• 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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    Successful motor cycling team
  • 2 They never miss a game at Torrington

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    Bidefordians
  • 4 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 5 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 6 Parkham plan realised

  • 7 Peter poses for TV film

  • 8 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 9 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 10 Bideford computer stars

  • 11 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 12 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 13 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 14 Bridging the stream

  • 15 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 16 Northam footballers of the future

  • 17 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 18 Penny for the guy

  • 19 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 20 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 21 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

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

  • 23 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 24 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 25 New choral society's growing response

  • 26

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 27 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 28

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 29 Capers on the cobbles

  • 30 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 31 Six footed lamb

  • 32 Waldon Triplets
  • 33 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

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

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

  • 36 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 37 Ships at Bideford

  • 38 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 39 Last train from Torrington

  • 40 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 41 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 42 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 43 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 44 Northam's almshouse

  • 45

    Married in 1908
  • 46 Watch the dicky bird!

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

  • 48 New Lundy stamps

  • 49 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 50 Appledore's largest

  • 51

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 52 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 53 Torrington children build igloo
  • 54 Emergency ferry services

  • 55 No sale of Springfield House

  • 56 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 57 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 58 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 59 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 60 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 61 First ship in 8 years

  • 62 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 63 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 64 Artisans' Club

  • 65 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 66 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 67

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 68 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 69

    New gateway
  • 70 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 71 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 72 Riverside mystery

  • 73 Private home for public pump

  • 74 New shipyard on schedule

  • 75 Torrington in 1967

  • 76 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 77 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 78 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 79 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 80 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 81 For crying out loud!

  • 82 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 83

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 84 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 85 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 86 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 87 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 88 All for the love of a lady!

  • 89 Torrington's new amenity

  • 90 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 91 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 92 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 93

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 94 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 95 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 96 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 97 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 98 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 99 No laughing matter

  • 100 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 101 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 102 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 103 The art of the thatcher

  • 104 New art gallery opened

  • 105 School crossing patrol begins

  • 106 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 107 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 108

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 109 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 110 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 111 New addition to Quay front

  • 112 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 113 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 114 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 115 Picking the pops

  • 116 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 117 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 118 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 119 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 120 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 121 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 122 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 123 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 124 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 125 The Geneva marionettes

  • 126 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 127

    Exhibition of school work
  • 128 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 129 Cruising down the river

  • 130 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 131 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 132 Modern living at Bideford

  • 133 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 134 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 135 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 136 Hartland postman retires

  • 137 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 138 Revenge in style

  • 139 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 140 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 141 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 142

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 143 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 144 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 145 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 146 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 147 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 148 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 149 Hartland Dancers
  • 150 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 151 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 152 So this is the mainland!

  • 153 Off on a great adventure

  • 154 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 155

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 156 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 157 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 158 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 159 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 160 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 161 New life for Hartland organ

  • 162 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 163 All aboard the ark

  • 164 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 165 Decontrol of meat

  • 166 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 167 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 168

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 169 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 170 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 171 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 172 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 173 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 174 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 175 Bideford loses training ship

  • 176 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 177 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 178 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 179 Some 240 exhibits

  • 180 Mobile missionary

  • 181 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 182 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 183 Out of puff!

  • 184 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 185 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 186 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 187 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 188

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 189

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 190 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 191 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 192 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 193 Weare Giffard potato

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

  • 195 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 196

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 197 Clovelly custom

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

  • 199 Just over a year old

  • 200 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 201 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 202 Hartland's invitation

  • 203 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 204 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 205 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 206 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 207 Jumble sale fever

  • 208 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 209 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 210 Clovelly nightmare

  • 211 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 212 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 213 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 214 Sight of a lifetime

  • 215 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 216 What's the time?

  • 217

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 218 Burnard family reunion

  • 219 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 220

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 221 New look for Torrington Lane

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

  • 223 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 224 New Post Office

  • 225 Centenary of Gazette

  • 226 It really was the 'last time'

  • 227 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 228

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 229 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 230 Devil sent packing

  • 231 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 232 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 233 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 234 Pannier Market's future?

