• 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 Clovelly custom

  • 2

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 3 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 4 Emergency ferry services

  • 5 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 6 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 7 Out of puff!

  • 8 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 9 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 10 Picking the pops

  • 11 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 12 Alwington School closing after 120 years

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

  • 14 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 15 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 16 Circus comes to town

  • 17 All for the love of a lady!

  • 18 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 19 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 20 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 21 New look in the hayfields

  • 22

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 23 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 24 Decontrol of meat

  • 25 New Post Office

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

  • 27 Fundraising trip for RNLI

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

  • 29 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 30 The Geneva marionettes

  • 31 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 32 Happy Days!

  • 33

    First prize
  • 34 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 35 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 36 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 37 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 38 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 39 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 40 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 41 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 42 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 43 Simple Item 138
  • 44 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 45 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 46 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 47 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 48 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 49 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 50 Traditions and skills still there

  • 51 Burnard family reunion

  • 52 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 53 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 54 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 55 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 56 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 57 Twenty-one yachts

  • 58 Police station view of Bideford

  • 59 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 60 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 61 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 62 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 63 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 64

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 65

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 66 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 67 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 68 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 69 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 70 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 71 They are parted pro-tem

  • 72 The art of the thatcher

  • 73 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 74 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 75

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 76 Northam's almshouse

  • 77 New art gallery opened

  • 78 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 79 Off on a great adventure

  • 80 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 81 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 82 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 83 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 84 No sale of Springfield House

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

  • 86 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 87 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 88 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 89 Service with a smile

  • 90 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 91

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 92

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 93 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 94 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 95 Bideford regatta

  • 96 Modern living at Bideford

  • 97 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 98 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 99 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 100 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 101 Variety in summer weather

  • 102 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 103 By pony and trap to market

  • 104 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 105 Littleham family's five generations

  • 106 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 107 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 108 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 109 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 110 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 111 So this is the mainland!

  • 112 When horses score over the tractor

  • 113 Riverside mystery

  • 114 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 115 Devil sent packing

  • 116 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 117 Clovelly nightmare

  • 118 Just over a year old

  • 119 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 120 Pannier Market's future?

  • 121 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 122 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 123 School crossing patrol begins

  • 124 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 125 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 126 Some 240 exhibits

  • 127

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 128 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 129 Private home for public pump

  • 130 School's link with cargo ship

  • 131 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 132

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 133 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 134 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 135 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 136 Revenge in style

  • 137 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 138

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 139 A man and his wheel

  • 140 Torrington in 1967

  • 141 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 142 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 143 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 144 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 145 Torrington children build igloo
  • 146 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 147 Waldon Triplets
  • 148 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 149 Cruising down the river

  • 150 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 151 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 152 It really was the 'last time'

  • 153 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 154 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 155

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 156 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 157 A bird of their own!

  • 158 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 159 Puppet characters introduced

  • 160 Mobile missionary

  • 161 Picking the pops

  • 162 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 163 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 164 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 165 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 166 Northam footballers of the future

  • 167 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 168 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 169

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 170

    Bidefordians
  • 171 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 172 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 173 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 174 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 175 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 176

    Married in 1908
  • 177 Finished in 1876

  • 178 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 179 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 180 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 181 Appledore's largest

  • 182 First ship in 8 years

  • 183 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 184 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 185 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 186 A story to tell!

  • 187

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 188 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 189 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 190 North Devon Driving School

  • 191 In their new robes and hats

  • 192 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 193 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 194 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 195 A roof-top view - where?

  • 196 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 197 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 198 He beat the floods

  • 199

    Exhibition of school work
  • 200 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 201 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 202 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 203 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 204 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 205 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 206 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 207 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 208 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 209 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 210 New life for Hartland organ

  • 211 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 212 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 213 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 214 New shipyard on schedule

  • 215 Sight of a lifetime

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

  • 217 Hartland's invitation

  • 218 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 219 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 220 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 221

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 222 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 223

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 224 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 225 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 226 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 227 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 228 Bideford loses training ship

  • 229 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 230 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 231 New addition to Quay front

  • 232 Loads of black and white

  • 233 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 234 113 years at Instow

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

  • 236 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 237 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 238 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 239 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 240 Warmington's garage ad

  • 241 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 242 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 243 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 244 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 245 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 246 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 247 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 248 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 249 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

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

  • 251 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 252

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 253 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 254 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 255 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 256 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 257 Hartland postman retires

  • 258 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 259 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 260 New Lundy stamps

  • 261 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 262 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 263 Jumble sale fever

  • 264 Peter poses for TV film

  • 265 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 266 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 267 Ships at Bideford

  • 268 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 269 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 270 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 271 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

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

  • 273 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 274 Penny for the guy

  • 275 Six footed lamb

  • 276 For crying out loud!

