• 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 Jumble sale fever

  • 2

    Building works
  • 3 Burnard family reunion

  • 4 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 5 Bideford regatta

  • 6 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 7 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 8

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 9 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 10 Police station view of Bideford

  • 11 Weare Giffard potato

  • 12 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 13 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 14 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 15 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 16 Train returns to Westleigh straight

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

  • 18 It really was the 'last time'

  • 19

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 20 Can spring be far away?

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

  • 22 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 23 Warmington's garage ad

  • 24 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 25

    Was a missionary
  • 26 Revenge in style

  • 27 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 28 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 29 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 30 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 31 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 32 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 33 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 34 Filming at Hartland

  • 35 All for the love of a lady!

  • 36 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 37 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 38 End of the line

  • 39 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 40 Parkham plan realised

  • 41 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 42 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 43 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 44 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 45 No laughing matter

  • 46 New shipyard on schedule

  • 47 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 48 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 49 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 50 Off on a great adventure

  • 51 Northam's almshouse

  • 52 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 53 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 54 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 55 Modern living at Bideford

  • 56 Torrington children build igloo
  • 57 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 58 Littleham family's five generations

  • 59 New art gallery opened

  • 60 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 61 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 62 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 63 Centenary of Gazette

  • 64 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 65 Just over a year old

  • 66 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 67

    New gateway
  • 68 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 69 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 70 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 71 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 72 Cruising down the river

  • 73 Clovelly custom

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

  • 75 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 76 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 77 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 78 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 79 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 80 Bridging the stream

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

  • 82 A man and his wheel

  • 83 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 84 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 85 Six footed lamb

  • 86 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 87 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 88 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 89 Private home for public pump

  • 90

    Married in 1908
  • 91 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 92 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 93 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 94 Waldon Triplets
  • 95 113 years at Instow

  • 96 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 97 Some 240 exhibits

  • 98 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 99 First ship in 8 years

  • 100 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 101 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 102 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 103 Peter poses for TV film

  • 104 So this is the mainland!

  • 105 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 106 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 107 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 108 Life begins at 80

  • 109 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 110 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 111 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 112 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 113 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 114 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 115 Sight of a lifetime

  • 116 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 117 The Geneva marionettes

  • 118 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 119 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 120 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 121 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 122 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 123 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 124 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 125 Clovelly nightmare

  • 126 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 127 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 128 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 129 By pony and trap to market

  • 130 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 131 School's link with cargo ship

  • 132 Bideford computer stars

  • 133 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 134 Traditions and skills still there

  • 135

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

  • 137 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 138 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 139 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 140 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 141 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 142 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 143 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 144 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 145 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 146 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 147 New addition to Quay front

  • 148 Appledore's largest

  • 149 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 150 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 151 Mobile missionary

  • 152 Twenty-one yachts

  • 153 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 154 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 155 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 156 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 157 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 158 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 159 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 160 New Lundy stamps

  • 161 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 162

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 163 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 164 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 165

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 166 Ten year old scrambler

  • 167 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 168 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 169 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 170 Circus comes to town

  • 171 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 172 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 173 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 174 Picking the pops

  • 175 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 176 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 177 All aboard the ark

  • 178 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 179

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 180 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 181 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 182 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 183

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 184 For crying out loud!

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

  • 186 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 187 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 188 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 189 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 190 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 191 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 192 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 193 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 194 Artisans' Club

  • 195 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 196

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 197 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 198 He beat the floods

  • 199 The cab at the corner>
  • 200 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 201 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 202 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 203 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 204 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 205 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 206 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 207 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 208 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 209 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

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

  • 211 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 212 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 213 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 214 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 215 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 216 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 217 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 218 A roof-top view - where?

  • 219 A story to tell!

  • 220 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 221 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 222 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 223 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 224 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 225

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 226 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 227 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 228 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 229 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 230 New Post Office

  • 231 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 232 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 233 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 234

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 235 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 236 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 237 New life for Hartland organ

  • 238 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 239 Devil sent packing

  • 240 Sooty is quick on the draw

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

  • 242 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 243 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 244 When horses score over the tractor

  • 245 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 246

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 247

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 248 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 249 Bideford loses training ship

  • 250 Hartland's invitation

  • 251 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 252 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 253 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 254 Simple Item 138
  • 255

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 256 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 257 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 258

    Bidefordians
  • 259 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 260 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 261 New civic medallions

  • 262 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 263 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 264 Emergency ferry services

  • 265 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 266 New look in the hayfields

  • 267 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 268 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 269 Torrington's new amenity

  • 270 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 271 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 272 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 273 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 274 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 275 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 276 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 277 Service with a smile

  • 278 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 279

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 280 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 281 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 282 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 283 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 284

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 285 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 286

    Exhibition of school work
  • 287 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 288 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 289 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 290 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 291 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 292 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 293 No sale of Springfield House

  • 294 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

  • 295 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 296 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 297 They are parted pro-tem

  • 298 Out of puff!

  • 299 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 300 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 301 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 302 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 303 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 304 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 305

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 306 Bringing shopping home by goat

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

  • 308 Ships at Bideford

  • 309 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 310

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 311 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 312

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 313 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 314 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 315

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 316 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 317 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 318 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 319 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 320 Pannier Market's future?

  • 321

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 322 Variety in summer weather

  • 323 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 324 Recognise this resort?

