• 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 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 2 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 3 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 4 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 5 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

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

  • 7 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 8

    Bidefordians
  • 9 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 10 Clovelly custom

  • 11 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 12 Traditions and skills still there

  • 13 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 14 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 15

    Was a missionary
  • 16 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 17 Picking the pops

  • 18 Hartland Dancers
  • 19 Six footed lamb

  • 20 Some mushroom!

  • 21 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 22 Appledore's largest

  • 23 Parkham plan realised

  • 24 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 25 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 26 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 27 New addition to Quay front

  • 28 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 29 Service with a smile

  • 30 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 31 Ten year old scrambler

  • 32 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 33 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 34 Jumble sale fever

  • 35 Decontrol of meat

  • 36 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 37 Torrington in 1967

  • 38 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 39

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 40 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 41 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 42 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 43 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 44 Mobile missionary

  • 45

    Relatives all over the world
  • 46 Off on a great adventure

  • 47

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 48 Picking the pops

  • 49 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 50 Panto time at Westward Ho!

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

  • 52 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 53 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 54 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 55 Cruising down the river

  • 56 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 57 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 58 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 59 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 60 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 61 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 62 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 63 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 64 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 65 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 66 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 67

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 68 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 69 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 70 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 71 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 72

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 73

    New gateway
  • 74 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 75 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 76 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 77 A bird of their own!

  • 78 Just over a year old

  • 79 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 80 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 81 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 82 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 83 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 84 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 85 Twenty-one yachts

  • 86 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 87 Capers on the cobbles

  • 88 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 89 What's the time?

  • 90 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 91 New Post Office

  • 92 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 93

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 94 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 95 The Geneva marionettes

  • 96 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 97 Northam's almshouse

  • 98 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 99 All aboard the ark

  • 100 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 101

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 102 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 103 All for the love of a lady!

  • 104 For crying out loud!

  • 105 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 106 The cab at the corner>
  • 107 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 108 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 109 Burnard family reunion

  • 110 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 111 New look in the hayfields

  • 112 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 113 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 114 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 115

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 116 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 117 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 118 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

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

  • 120 New civic medallions

  • 121 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 122 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 123

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 124 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 125 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 126

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 127 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 128 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 129 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 130 Clovelly nightmare

  • 131 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 132 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 133 Loads of black and white

  • 134 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 135 Puppet characters introduced

  • 136 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 137 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 138 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 139 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 140 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 141 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 142 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 143 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 144 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 145 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 146 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 147 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 148 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 149 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 150

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 151 Circus comes to town

  • 152 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 153 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 154

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 155 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 156 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 157 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 158 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 159 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 160 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

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

  • 162 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 163 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 164 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 165 Can spring be far away?

  • 166 The art of the thatcher

  • 167 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

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

  • 169 Warmington's garage ad

  • 170 Artisans' Club

  • 171 Some 240 exhibits

  • 172 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 173 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

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

  • 175 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

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

  • 177 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 178 Big develolpment at Calveford

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

  • 180 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 181 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 182 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 183 A roof-top view - where?

  • 184 Police station view of Bideford

  • 185 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

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

  • 187 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 188 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 189 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 190 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 191 No laughing matter

  • 192 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 193 He beat the floods

  • 194 Hartland postman retires

  • 195 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 196 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 197 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 198 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 199 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 200 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 201 Bideford computer stars

  • 202 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 203 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 204 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 205 Emergency ferry services

  • 206 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 207 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 208 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 209 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 210 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 211 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 212 Sight of a lifetime

  • 213 Modern living at Bideford

  • 214 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 215 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 216 Life begins at 80

  • 217 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 218 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 219 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 220 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 221 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 222 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 223 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 224 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 225 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 226

    Married in 1908
  • 227 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 228 Bridging the stream

  • 229 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

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

  • 231 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 232 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 233 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 234 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 235 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 236 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 237 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 238 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 239 Recognise this resort?

  • 240 Weare Giffard potato

  • 241 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 242 Simple Item 138
  • 243 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 244 From Bobby to Brian

  • 245 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 246 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 247 They are parted pro-tem

  • 248 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 249 X-ray shoe fitting

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

  • 251 Filming at Hartland

  • 252 So this is the mainland!

