• 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 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 2 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 3 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 4 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 5 Bridging the stream

  • 6 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 7 All aboard the ark

  • 8 The art of the thatcher

  • 9 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 10 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 11 Happy Days!

  • 12 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 13 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 14 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 15 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 16

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 17 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 18 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 19 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 20 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 21 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 22 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 23 Clovelly nightmare

  • 24

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 25 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 26 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 27 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 28 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 29 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 30 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 31 Circus comes to town

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

  • 33

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 34 Northam footballers of the future

  • 35 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 36 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 37 Ten year old scrambler

  • 38

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 39 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 40 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 41 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 42 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 43 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 44 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 45 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 46 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 47 Hartland postman retires

  • 48 Devil sent packing

  • 49 Bideford computer stars

  • 50 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 51 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 52 Bideford regatta

  • 53 New look in the hayfields

  • 54 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 55 Hartland's invitation

  • 56 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

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

  • 58 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 59 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 60 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 61 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 62 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 63 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 64 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 65 New art gallery opened

  • 66 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 67 Some 240 exhibits

  • 68 All for the love of a lady!

  • 69 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 70 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 71 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 72 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 73 Centenary of Gazette

  • 74 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 75 Pannier Market's future?

  • 76 Cruising down the river

  • 77 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 78 113 years at Instow

  • 79 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 80 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 81

    Relatives all over the world
  • 82 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 83 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 84 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 85 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 86 Out of puff!

  • 87 Just over a year old

  • 88

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 89 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 90

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 91

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 92 Picking the pops

  • 93 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 94 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 95 New Lundy stamps

  • 96 They are parted pro-tem

  • 97 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 98 Decontrol of meat

  • 99 Capers on the cobbles

  • 100 Sweets derationing

  • 101 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 102 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 103

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 104 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 105 New Post Office

  • 106 Hartland Dancers
  • 107 Appledore's largest

  • 108 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 109 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 110

    Exhibition of school work
  • 111 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 112 By pony and trap to market

  • 113 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 114 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 115 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 116 What is future of railway goods yard?

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

  • 118 No sale of Springfield House

  • 119 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 120 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 121 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 122 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 123 Peter poses for TV film

  • 124 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 125 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 126 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 127 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 128 Penny for the guy

  • 129

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 130 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 131 Northam's almshouse

  • 132 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 133 Artisans' Club

  • 134 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 135 Life begins at 80

  • 136 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 137 Riverside mystery

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

  • 139 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 140 What's the time?

  • 141 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 142 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 143 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 144 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 145 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 146 Jumble sale fever

  • 147 Burnard family reunion

  • 148 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 149 Parkham plan realised

  • 150 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 151 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 152 New civic medallions

  • 153 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 154 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 155 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 156 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 157 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 158 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 159

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 160 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 161 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 162 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 163 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 164 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 165 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 166

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 167 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 168

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 169 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 170 Spray dodging - the new pastime

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

  • 172 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 173 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 174 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 175 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 176 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 177 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 178 A bird of their own!

  • 179 Picking the pops

  • 180

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 181 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 182 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 183 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 184 A roof-top view - where?

  • 185 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 186 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 187 School's link with cargo ship

  • 188 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 189 Simple Item 138
  • 190 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 191 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

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

  • 193 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 194 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 195 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 196

    Married in 1908
  • 197 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 198 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 199 For crying out loud!

  • 200

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 201 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 202 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 203 It really was the 'last time'

  • 204

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 205 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 206 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 207 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 208 Six footed lamb

  • 209 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 210 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 211 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 212 New life for Hartland organ

  • 213 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 214 Waldon Triplets
  • 215 Loads of black and white

  • 216 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 217 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 218 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 219

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 220 Westward Ho! combined op

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

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

  • 223 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 224 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 225 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 226 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 227 Warmington's garage ad

  • 228 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 229 Bideford loses training ship

  • 230

    Was a missionary
  • 231 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 232 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 233 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 234 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 235 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 236 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 237 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 238 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 239 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

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

  • 241 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 242 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 243 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 244

    New gateway
  • 245 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 246 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 247 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 248 End of the line

  • 249 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 250 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 251 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 252 The Geneva marionettes

  • 253 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 254 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 255 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 256 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 257 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 258 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 259 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 260 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 261 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 262

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 263 Last train from Torrington

  • 264 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 265 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 266 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 267 Clovelly custom

  • 268 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 269 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 270 From Bobby to Brian

  • 271 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 272

    Building works
  • 273 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 274 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 275 A man and his wheel

  • 276 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 277 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 278 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 279 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 280 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 281 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 282

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 283 Can spring be far away?