  • 325 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 326 Watch the dicky bird!

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

  • 328

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 329 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 330

    First prize
  • 331 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 332 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 333

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 334 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 335 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 336 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 337 Buckland goes to County Show

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

  • 339 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 340 Riverside mystery

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

  • 342 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 343 Decontrol of meat

  • 344 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 345 New choral society's growing response

  • 346 Picking the pops

  • 347 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 348 Northam footballers of the future

  • 349 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 350 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 351 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 352 Last train from Torrington

  • 353 Hartland postman retires

  • 354 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 355 Finished in 1876

  • 356 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 357 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 358 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 359 Happy Days!

  • 360 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 361 Capers on the cobbles

  • 362 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 363 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 364 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 365 In their new robes and hats

  • 366 North Devon Driving School

  • 367 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 368 School crossing patrol begins

  • 369

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 370 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 371 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 372 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 373 Puppet characters introduced

  • 374 A bird of their own!

  • 375 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 376 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 377 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 378 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 379 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 380

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 381 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 382 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 383 From Bobby to Brian

  • 384 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 385 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 386

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 387 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 388 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 389 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 390 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 391 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 392 The art of the thatcher

  • 393 Loads of black and white

  • 394 What's the time?

  • 395 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 396 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 397 Penny for the guy

  • 398 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 399 Sweets derationing

  • 400

    Relatives all over the world
  • 401 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 402 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 403 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 404 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 405 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 406 Torrington in 1967

  • 407 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 408 Hartland Dancers
  • 409 Some mushroom!

  • 410 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 411 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 412 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 413 New fire and ambulance stations

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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Bearded Bowlers Amuse at Torrington

"Bert Hodge?

Always a chap to help you enjoy a laugh" so say his many friends.

19.7.1957 Torrington bowlers

Seen on the right is Mr Bert Hodge, who was responsible for this quartet dressing up in top hats and frock coats at Torrington Bowling Green.

"In the old days bowlers used to dress up like that and I thought it would cause some amusement if our rink did the same. Before the game in the county rinks championship at Torrington we marched around the green and then played a couple of ends," explained Mr Hodge. These four - left to right, Messrs F Vodden, R Walsh, W Plucknett and B Hodge - won the county rinks championship two years ago and have now won the North Devon section for three consecutive years.

Incidentally, the veteran standing in the background is Mr Jimmy Huxtable, of Bideford Bowling Club.

Gazette article 19 July 1957

Senior Champions of the West

With triumphant smiles

the Bideford Amateur Rowing Club senior crew, now champions of the West of England, pose for the camera before setting out on a training spin in preparation for the National championships at Shoreham when they will be representing the West of England Amateur Rowing Association.

27.8.1954 BARC Bideford rowing

Members of the crew are: F R Way, L Bright, W Lee, J Edwards, and G Tithecott

The Club’s junior crew of K Hearn, G Cox, J Eastmond, R Cann, and J Evans who have won the Junior Championship of the West of England will also be competing there in the open senior fours. This crew are prevented by National Amateur Association rules from contesting the national junior title because they won the junior fours event at Bideford Regatta last year after they had gained the novice championship.

Gazette article dated 27 August 1954

Torridge Sunbeams Win N Devon Championship

Here are the victorious Sunbeams, who are a Bideford Liberal Club team

27.4.1956 Sport skittles sunbeams BidefordThey are: Mesdames E Waldron, G Taylor, R Evans, C Lucas, D Hammett, O Nicholls

Skippered by Mrs Olive Nicholls, the Torridge Sunbeams prevented a Bideford eclipse when they won the women’s championship in the North Devon Skittles Association’s annual championships at the BAAC Hall, Bideford, on Monday evening.

It was in the final that the Sunbeams really shone, however, rattling up a score of 306 to defeat the Merry Macs, of Fremington, by 16 pins.

The Merry Macs took a two-pin lead in the first rub but the Sunbeams were three up in the next rub and they stayed in front to the end. Spares of 17 and 13 in the third rub by Mrs C Lucas and Mrs R Evans contributed to a third rub of 61 for the Sunbeams, the best of the game, which gave them a lead of 14. In the next rub Mrs E Waldron and Mrs D Hammett weighed in with spares of 12 and 11 and the Sunbeams were 22 up. The Bideford team slipped badly in the fourth leg, however and led by only 9 at the start of the final rub. The Merry Macs failed to press home their chance and the Sunbeams were left needing 39 to win on the last rub. Mrs R Evans clinched victory with a 14 spare which brought her personal total to 61, one of the best of the evening.

Bideford area hopes of the ‘double’ in the championships faded in the early rubs of the semi-final between Buckland Brewer A, representatives of Bideford and District Skittles League, and Wrafton, the Braunton League team going on to win the men’s championship by defeating Single Pins, of Ilfracombe, by 16 pins in the final.

Buckland won the toss and skittled first in their semi-final game but Wrafton, skittling consistently, took a lead of 13 on the first rub, added 18 on the second and at the half-way stage had a lead of 48 pins. In the last three rubs Buckland did manage to pull Wrafton back to a lead of 33 with the scores ending 309-276. Bill Lawrence, Bill Tucker, Cyril Babb and Leonard Blight were Buckland’s spares marksmen.

Article dated 27 April 1956

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