  • 277

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 278 End of the line

  • 279 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 280 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 281 Capers on the cobbles

  • 282 Can spring be far away?

  • 283 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 284 Weare Giffard potato

  • 285

    New gateway
  • 286 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 287 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 288 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 289 New choral society's growing response

  • 290 Appledore schooner broadcast

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

  • 292 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 293 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 294 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 295 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 296 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 297 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 298 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 299 New civic medallions

  • 300 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 301 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 302 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 303

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 304 Bideford computer stars

  • 305

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 306 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 307 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 308 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 309 Ten year old scrambler

  • 310 Last train from Torrington

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

  • 312 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 313 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 314

    Building works
  • 315 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 316 Some mushroom!

  • 317 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 318 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 319 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 320 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 321 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 322 Recognise this resort?

  • 323 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 324 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 325 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 326 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 327 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 328 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 329 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 330 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 331

    Was a missionary
  • 332 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 333

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 334 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 335 What's the time?

  • 336

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 337 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 338 No laughing matter

  • 339 Hartland Dancers
  • 340 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 341 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 342 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 343 Artisans' Club

  • 344 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 345 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 346 Life begins at 80

  • 347 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 348 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 349 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 350 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 351 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 352

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 353 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 354 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 355 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 356 Centenary of Gazette

  • 357 Torrington's new amenity

  • 358 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 359 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 360 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 361 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 362 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 363 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 364 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 365 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 366 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 367 Bridging the stream

  • 368

    Relatives all over the world
  • 369 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 370 All aboard the ark

  • 371 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 372 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 373

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 374 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 375 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 376 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 377 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 378 Parkham plan realised

  • 379 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 380

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 381

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 382 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 383 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 384 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 385 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

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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  • 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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  • 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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New President for Hansen Cup

Mr Fred Patt's many years of service to the Hansen Cup competition were recognised at the annual meeting when he was elected president after having held the office of chairman for the past 12 years.

1971 Fred Patt

Mr Roy Day was elected the new chairman with Mr Ken Rookes as vice-chairman. Mr Frank Norman will once again be secretary and elected independent members were Messrs W Lane, B Newnham, W Griffiths, D Miller and D Mounce.It was reported that the competition had a balance in hand of £15.

Next season's final was fixed provisionally for April 29 at Bideford Sports Ground, and a dinner will once again be held at the New Inn Hotel afterwards.

30 July 1971 Gazette article

Tennis champion’s award – from his wife

Tennis champion Bob Clarke received a singles trophy on Friday – from his wife.

1965 Tennis Club

Mrs Clarke presented the prizes at Westward Ho! Tennis Club’s first dinner in the absence of the president Mrs C Stephens.
Awards: R Clarke; D Worwood; Mrs R Hughes; Mrs M Petherbridge; P Colwill; Mrs B Worwood; R Colwill and R Rendle; D Colwill and W Milton; Mrs M Beer and Mrs Ganstis; Mrs D Brown and Miss C Symons.
Table tennis: W Milton, A Petherbridge; Miss S Cooksley, Mrs G Anstis.

Gazette article is dated 22 October 1965

Girl Rowers of Bideford

Bideford was represented by three crews in the women's fours at the regatta on Saturday.

Girl rowers 1965

All of the rowers in two of the crews - A and B - were aged 16 or under.
They are seen grouped together in one of the fun fair waltzers for their photograph: Rosemary Phillips, Judith Northcott, Jenny Robinson, Karen Witt, Gill Andrews, Julie Branch, Ann Shortridge, Ruth Portus, Robert King and Mervyn Symons

The full Gazette article is dated 10 September 1965

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