• 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
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 2 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 3 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 4 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 5 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 6 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 7 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 8 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 9 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 10 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 11 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 12 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 13 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 14

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 15 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 16 Torrington's new amenity

  • 17 Ships at Bideford

  • 18 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 19 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 20 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 21

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 22 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 23 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 24 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 25 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 26 Revenge in style

  • 27 New shipyard on schedule

  • 28 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 29 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 30 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 31 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 32 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 33 Last train from Torrington

  • 34 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 35 Waldon Triplets
  • 36 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 37 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 38 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 39 What's the time?

  • 40

    Building works
  • 41 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 42 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 43 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 44 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 45 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 46 Picking the pops

  • 47 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 48 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 49 Hartland Dancers
  • 50 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 51 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 52 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 53 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 54 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 55 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 56 By pony and trap to market

  • 57 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 58

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 59 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 60 Jumble sale fever

  • 61 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 62 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 63 Riverside mystery

  • 64 Life begins at 80

  • 65 Centenary of Gazette

  • 66 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 67 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 68 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 69 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 70 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 71 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 72

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 73 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 74 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 75 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 76 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 77 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 78 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 79 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 80 Penny for the guy

  • 81

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 82 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 83 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 84 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 85 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 86 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 87 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 88 Service with a smile

  • 89 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 90 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 91 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 92 Hartland's invitation

  • 93 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 94 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 95 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 96 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 97 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 98 Devil sent packing

  • 99 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 100 For crying out loud!

  • 101 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 102 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 103 Northam's almshouse

  • 104 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 105 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 106 Cruising down the river

  • 107 Bridging the stream

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

  • 109 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 110 Littleham family's five generations

  • 111 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 112 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 113 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 114 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 115 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 116 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 117 New choral society's growing response

  • 118 Capers on the cobbles

  • 119 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 120 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 121 Mobile missionary

  • 122 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 123 Sight of a lifetime

  • 124 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 125 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 126 Bideford regatta

  • 127 It really was the 'last time'

  • 128 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 129 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 130 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 131 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 132 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 133 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 134

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 135 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 136

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 137

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 138 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 139 Just over a year old

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

  • 141 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 142 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 143 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 144 New civic medallions

  • 145 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 146 All aboard the ark

  • 147 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 148 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 149 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 150 Police station view of Bideford

  • 151 Happy Days!

  • 152 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 153

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 154 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 155 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 156 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 157 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 158 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 159 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 160

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 161 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 162

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 163 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

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

  • 165 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 166 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 167 Modern living at Bideford

  • 168 New addition to Quay front

  • 169 Torrington children build igloo
  • 170 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 171 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 172 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 173 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 174 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 175 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 176

    First prize
  • 177 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 178 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 179 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 180 Circus comes to town

  • 181 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 182

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 183 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 184 School crossing patrol begins

  • 185 A roof-top view - where?

  • 186 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 187 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

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

  • 189

    Exhibition of school work
  • 190 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 191 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 192 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 193 New Post Office

  • 194 Finished in 1876

  • 195 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 196 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 197 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 198 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 199 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 200 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 201 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 202 The Geneva marionettes

  • 203 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 204 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 205 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 206 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 207 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 208 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 209 Off on a great adventure

  • 210 Bideford computer stars

  • 211 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 212 Weare Giffard potato

  • 213 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 214 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 215 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 216 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 217 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 218 113 years at Instow

  • 219 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 220 Some mushroom!

  • 221 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 222 New Lundy stamps

  • 223 So this is the mainland!

  • 224 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 225 Variety in summer weather

  • 226

    Was a missionary
  • 227 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 228 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 229 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 230 Torrington in 1967

  • 231 Revived market off to splendid start

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

  • 233 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 234 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 235 Emergency ferry services

  • 236 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 237 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 238 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 239 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 240 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 241 Puppet characters introduced

  • 242 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 243 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 244 The art of the thatcher

  • 245 New life for Hartland organ

  • 246 Picking the pops

  • 247 No sale of Springfield House

  • 248

    New gateway
  • 249 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 250 Simple Item 138
  • 251 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 252 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 253 School's link with cargo ship

  • 254 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 255 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 256 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 257 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 258 Parkham plan realised

  • 259 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 260 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 261 Hartland postman retires

  • 262 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 263

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 264 Decontrol of meat

  • 265 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 266

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 267 All for the love of a lady!

