• 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 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 2 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 3 Centenary of Gazette

  • 4 Weare Giffard potato

  • 5

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 6 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 7 Variety in summer weather

  • 8 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 9 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 10 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 11 Out of puff!

  • 12

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 13 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 14 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 15 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 16 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 17 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 18 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 19 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

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

  • 21 Northam footballers of the future

  • 22 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 23 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 24 113 years at Instow

  • 25 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 26 New addition to Quay front

  • 27 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 28 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 29 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 30 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 31 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 32 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 33 Twenty-one yachts

  • 34 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 35 Passing of a Torrington landmark

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

  • 37 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 38 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 39 Littleham family's five generations

  • 40 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 41 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 42 Waldon Triplets
  • 43 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 44 Six footed lamb

  • 45 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 46 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 47 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 48 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 49 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 50 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 51 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 52 Picking the pops

  • 53 He beat the floods

  • 54 Clovelly nightmare

  • 55 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 56 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 57 Burnard family reunion

  • 58 When horses score over the tractor

  • 59 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 60 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 61

    New gateway
  • 62 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 63 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 64 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 65 For crying out loud!

  • 66 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

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

  • 68 Hartland postman retires

  • 69

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 70 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 71 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 72 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 73 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 74 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 75 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 76 Jumble sale fever

  • 77 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 78 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 79 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 80 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 81 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 82 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 83 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 84 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 85 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 86 Torrington children build igloo
  • 87 Capers on the cobbles

  • 88 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 89 Symbol of Lundy independence

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

  • 91 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 92 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 93 Picking the pops

  • 94 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 95 New look in the hayfields

  • 96 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 97 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 98 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

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

  • 100 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 101 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 102 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 103

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 104 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 105 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 106 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 107 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 108 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 109 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 110 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 111 It really was the 'last time'

  • 112 Appledore's largest

  • 113 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 114 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 115 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 116 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 117 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 118 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 119

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 120 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 121

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 122 Some 240 exhibits

  • 123 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 124

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 125 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 126 Warmington's garage ad

  • 127 New art gallery opened

  • 128 Hartland Dancers
  • 129 Artisans' Club

  • 130

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 131 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 132 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 133 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 134

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 135 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 136 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 137 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 138 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 139 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 140 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 141 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 142 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 143 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 144 Finished in 1876

  • 145

    Married in 1908
  • 146 Hartland's invitation

  • 147

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 148 Parkham plan realised

  • 149 Ships at Bideford

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

  • 151 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 152 Bideford loses training ship

  • 153 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 154 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 155 Riverside mystery

  • 156 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 157 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 158 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 159 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 160 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 161 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 162 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 163 The art of the thatcher

  • 164 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 165 Ten year old scrambler

  • 166 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 167 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 168 A roof-top view - where?

  • 169

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 170 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 171 End of the line

  • 172 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 173 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 174 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 175 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 176 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 177 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 178 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 179 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 180

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 181 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 182 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 183 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 184 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 185 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 186 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 187 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 188

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 189 Bideford regatta

  • 190 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 191 Loads of black and white

  • 192 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 193 A bird of their own!

  • 194 Cruising down the river

  • 195 Bridging the stream

  • 196 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 197 All for the love of a lady!

  • 198 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 199 Service with a smile

  • 200 Can spring be far away?

  • 201 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 202 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 203 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 204 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 205 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 206 The Geneva marionettes

  • 207 School crossing patrol begins

  • 208 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 209 Northam's almshouse

  • 210 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 211 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 212

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 213 Some mushroom!

  • 214 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 215 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 216 New Post Office

  • 217 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 218 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 219 What's the time?

  • 220 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 221

    First prize
  • 222 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 223

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 224

    Was a missionary
  • 225

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 226 Emergency ferry services

  • 227 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 228 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 229 Modern living at Bideford

  • 230 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 231 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 232 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 233

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 234 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 235

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 236 Peter poses for TV film

  • 237

    Bidefordians
  • 238 First ship in 8 years

  • 239 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 240 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 241 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 242 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 243 Penny for the guy

  • 244 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 245 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 246 Simple Item 138
  • 247 Private home for public pump

  • 248 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 249 Mobile missionary

  • 250 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 251 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 252 Off on a great adventure

  • 253 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 254 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 255 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 256 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 257 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 258 A man and his wheel

  • 259 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 260 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 261 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 262 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 263 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 264 New shipyard on schedule

  • 265 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 266 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 267 Recognise this resort?

