• 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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    New gateway
  • 2 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 3 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 4 Hartland postman retires

  • 5 Artisans' Club

  • 6 Riverside mystery

  • 7 The Geneva marionettes

  • 8 New civic medallions

  • 9 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 10 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 11 Up-to-date Bideford!

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

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

  • 14 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 15 Centenary of Gazette

  • 16 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

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

  • 18 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 19 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 20 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 21 Six footed lamb

  • 22 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 23

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 24 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 25 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 26 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 27 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 28 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 29 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 30 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 31 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 32 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 33 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 34 Variety in summer weather

  • 35 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 36 Ships at Bideford

  • 37 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 38 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 39 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 40 School's link with cargo ship

  • 41 Bridging the stream

  • 42 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 43

    Exhibition of school work
  • 44 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 45 What's the time?

  • 46 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 47 Twenty-one yachts

  • 48 All aboard the ark

  • 49 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 50 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 51 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 52 Puppet characters introduced

  • 53 Parkham plan realised

  • 54 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 55 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 56 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 57 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 58

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 59 Service with a smile

  • 60 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 61

    Building works
  • 62 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 63 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 64 By pony and trap to market

  • 65 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 66 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 67 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 68 Appledore's largest

  • 69 Happy Days!

  • 70

    First prize
  • 71 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 72 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 73 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 74 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 75 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 76 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 77

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 78 Northam footballers of the future

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

  • 80 Private home for public pump

  • 81 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 82

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 83 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 84 Hartland Dancers
  • 85 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 86 Simple Item 138
  • 87 New addition to Quay front

  • 88 Bideford regatta

  • 89 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 90 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 91 For crying out loud!

  • 92

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 93 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 94 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 95 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 96 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 97 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 98 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 99 No laughing matter

  • 100 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 101 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 102 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 103 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 104

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 105 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 106 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 107 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 108 Salmon netting at Bideford

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

  • 110 Devil sent packing

  • 111 Some mushroom!

  • 112 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 113 Police station view of Bideford

  • 114 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 115

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 116 East-the-Water's call for new school

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

  • 118 First ship in 8 years

  • 119 Sight of a lifetime

  • 120 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 121 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 122 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 123 Burnard family reunion

  • 124 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 125 Waldon Triplets
  • 126 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 127 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 128 New life for Hartland organ

  • 129 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 130 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 131 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 132

    Was a missionary
  • 133 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 134 Emergency ferry services

  • 135

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 136

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 137

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 138 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 139 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 140

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

  • 142 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 143 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 144 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 145 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 146 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 147 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 148 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 149 Finished in 1876

  • 150 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 151 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 152

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 153 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 154

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 155 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

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

  • 157 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 158 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 159 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 160 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 161 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 162 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 163 Recognise this resort?

  • 164 Littleham family's five generations

  • 165 Clovelly nightmare

  • 166 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 167 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 168 School crossing patrol begins

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

  • 170

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 171 It really was the 'last time'

  • 172 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 173 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 174 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 175

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 176 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 177 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 178 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 179 A story to tell!

  • 180 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 181 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 182 New Lundy stamps

  • 183 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 184 Capers on the cobbles

  • 185 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 186 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 187 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 188 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 189 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 190 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 191 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 192 The art of the thatcher

  • 193 No ancient Grecian temple this

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

  • 195 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 196 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 197 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 198 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 199 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 200 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 201 Ten year old scrambler

  • 202 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 203

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 204 Warmington's garage ad

  • 205 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 206 They are parted pro-tem

  • 207 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 208 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 209 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 210 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 211 Just over a year old

  • 212 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 213 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 214 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 215 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 216 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 217 Northam's almshouse

  • 218 When horses score over the tractor

  • 219

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 220 Torrington in 1967

  • 221 Weare Giffard potato

  • 222 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 223 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 224 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 225 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 226 Mobile missionary

  • 227 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 228

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 229 Picking the pops

  • 230

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 231 Traditions and skills still there

  • 232 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 233 New shipyard on schedule

  • 234 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 235 Circus comes to town

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

  • 237 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 238 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 239 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 240 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 241 End of the line

  • 242 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 243 A roof-top view - where?

  • 244 New art gallery opened

  • 245 In their new robes and hats

  • 246 Clovelly custom

  • 247 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 248 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 249 Penny for the guy

  • 250 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 251 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 252 Life begins at 80

  • 253 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 254 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 255 A bird of their own!

  • 256 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 257 North Devon Driving School

  • 258 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 259 He beat the floods

  • 260 No sale of Springfield House

  • 261 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 262 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 263 Torrington's new amenity

  • 264 Picking the pops

  • 265 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 266 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 267 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 268 Last train from Torrington

  • 269 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 270 Watch the dicky bird!

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

  • 272 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 273 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 274 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 275 Peter poses for TV film

  • 276 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 277

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 278 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 279

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 280 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 281

    Married in 1908
  • 282 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 283

    Relatives all over the world
  • 284 Out of puff!

