• 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 Recognise this resort?

  • 2 Revenge in style

  • 3 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 4 The Geneva marionettes

  • 5 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 6 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 7 Twenty-one yachts

  • 8 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 9 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 10 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 11 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 12 Torrington children build igloo
  • 13 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 14 End of the line

  • 15

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 16 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 17 Picking the pops

  • 18 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 19 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 20 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 21 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 22 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 23 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 24 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 25 Private home for public pump

  • 26 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 27 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 28 Bideford computer stars

  • 29 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 30 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 31 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 32 Burnard family reunion

  • 33 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 34 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 35 Circus comes to town

  • 36 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 37 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 38 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 39 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 40 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 41 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 42

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 43 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 44 When horses score over the tractor

  • 45 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 46 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 47 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 48 By pony and trap to market

  • 49 Capers on the cobbles

  • 50 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 51 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 52 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 53 Emergency ferry services

  • 54 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 55 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 56 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 57 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 58 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 59

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 60 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 61 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 62 A bird of their own!

  • 63 What is future of railway goods yard?

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

  • 65 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 66 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 67 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 68 Simple Item 138
  • 69 A roof-top view - where?

  • 70 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 71

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 72 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 73 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 74 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 75

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 76 Traditions and skills still there

  • 77 Riverside mystery

  • 78 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 79 A craftsman's 'potted' history

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

  • 81 Clovelly nightmare

  • 82 Cruising down the river

  • 83

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 84 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

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

  • 86 Off on a great adventure

  • 87 Hartland postman retires

  • 88 What's the time?

  • 89 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

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

  • 91 Hartland's invitation

  • 92 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 93 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 94 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 95 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 96

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 97 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 98 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 99 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 100

    Bidefordians
  • 101 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 102 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 103 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 104 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 105 Torrington's new amenity

  • 106 Artisans' Club

  • 107 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 108

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 109 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 110 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 111 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 112 Northam's almshouse

  • 113 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 114 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 115 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 116

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 117 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 118 A man and his wheel

  • 119 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 120

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 121 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 122 New civic medallions

  • 123 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 124 Waldon Triplets
  • 125 Jumble sale fever

  • 126 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 127 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 128 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 129 Appledore's largest

  • 130 Variety in summer weather

  • 131 They are parted pro-tem

  • 132 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 133 Finished in 1876

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

  • 135 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 136

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 137 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 138 Weare Giffard potato

  • 139 Warmington's garage ad

  • 140

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 141 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

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

  • 143 Service with a smile

  • 144

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 145 All aboard the ark

  • 146 The art of the thatcher

  • 147 Devil sent packing

  • 148

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 149 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 150 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 151 School's link with cargo ship

  • 152 Out of puff!

  • 153 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 154 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 155 Mobile missionary

  • 156 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 157 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 158 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 159 Six footed lamb

  • 160 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 161 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 162 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 163 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 164 He beat the floods

  • 165 School crossing patrol begins

  • 166 New shipyard on schedule

  • 167 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 168 Last train from Torrington

  • 169 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 170 Loads of black and white

  • 171 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 172 Hartland Dancers
  • 173 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 174 Water Board mains spread through villages

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

  • 176 Some 240 exhibits

  • 177 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 178 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 179

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 180 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 181 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 182 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 183

    Married in 1908
  • 184 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 185 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 186 In their new robes and hats

  • 187 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 188 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 189

    Was a missionary
  • 190 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 191 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 192 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 193 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 194 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 195 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 196 It really was the 'last time'

  • 197 New choral society's growing response

  • 198 New Lundy stamps

  • 199 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 200 Penny for the guy

  • 201 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 202 Happy Days!

  • 203

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 204 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 205 Police station view of Bideford

  • 206 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 207 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 208 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 209

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 210 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 211 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 212 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 213 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 214 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 215 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 216 No sale of Springfield House

  • 217 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 218 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 219 First ship in 8 years

  • 220 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 221 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 222 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 223 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 224 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 225 Littleham family's five generations

  • 226 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 227 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 228 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 229 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 230 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 231 New life for Hartland organ

  • 232 Can spring be far away?