  • 268 Designed and made in Bideford

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

  • 270 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 271 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 272 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 273 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 274 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 275 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 276 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 277 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 278 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 279 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 280 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 281 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 282 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 283

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 284 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 285 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 286 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 287 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 288 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 289 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 290

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 291 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 292 Traditions and skills still there

  • 293 So this is the mainland!

  • 294 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 295 No laughing matter

  • 296 By pony and trap to market

  • 297 They are parted pro-tem

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

  • 299 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 300 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 301 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 302 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 303 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 304

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 305 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 306

    Building works
  • 307 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 308 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 309 Decontrol of meat

  • 310 A story to tell!

  • 311 Bideford computer stars

  • 312 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 313 North Devon Driving School

  • 314 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 315 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 316 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 317 No sale of Springfield House

  • 318 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 319 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 320 Torrington in 1967

  • 321

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 322

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 323 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 324 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 325 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 326 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 327 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 328 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 329 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 330 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 331 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 332 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 333 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 334 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 335 New Lundy stamps

  • 336 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 337 School's link with cargo ship

  • 338 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 339 Clovelly custom

  • 340

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 341 New civic medallions

  • 342 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 343 New life for Hartland organ

  • 344 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 345 Life begins at 80

  • 346 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 347 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 348 All aboard the ark

  • 349 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 350 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 351 Just over a year old

  • 352 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 353 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 354 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

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

  • 356 Puppet characters introduced

  • 357 Pannier Market's future?

  • 358 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

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

  • 360 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 361

    Exhibition of school work
  • 362 Circus comes to town

  • 363 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 364 Sight of a lifetime

  • 365 Police station view of Bideford

  • 366 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 367 Last train from Torrington

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

  • 369 Revenge in style

  • 370 New choral society's growing response

  • 371 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 372 In their new robes and hats

  • 373

    Relatives all over the world
  • 374 Happy Days!

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

  • 376 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 377 Torrington's new amenity

  • 378 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 379 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 380 Devil sent packing

  • 381 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 382 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 383

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 384 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 385 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

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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Young Winners

Winners of the junior safety quiz contest at Northam were a team from St Margaret's School.

4.5.1973 road safety winners Northam1

This success was a repeat of that last year.

Seen with Mr Peter Hall, chairman of Northam road safety committee, are Stefan Miller, Ian Mansfield, Simon Worley and Elizabeth Ruddock.

All are aged 11.

4.5.1973 road safety winners Northam2

Gazette article dated 4 May 1973

Edgehill College Sponsored Walk

Ten girls of Edgehill College's Upper IVB form

4.2.1977 Edgehill College

staged a novel 11-legged sponsored walk in Bideford Park at the weekend to raise funds for the RSPCA.

The girls, who did five circuits, were: Julie Mayne, Pamela Southcott, Julie Rudge, Celia Smith, Jane Hughes, Kate Biddulph, Jane Waters, Jackie Marshall, Susan Westaway and Wendy Elrick.

School girls also did this in 1975

Gazette article dated 4 February 1977

Their Best Yet

“Fish out of water,” the latest production of Bideford Community College drama group, proved their best yet.

1.12.1972 Bideford Community College

The three-act comedy by Derek Benfield was ideally suited to this small company, who obviously enjoyed themselves as much as the audience.

Portraying the adventures of a very mixed group of English tourists on the Italian Riviera, it ends, of course, with romance – one expected and one quite the opposite.

As the dominating Agatha Hepworth, Betty Maynard captured much of the attention, and Edie Hill’s sympathetic portrayal of the pitiable Fiona Francis also won praise.

The mere appearance of Cyril Squires as the pathetic Mr. Mallett brought laughter from the audience.

Geoff Skinner and Audrey Jones as Brigadier and Mrs Hubback tried to remain aloof from their “lesser” fellow guests but even the Brigadier’s military mind could not out manoeuvre the persistent Agatha Hepworth.

Dora Cowley, the friendly “clippy” with a yearning for romance was a lively study by Christine Ellis, Jane Walters was the Italian waitress Marisa, Mike England the holiday tour representative Julian Whittle, and Steve Ball the “would-be wolf” Len Barrett.

The play was produced by Bob Terrell, who was also in charge of lighting, Barbara Terrell was prompt and Fred Jones, stage manager.

The play has been presented at the Bideford Centre and Bideford Community College, and arrangements are in hand for a visit to Abbotsham.

1.12.1972 Bideford Community College

Article dated 1 December 1972

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