  • 285 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 286 Revenge in style

  • 287 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 288 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 289 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 290 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 291 Decontrol of meat

  • 292 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 293 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 294 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 295 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 296 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 297

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 298 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 299 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 300 Pannier Market's future?

  • 301 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 302 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 303 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 304 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 305 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 306 So this is the mainland!

  • 307 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 308 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 309 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 310 Cruising down the river

  • 311 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 312 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 313 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 314 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 315 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 316

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 317 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 318 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 319 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 320 New Post Office

  • 321 Torrington children build igloo
  • 322 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 323 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 324 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 325

    Bidefordians
  • 326 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 327 Modern living at Bideford

  • 328

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 329 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 330 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 331 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 332 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 333 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 334 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 335 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 336 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 337 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 338 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 339 Can spring be far away?

  • 340 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 341 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 342 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 343 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 344 New choral society's growing response

  • 345 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 346

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 347 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 348 A man and his wheel

  • 349 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 350 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 351 Bideford loses training ship

  • 352 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 353 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 354 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 355 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 356 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 357 Loads of black and white

  • 358 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 359 Hartland's invitation

  • 360 Bideford computer stars

  • 361 Off on a great adventure

  • 362 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 363 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 364 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 365 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 366 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 367 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 368 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 369 Some 240 exhibits

  • 370 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 371 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 372 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 373 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

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

  • 375 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 376 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 377 Jumble sale fever

  • 378 New look in the hayfields

  • 379 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 380 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 381 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 382 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 383 113 years at Instow

  • 384 All for the love of a lady!

  • 385 Gloves fit for a king!

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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  • 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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  • 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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Mixed fortunes for Torrington's football club

End of season 

Torrington Colts' football team look back on a season of mixed fortunes.

13.5.1960 Torrington1 sport

 This team selection shows T Evans, R Bissett, L Hooper, T Taffs, L Williams, L Johns, Mr Arthur Burke (trainer), D Hoare, R Mules, R Newbold, R Jury and D Bryant.

Gazette article dated 13 May 1960

Assured of Support from Brother Organisations

Ladies’ Rowing Club may need new boathouse

Faced with the possibility that in the near future they might have to leave their present boathouse for new headquarters, Bideford and District Ladies’ Rowing Club was assured of full support from sporting and other organisations in the town by speakers at the Club’s first annual dinner.

The present Club boathouse is on a site earmarked for a new Head Post Office.

11.2.1955 Ladies Rowing Club1 2

Miss Mary Marshall, Mrs C A Grant, Mrs Grant, Mrs I Williams, Mr I Williams, Mrs P J V Fulford, Mr Charles Slee, and Mr A J Lee

The attendance of about 80 at the New Inn, Bideford, for this informal and friendly occasion included lady rowers, their husbands and friends, and representatives of kindred associations. The Club chairman, Miss M Marshall, presided, and during the evening there was a prize giving ceremony.

Referring to the formation of a West of England Ladies’ Amateur Rowing Association, the captain and secretary of the Club, Mrs I R Williams, said that they had discussed the idea many times and had agreed that in the future such an organisation would be really essential. At the moment, however, the Bideford club had rather a lot ‘on their plates. What with the ghost on the horizon that we may have to change our boathouse, we feel that we cannot undertake anything else,’ she said.

Mr E Frank Day, the founder of the Club, proposing the toast ‘Lady Rowers’, said ‘I am quite convinced that none of the local clubs is going to let the Ladies’ Rowing Club go out of existence because of a boathouse. If the worst comes we will fit them in somewhere.’

The prize distribution, of plaques to the A and B crews of the Club, and of a tankard to Mr Charlie Slee, their trainer, was made by Mrs C A Grant, wife of the Deputy Mayor, who added her good wishes to the lady rowers. Miss V Goodman, stroke to the A crew, thanked Mrs Grant and the A crew cox, Miss Doreen Balsdon, presented a bouquet to Mrs Grant and a button-hole to Mr Grant.

The plaques were presented to Misses Valerie Goodman, Marion Pilcher, Jean Harris, Pauline Screech, Doreen Balsdon, Janet Parker, Shirley Peel, Phyllis Marshall, Pat Smale, Gillian Taylor and Jean Taylor.

11.2.1955 Ladies Rowing Club1 3

Mrs C A Grant and Miss Doreen Balsdon

Gazette article dated 11 February 1955

Sally-Dall and crew are winners

In their new boat "Sally-Dall"

Bideford Blues' novices won this season's West of England A.R.A championship, fulfilling a confident hope expressed at the naming of the boat in May.

10.9.1965 Sport Rowing

The championship crew, are John Powe, Barry White, Geoff Giddy (cox), George Powe and Ken Taylor.

All except the cox come from Appeldore.

Gazette article dated 10 September 1965

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