  • 233 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 234 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 235 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 236 Parkham plan realised

  • 237 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 238 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 239 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 240 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 241 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 242 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 243 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 244 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 245 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 246 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 247

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 248 New Post Office

  • 249 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 250 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 251 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 252 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 253 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 254 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 255 Clovelly custom

  • 256 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 257 Bideford loses training ship

  • 258 So this is the mainland!

  • 259

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 260 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 261 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 262 Bideford regatta

  • 263 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 264 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 265 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 266 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 267 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 268 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 269 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 270 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 271 Just over a year old

  • 272 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 273 Northam footballers of the future

  • 274 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 275 Modern living at Bideford

  • 276 New art gallery opened

  • 277 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 278 Decontrol of meat

  • 279 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 280 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 281 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 282

    New gateway
  • 283 Bridging the stream

  • 284 Ships at Bideford

  • 285 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 286 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 287 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 288 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 289 Puppet characters introduced

  • 290

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 291 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 292 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 293 113 years at Instow

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

  • 295 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 296 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 297 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 298 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 299

    First prize
  • 300 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 301 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 302 Torrington in 1967

  • 303 New look in the hayfields

  • 304 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 305 New addition to Quay front

  • 306 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 307 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 308 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 309 For crying out loud!

  • 310 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 311 Life begins at 80

  • 312 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 313 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 314 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 315 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 316 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 317 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 318 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 319 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 320 All for the love of a lady!

  • 321 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 322 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 323

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 324 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 325 Centenary of Gazette

  • 326 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 327 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 328 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 329 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 330 Peter poses for TV film

  • 331 Ten year old scrambler

  • 332 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 333 Some mushroom!

  • 334 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 335 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 336 No laughing matter

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

  • 338 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 339 A story to tell!

  • 340 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 341 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 342 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 343

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 344 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 345 Pannier Market's future?

  • 346 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 347

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 348 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 349 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 350 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 351 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 352 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 353 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 354

    Exhibition of school work
  • 355 Students help model St Sidwell

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

  • 357 Picking the pops

  • 358 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 359

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 360 Appledore's new lifeboat

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

  • 362

    Building works
  • 363 Sight of a lifetime

  • 364 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 365 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 366 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 367 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

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

  • 369 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 370 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 371 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 372 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 373 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 374 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 375 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 376

    Relatives all over the world
  • 377 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 378 North Devon Driving School

  • 379 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 380 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 381 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 382 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 383 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 384 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 385

    Cadets are given certificates
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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  • 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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  • 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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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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No Rise For 20 Years

Bideford harbour master’s salary has not been increased for 20 years, Ald R D D Birdwood told the Town Council.

2 April 1971 Harbour Master salary

And because of harbour finances, no application had been made by the official. Job evaluation by the County Council management services unit was to be carried out in June, it was pointed out, and it was generally agreed that the case of the harbour master should not be dealt with in isolation. Other recommendations for review of gradings had bene deferred pending the Organisation and Methods report.The Council agreed to await the report. 

Gazette article published 2 April 1971

Stranded off Westward Ho!

Hundreds of people have been making a daily trek to Westward Ho! to look at the stranded C711, a former Admiralty auxiliary tender which went ashore on the sands near Sandymere after her anchor chain had snapped while waiting near the Fairway Buoy to go into Appledore.

stranded ship 1970


The Pebble Ridge has provided a natural grandstand for spectators to watch the efforts made to re-float the vessel, which has two men on board.

The tanker, Bideford, is too big for the Torridge

In the past, big outside shipping firms, including the Reardon-Smith Line, have registered large vessels at Bideford which have never had a hope of coming up the Torridge.

1959 Bideford tanker too big

Lloyds Register of Shipping for 1958 features the 40,900 ton tanker ‘Bideford’ built by Kockums MV at Malmo for the Bideford Tanker Co. Ltd and registered in London.
Messrs Fred Dessen and Co. Ltd, of London, who manage the Bideford Company are also managers of the Blandford Shipping Co. Ltd, owners of the Blandford and Bedford. The principals thought it fitting to name their company and first vessel after a port which has such well known traditions at sea.

1959 Bideford tanker too big

Gazette article 1959

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