tem

  • 177 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 178 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 179 Decontrol of meat

  • 180 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 181 Farewell to passenger trains

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

  • 183 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 184 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 185 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 186 Photo mural in Bideford bank

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

  • 188 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 189 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 190 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 191 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 192 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 193 Burnard family reunion

  • 194 No sale of Springfield House

  • 195 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 196

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 197 New art gallery opened

  • 198 School's link with cargo ship

  • 199

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 200 School crossing patrol begins

  • 201 Bideford computer stars

  • 202

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 203

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 204 Bridging the stream

  • 205 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 206 Torrington in 1967

  • 207 New choral society's growing response

  • 208 Clovelly nightmare

  • 209 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 210 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 211 Bideford loses training ship

  • 212 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 213 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 214 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 215 Bideford regatta

  • 216 Some mushroom!

  • 217 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 218 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 219 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 220 Sight of a lifetime

  • 221 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 222 Devil sent packing

  • 223 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 224 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 225 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 226

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 227 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 228 Ships at Bideford

  • 229 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 230 It really was the 'last time'

  • 231 Torrington's new amenity

  • 232 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 233 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 234 Centenary of Gazette

  • 235 Some 240 exhibits

  • 236 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 237 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 238 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 239 In their new robes and hats

  • 240 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 241 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 242 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 243 Riverside mystery

  • 244 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 245 Out of puff!

  • 246 Pannier Market's future?

  • 247 Cruising down the river

  • 248

    Was a missionary
  • 249 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 250 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 251 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 252 Safe door weighing two tons

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

  • 254 New look in the hayfields

  • 255 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 256 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 257 Six footed lamb

  • 258 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 259

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 260 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 261 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 262 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 263 Capers on the cobbles

  • 264 Circus comes to town

  • 265

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 266 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 267 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 268 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 269 Artisans' Club

  • 270 Penny for the guy

  • 271 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 272

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 273 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 274 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 275 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 276 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 277 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 278

    New gateway
  • 279 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 280 By pony and trap to market

  • 281 Picking the pops

  • 282 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 283 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 284 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 285 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 286 A roof-top view - where?

  • 287 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 288 North Devon Driving School

  • 289 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 290 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 291 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 292 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 293 The art of the thatcher

  • 294 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 295 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 296 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 297 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 298 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 299 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 300 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 301 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 302

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 303 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 304

    Exhibition of school work
  • 305 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 306 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 307 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 308 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 309 Northam footballers of the future

  • 310 New civic medallions

  • 311 When horses score over the tractor

  • 312 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 313 Twenty-one yachts

  • 314 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 315 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 316

    Building works
  • 317

    Relatives all over the world
  • 318 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 319 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 320 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 321

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 322 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 323 What's the time?

  • 324 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 325 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 326 Clovelly custom

  • 327 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 328 Picking the pops

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

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

  • 331 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 332 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 333 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 334 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 335 Just over a year old

  • 336 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 337 A story to tell!

  • 338 Hartland Dancers
  • 339 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 340 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 341 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 342 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 343 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 344 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 345 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 346 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 347 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 348 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 349 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 350 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 351 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 352 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 353 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 354 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 355 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 356 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 357 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 358 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 359 Police station view of Bideford

  • 360 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 361 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 362 Mobile missionary

  • 363 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 364 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 365 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 366 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 367 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 368 Happy Days!

  • 369 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 370 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 371 Traditions and skills still there

  • 372 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 373 Hartland postman retires

  • 374 Emergency ferry services

  • 375 All for the love of a lady!

  • 376 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

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

  • 378 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 379 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 380 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 381 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 382 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 383

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 384 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 385 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

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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  • 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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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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All 12 Pass Cycling Test

All 12 pupils from Appledore Primary School who took a safe cycling training course at the school gained the cycling proficiency award.

The successful young cyclists, who received their certificates from the headmaster, Mr Emlyn Williams, were: Brian Tricker, Kim Bowden, Mark Ellis, Robbie Graham, Alan Cox, Ursula Day, Michelle Peters, Dawn Fisher, John Bartlett, Andrew Pascoe, Simon Jones and Michael Wigmore.

21.1.1977 Appledore cyclists

Gazette article dated 21 January 1977

Nilgala School

Bideford, Devon

20.7.1951 Bideford Nilgala School

Day and Boarding School for Boys up to the age of 14.

Boys prepared for the Common Entrance Examination for Public Schools and Royal Navy.

For Prospectus and vacancies apply:- THE HEADMASTER, Major J N H Bacon, MA, FRSA, MRST

Kindergarten boys and girls are accepted daily in the Pre-preparatory department under the care of Mrs C Salter.

There is a Special Class for Girls up to the age of 11, applications for which should be made to Mrs Salter personally.

Gazette dated 20 July 1951

School Re-opens

And Closes Again

18.1.1963 Hartland school

After four days’ extra holiday Hartland County Primary School re-opened on Monday morning, but not for long.

Very soon the canteen water system was spurting water seemingly at every joint.

It was found that the water supply was frozen underground long before it reached the toilets. So the school closed again.

After the bus children had been given a hot meal – prepared under conditions of extreme difficulty by the canteen staff – the buses took the children home.

The staff were pleased to see that over 80 of the 140 pupils made the effort to get to school. Despite the fact there was a hearty cheer when it was announced that the school was to be closed until at least Wednesday.

It was thanks to efforts on the part of some of the school staff and the caretaker in spreading salt and borrowing oil heaters and lamps that the school was able to open on Monday.

The Gazette article is dated 18 January 1963

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