• 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 Bridging the stream

  • 2 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 3 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 4 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 5

    Exhibition of school work
  • 6 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 7 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 8 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 9 Hartland postman retires

  • 10 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 11 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 12 Burnard family reunion

  • 13 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 14 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 15 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 16 What's the time?

  • 17 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 18 Picking the pops

  • 19 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 20 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 21 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 22 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 23 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 24 Sweets derationing

  • 25 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 26 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 27 In their new robes and hats

  • 28 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 29 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 30 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 31 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 32 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 33 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 34 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 35 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 36 Recognise this resort?

  • 37 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 38

    Building works
  • 39

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 40 X-ray shoe fitting

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

  • 42 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 43 So this is the mainland!

  • 44

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 45 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 46 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 47 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 48

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 49 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 50 Centenary of Gazette

  • 51 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 52 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 53 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 54 New addition to Quay front

  • 55 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 56 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 57 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 58 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 59 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 60

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 61 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 62 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 63 Hartland Dancers
  • 64 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 65 Twenty-one yachts

  • 66 Puppet characters introduced

  • 67 Decontrol of meat

  • 68 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 69 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 70 Out of puff!

  • 71 Devil sent packing

  • 72 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 73 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 74 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 75 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 76 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 77 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 78 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 79 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 80 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 81 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 82 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 83 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 84 School crossing patrol begins

  • 85

    Was a missionary
  • 86 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 87

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 88 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 89 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 90 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 91 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 92 No laughing matter

  • 93 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 94 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 95 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 96 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 97 First ship in 8 years

  • 98 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 99 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 100 Peter poses for TV film

  • 101 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 102 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 103 Parkham plan realised

  • 104 School's link with cargo ship

  • 105 A story to tell!

  • 106 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 107 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 108 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 109 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 110 Jumble sale fever

  • 111 New Post Office

  • 112 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 113 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 114 Simple Item 138
  • 115 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 116 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 117 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 118 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 119

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 120

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 121 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 122 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 123 New shipyard on schedule

  • 124 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 125 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 126 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 127 Last train from Torrington

  • 128 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 129

    New gateway
  • 130 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 131 Clovelly custom

  • 132 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 133

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 134

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 135 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 136

    Relatives all over the world
  • 137 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 138 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 139 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 140 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 141 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 142

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 143 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 144 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 145 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 146 Clovelly nightmare

  • 147 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 148 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 149 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 150 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 151 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 152 Warmington's garage ad

  • 153 The art of the thatcher

  • 154 Loads of black and white

  • 155 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 156 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 157 Off on a great adventure

  • 158 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 159 New civic medallions

  • 160 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 161 Revenge in style

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

  • 163 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 164 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 165 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 166 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 167 Artisans' Club

  • 168 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 169 Private home for public pump

  • 170 It really was the 'last time'

  • 171 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 172 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 173 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 174 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 175 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 176

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 177 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 178 Cruising down the river

  • 179 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 180 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 181 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 182 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 183 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 184 Weare Giffard potato

  • 185 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 186 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 187 No sale of Springfield House

  • 188 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 189 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 190 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 191 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 192 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 193 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 194 New look in the hayfields

  • 195 Pannier Market's future?

  • 196 Torrington's new amenity

  • 197

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 198 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 199 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 200 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

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

  • 202 They are parted pro-tem

  • 203 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 204 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 205 Variety in summer weather

  • 206 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 207 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 208 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 209 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 210 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 211 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 212 Happy Days!

  • 213 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 214 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 215 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 216 New Lundy stamps

  • 217 113 years at Instow

  • 218 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 219 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 220 Sight of a lifetime

  • 221 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 222

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 223 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 224 Eight to strike and a race to win

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

  • 226 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 227 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 228 Emergency ferry services

  • 229 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 230 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 231 Littleham family's five generations

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

  • 233 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 234 The Geneva marionettes

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

  • 236 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 237 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 238 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 239 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 240 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 241 Six footed lamb

  • 242 Mobile missionary

  • 243 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 244 Waldon Triplets
  • 245 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 246 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 247 Bideford regatta

  • 248 Some mushroom!

  • 249 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 250 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 251 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 252 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 253 Ships at Bideford

  • 254 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 255 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 256 Ten year old scrambler

  • 257 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 258 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 259 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 260

    First prize
  • 261 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 262 Can spring be far away?

  • 263 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 264 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 265 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 266 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 267 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 268 Penny for the guy

  • 269 North Devon Driving School

  • 270 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

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

  • 272 A bird of their own!

  • 273 From Bobby to Brian

  • 274 New art gallery opened

  • 275 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 276

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 277 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 278 Bideford loses training ship

  • 279 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 280 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 281 Northam's almshouse

  • 282 A roof-top view - where?

  • 283 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 284 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 285 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 286 New choral society's growing response

  • 287 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 288 Torrington children build igloo
  • 289 Finished in 1876

  • 290 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 291 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 292 Torrington in 1967

  • 293 Service with a smile

  • 294 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 295 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 296

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 297 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

  • 298 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

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

  • 300 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 301 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 302 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 303 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 304 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 305 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 306 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 307 Life begins at 80

  • 308 Torrington to have first woman mayor

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

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

  • 311 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 312 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 313 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 314 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

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

  • 316 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 317 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 318 All aboard the ark

  • 319 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 320 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 321 Police station view of Bideford

  • 322 When horses score over the tractor

  • 323 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 324 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 325 Appledore's largest

  • 326 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 327 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 328 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 329

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 330 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 331 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 332 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 333

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 334 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 335 For crying out loud!

  • 336 All for the love of a lady!

  • 337 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 338 New life for Hartland organ

  • 339 He beat the floods

  • 340

    Bidefordians
  • 341 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 342 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 343 By pony and trap to market

  • 344 Hartland's invitation

  • 345 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 346 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 347 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 348 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 349 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 350 Bideford computer stars

  • 351

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

  • 353 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 354

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 355 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 356 Just over a year old

  • 357 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 358 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 359 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 360

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 361 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 362 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 363

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 364 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 365 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 366 The cab at the corner>
  • 367

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 368 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 369 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 370 Circus comes to town

  • 371 Traditions and skills still there

  • 372 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 373 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 374 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 375 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 376 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 377 Picking the pops

  • 378 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 379

    Married in 1908
  • 380 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 381 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 382 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 383 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 384 Capers on the cobbles

  • 385 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 386 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 387 A man and his wheel

  • 388 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 389 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 390 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 391 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 392 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 393

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 394 Filming at Hartland

  • 395 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 396

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 397

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 398 Some 240 exhibits

  • 399 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 400 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 401 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 402 Northam footballers of the future

  • 403 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 404 End of the line

  • 405 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 406 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 407 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 408 Riverside mystery

  • 409 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 410 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 411 Modern living at Bideford

  • 412 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 413 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

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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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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