  • 253 First ship in 8 years

  • 254 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 255 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 256 New choral society's growing response

  • 257

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 258

    Exhibition of school work
  • 259 Sweets derationing

  • 260 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 261 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 262 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 263 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 264 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 265 Penny for the guy

  • 266 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 267 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 268 New shipyard on schedule

  • 269 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 270 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 271 Bideford regatta

  • 272 Out of puff!

  • 273 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 274 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 275 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 276 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 277 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 278 Ships at Bideford

  • 279 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 280 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 281 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 282 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 283 End of the line

  • 284 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 285 Peter poses for TV film

  • 286 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 287 New art gallery opened

  • 288 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 289

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 290 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 291 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 292 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 293 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 294 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 295 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 296 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 297 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 298 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 299 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 300 Centenary of Gazette

  • 301 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 302 Hartland's invitation

  • 303 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 304 Revenge in style

  • 305 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 306 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 307 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 308

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 309 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 310 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 311 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 312 Torrington children build igloo
  • 313 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 314 North Devon Driving School

  • 315 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 316 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 317

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 318 Pannier Market's future?

  • 319

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 320 New Lundy stamps

  • 321 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 322 Last train from Torrington

  • 323 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 324 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 325 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 326 School crossing patrol begins

  • 327 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 328 In their new robes and hats

  • 329 A story to tell!

  • 330

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 331 Private home for public pump

  • 332

    First prize
  • 333 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 334 Devil sent packing

  • 335 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 336 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 337 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 338 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 339 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 340 Riverside mystery

  • 341 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 342 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 343 113 years at Instow

  • 344 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 345 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 346 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

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

  • 348 School's link with cargo ship

  • 349 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 350

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 351 Waldon Triplets
  • 352 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 353 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 354 By pony and trap to market

  • 355 Happy Days!

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

  • 357 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 358 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 359 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 360 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 361 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 362 It really was the 'last time'

  • 363 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 364 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 365 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 366 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 367 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 368

    Building works
  • 369

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 370 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 371 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 372 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 373

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 374 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 375 Torrington's new amenity

  • 376 When horses score over the tractor

  • 377 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 378 Littleham family's five generations

  • 379 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 380 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 381 A man and his wheel

  • 382

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 383 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 384

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 385 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 386 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 387 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 388 Finished in 1876

  • 389

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 390 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 391 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 392 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 393

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 394 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 395 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 396 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 397 Variety in summer weather

  • 398 New life for Hartland organ

  • 399 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 400 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 401 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 402 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 403 Northam footballers of the future

  • 404 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 405 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 406 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 407 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 408 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 409 No sale of Springfield House

  • 410

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 411 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 412 Bideford loses training ship

  • 413 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

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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  • 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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  • 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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Expanding Shipyard 28th January 1972

Expanding Shipyard 28th January 1972

expanding shipyardWell on the way to completion is the big extension to Appledore Shipbuilders' covered yard.

Costing three-quarters of a million pounds, the extension will provide an extra 50,000 square feet, enabling larger fabrication units to be assembled.

Korean deputy premier visits Appledore yard 22nd March 1974

Korean deputy premier visits Appledore yard 22nd March 1974

Korean deputy premier visits Appledore yardMr Wan Sun Tae, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, discusses a point during his visit to Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd with the company's executive chairman, Mr Jim Venus, and managing director, Mr Joe Ball.  A party from the Republic of Korea visited Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd. 

The party was led by the Deputy Prime Minister of Korea included the Korean Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Mr Kyung Nok Choi.

The visitors were shown around by Mr Jim Venus, executive chairman of the Appledore company; Mr Joe Ball, the managing director; Mr David Hickmott, the design director and Mr Ron Downing a member of the board.

Two sets of twins at Appledore shipyards 14th August 1981

Two sets of twins at Appledore shipyards 14th August 1981

two sets of twins at Appledore shipyardHow unusual it is to have two sets of twins working for the same company.  Tony Schiller - better known locally as a Bideford FC player - and his brother David joined Appledore Shipbuilders as apprentices last August, on Sunday they celebrate their 18th birthdays. 

Also working in the yard are 35 year twins John and George Powe, who are both shipwrights.

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