  • 235 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 236 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 237 New civic medallions

  • 238 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 239 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 240 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 241 Circus comes to town

  • 242 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 243 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 244 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 245

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 246 Finished in 1876

  • 247 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 248 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 249 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 250 Loads of black and white

  • 251 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 252

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 253 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 254 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 255

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 256 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 257

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 258 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 259 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 260 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 261 Police station view of Bideford

  • 262 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 263 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 264

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 265 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 266 He beat the floods

  • 267 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 268 By pony and trap to market

  • 269 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 270 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

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

  • 272 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 273 113 years at Instow

  • 274 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 275 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 276 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 277 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 278

    First prize
  • 279 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 280 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 281 Can spring be far away?

  • 282 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 283 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 284 New look in the hayfields

  • 285 A story to tell!

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

  • 287 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 288 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 289 Twenty-one yachts

  • 290

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 291 Warmington's garage ad

  • 292 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 293 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 294 Littleham family's five generations

  • 295 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 296 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 297 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 298 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 299 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 300 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 301 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 302 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 303 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 304 Simple Item 138
  • 305 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 306

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 307 Traditions and skills still there

  • 308

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 309 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 310 End of the line

  • 311 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 312 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 313 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 314 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 315 North Devon Driving School

  • 316 School's link with cargo ship

  • 317 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 318 They are parted pro-tem

  • 319 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 320 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 321 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 322 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 323 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 324 Life begins at 80

  • 325 Service with a smile

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

  • 327 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 328 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 329 Puppet characters introduced

  • 330 Picking the pops

  • 331 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 332

    Was a missionary
  • 333 In their new robes and hats

  • 334 A roof-top view - where?

  • 335 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 336 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 337 Recognise this resort?

  • 338 Variety in summer weather

  • 339 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 340 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 341 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 342 Ten year old scrambler

  • 343 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 344 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 345 When horses score over the tractor

  • 346 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 347 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 348 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 349 Bideford regatta

  • 350 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

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

  • 352 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 353 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 354 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 355

    Building works
  • 356 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 357 Eight to strike and a race to win

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

  • 359 Happy Days!

  • 360 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 361 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 362 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 363 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 364 A man and his wheel

  • 365 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 366

    Relatives all over the world
  • 367 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 368 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 369 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 370 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 371 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 372 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 373 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 374 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 375 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 376 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 377 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 378 Some mushroom!

  • 379 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 380 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 381 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 382 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 383 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 384 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 385 A bird of their own!

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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Sailing through traffic to big exhibition 9th June 1967

Sailing through traffic to big exhibition 9th June 1967

 

sailing through traffic to big exhibitionThe 30 ton motor fishing vessel "Lundy Gull" pictured at Isleworth (Middlesex) near the end of its three day journey by sea, river and road from Appledore, for display at the World Fishing Exhibition, which opened at Olympia on June 1st.  The biggest craft on show, "Lundy Gull" was built at the shipyards of Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd a member of the Court Line Group.

sailing through traffic to big exhibition 1Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd have already received inquiries from the governments of Trinidad, Guyana, Nigeria and the Solomon Islands about their new Lundy Class vessels.  Mr Jim Venus, managing director of Appledore Shipbuilders, said "We have recently been out to Trinidad to study the problems of their fishing industry.

 

Shipyard can take 100 more craftsmen 7th October 1966

Shipyard can take 100 more craftsmen 7th October 1966

shipyard can take 100 more craftsmenManaging Director of Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd (Mr J Venus) stated that the firm are to build three coastal tankers.

The vessels for Shell Mex and BP Ltd are single screw steel motor tankers of 810 tons dead weight, with a length of 171ft 3in and a width of 34ft.  The new vessels are "getting towards the limit fo what the yards are able to do" said Mr Venus.

The firm is now owned by Court Line Ltd, were appreciative of the work of all their employees for it had enable them to secure this latest order and others on the books altogether worth £2M.

First tankers arrive at new depot 11th April 1958

First tankers arrive at new depot 11th April 1958

 

first tankers arrive at new depotEaster saw the arrival of the first five tankers at the new Shell-Mex and BP Ltd depot at East Yelland which is the first example of the pattern of streamlined distribution evolved by the company for meeting the petroleum needs of the Westcountry.

The new depot receives its supplies by sea from the BP refinery at Llandarcy and the Shell refinery at Stanlow.

From the Yelland depot road tankers will distribute the petroleum products, including aviation fuel to RAF Station, Chivenor, over an area within a radius of 35 miles.  Supervisor of the Yelland depot is Mr Reginald Short, an Old Boy of Bideford Grammar School.

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