  • 284 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 285 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 286 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 287 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 288 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 289 Torrington in 1967

  • 290

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 291 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 292 Littleham family's five generations

  • 293 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 294 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 295 New addition to Quay front

  • 296 New choral society's growing response

  • 297 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 298 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 299 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 300 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 301 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 302 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 303 Variety in summer weather

  • 304 Mobile missionary

  • 305 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 306 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 307 Down at the 'Donkey House'

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

  • 309 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 310 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 311 No laughing matter

  • 312 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 313 Torrington children build igloo
  • 314 Police station view of Bideford

  • 315 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 316

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 317 Modern living at Bideford

  • 318 Sight of a lifetime

  • 319 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 320 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 321 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 322 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 323 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 324 Puppet characters introduced

  • 325

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 326 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 327 When horses score over the tractor

  • 328 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 329 Safe door weighing two tons

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

  • 331 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 332 Traditions and skills still there

  • 333 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 334 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 335 So this is the mainland!

  • 336 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 337 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 338

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 339 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 340 Filming at Hartland

  • 341 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 342 He beat the floods

  • 343 New shipyard on schedule

  • 344 Ships at Bideford

  • 345 Some mushroom!

  • 346 A story to tell!

  • 347 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 348 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 349 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 350 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 351 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 352 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 353 North Devon Driving School

  • 354 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 355

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 356 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 357 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 358 In their new robes and hats

  • 359 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 360 Private home for public pump

  • 361 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 362

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 363 Weare Giffard potato

  • 364 Revenge in style

  • 365 Service with a smile

  • 366 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 367 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 368 School crossing patrol begins

  • 369 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 370 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 371 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 372 Recognise this resort?

  • 373 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 374 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 375 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 376

    First prize
  • 377 First ship in 8 years

  • 378 Twenty-one yachts

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

  • 380 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 381 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 382 Emergency ferry services

  • 383 Finished in 1876

  • 384 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 385 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 386 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 387 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 388 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 389 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 390 Off on a great adventure

  • 391 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 392

    Bidefordians
  • 393 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 394 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 395 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 396 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 397 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 398 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 399 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 400 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 401 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 402 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 403

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 404 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 405 Torrington's new amenity

  • 406 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 407 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 408 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

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

  • 410 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 411 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 412 The cab at the corner>
  • 413 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

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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Traders protest 'district gets worst rail carriages' 3rd February 1961

Traders protest 'district gets worst rail carriages' 3rd February 1961TRADERS PROTEST

Holiday makers going on to the platform at Waterloo bound for the Westcountry invariably find the worst carriages earmarked for the Bideford-Barnstaple area, says a letter of protest sent to British Railways by Bideford and District Chamber of Trade.  The secretary, Mr C C Prust said the MP for Torrington Division, Mr Percy Browne was also being asked to take the matter up.

Town’s last passenger train

The last train to carry passengers both ways on the Barnstaple-Torrington route will leave Torrington for Bideford at 7.45pm and Bideford for Barnstaple at 7.54pm tomorrow.

October 1965 last train

Although a train leaves Barnstaple at 9.40pm and Bideford for Torrington at 9.58, it returns from Torrington empty. The occasion will not pass unmarked.
The Mayor of Bideford, Mrs Ethelwynne Brown, will be on the station to say farewell to the 7.54pm train. The occasion, she pointed to the Gazette, was certainly not one for celebration. ‘But the least I can do as Mayor is to thank the staff for past services for which we have been so glad for very many years’.
The closure of the line to passenger traffic means that at Bideford two booking clerks and four porters will lose their jobs. But an assurance has been given to Mr Peter Mills, MP, for Torrington, that they will be helped to find new situations. It has come from Mr C Hankins, divisional manager of British Rail’s Western Region. He says he is disappointed to hear that members of the railway staff at Bideford are concerned about the attitude of British Rail towards redundancy. And he pledges that every effort will be made to ‘assist our unfortunate colleagues’ who are made redundant. Every possible vacancy has been held for months in the hope that the redundant staff will have alternative jobs offered to them.
The Bideford staff will receive notice, together with offers of alternative employment, during the coming week.
Mr Mills commented: ‘Redundancy is a big problem in areas like Bideford, but it is comforting to know that everything possible is being done for these men’.

Gazette article dated 1 October 1965

Railways

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