  • 268 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 269 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 270 He beat the floods

  • 271 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 272 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 273 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 274 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 275 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 276 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 277 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 278 In their new robes and hats

  • 279 Loads of black and white

  • 280 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 281

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 282 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 283 First ship in 8 years

  • 284 Clovelly nightmare

  • 285 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 286 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 287 New art gallery opened

  • 288 A story to tell!

  • 289 Six footed lamb

  • 290 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 291 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 292 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 293 Clovelly custom

  • 294 Can spring be far away?

  • 295 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 296 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 297

    Relatives all over the world
  • 298 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

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

  • 300 Recognise this resort?

  • 301

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 302

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 303

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 304 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 305 First steel ship built at Bideford

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

  • 307 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 308 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 309 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 310 North Devon Driving School

  • 311 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 312 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 313 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 314 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 315 No laughing matter

  • 316 Bideford Bridge re-opens

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

  • 318 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 319 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 320 Some 240 exhibits

  • 321

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 322 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 323 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 324 Peter poses for TV film

  • 325 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 326 Burnard family reunion

  • 327 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 328

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 329 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 330 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 331

    Married in 1908
  • 332 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 333 Warmington's garage ad

  • 334

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 335 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 336 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 337 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 338 A man and his wheel

  • 339 Private home for public pump

  • 340 End of the line

  • 341 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 342 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 343 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 344 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 345 Appledore's largest

  • 346 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 347 Traditions and skills still there

  • 348 Twenty-one yachts

  • 349 Out of puff!

  • 350 They are parted pro-tem

  • 351 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 352 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 353

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 354 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 355 Ten year old scrambler

  • 356 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 357 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 358 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 359 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 360 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 361 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 362

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 363 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 364 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 365 Bideford loses training ship

  • 366 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 367 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 368

    Bidefordians
  • 369 When horses score over the tractor

  • 370 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 371 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 372 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 373

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 374 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 375 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

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

  • 377 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 378 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 379 Northam footballers of the future

  • 380 Pannier Market's future?

  • 381 New look in the hayfields

  • 382 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 383 A bird of their own!

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

  • 385 Artisans' Club

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

Read More
and suddenly it's spring

Cadds Down Farm

1 March 1974

Joined by Trixie, the pony

READ MORE

  • 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.

    Read More

  • 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.

    Read More

  • 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;

    Read More
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
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...

Read More
 

Shipyard goes into liquidation 1963

Liquidator appointed

4 January 1963

Difficulty in retaining labour...

Read More

Appledore builds tug for Persian Gulf State 10th April 1953

Appledore builds tug for Persian Gulf State 10th April 1953

Appledore builds tug for Persion Gulf StateRapidly taking shape in the Richmond dry dock at the Appledore ship building yard of Messrs P K Harris & Sons, is a diesel tug being built to the orders of the government of Kuwait on the Persian Gulf. 

Photograph shows the first plate being fitted into its positon towards the bow of the vessel and inside the ship are two members of the rivetting team.

'Pirate spirit' goes 'down the hatch' 16th June 1950

'Pirate spirit' goes 'down the hatch' 16th June 1950

Pirate spirit goes down the hatchPirates were taking the Treasure Island film ship Hispaniola on her last voyage from Appledore to Scarborough where the ship will become part of the town's maritime display.  The Hispaniola was commended by Lieut Commander S Gorrell and manned by 2 Appledore seamen, Messrs E Bignell and Kelly Eastman, and a number of amateur sailors, Messrs W Glover, S Sanders, T R Davies and Wing Commander Johnson.

At Scarborough Mrs Pat Pulleyn, wife of the Chairman of Scarborough Harbour Committee, was first on board.  A mayoral reception was accorded the crew and among those present were Lee Savold (who was then in Scarborough preparing for his fight with Bruce Woodcock), Jimmy Wilde and Nat Fleischer.

Mr Ernest Bignell was met on his arrival by his siter, Mrs J Parkin.

Corvette becomes fishing and depot ship 5th April 1949

Corvette becomes fishing and depot ship 5th April 1949

Corvette becomes fishing and depot ship

Described by Messrs P K Harris and Sons as the biggest conversion job they have done, the ex "Flower" class corvette Anchusia, now being converted at Appledore into a fishing and depot ship renamed Silver Lord, is nearing completion.  Wheel-house of the ship and the bridge deck are built of teak taken from HMS Warspite when she was broken up.  Alongside the Silver Lord is another former corvette, now named Silver King.  Work on this vessel has not yet commenced.

  • 1

Login Form