• 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 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 2

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 3

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 4 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 5 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 6 Happy Days!

  • 7 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 8 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 9 New shipyard on schedule

  • 10 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 11 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 12

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 13 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 14 For crying out loud!

  • 15 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 16 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 17 Last train from Torrington

  • 18 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 19 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 20 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 21 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 22

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 23 A bird of their own!

  • 24 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 25 Bideford computer stars

  • 26 Torrington's shelter for the aged

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

  • 28

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 29 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 30 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 31

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 32 Police station view of Bideford

  • 33 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 34 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 35 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 36 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 37 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 38 Colour TV salesman at eight

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

  • 40 The art of the thatcher

  • 41 Twenty-one yachts

  • 42 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 43 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 44 Television comes to Torridge District

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

  • 46 New look in the hayfields

  • 47 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 48 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 49 Riverside mystery

  • 50 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 51 Clovelly custom

  • 52 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 53 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 54 New art gallery opened

  • 55 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 56 It really was the 'last time'

  • 57 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 58 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 59 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 60 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 61 No sale of Springfield House

  • 62 School crossing patrol begins

  • 63 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 64 Six footed lamb

  • 65 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 66

    Relatives all over the world
  • 67 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 68 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 69 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 70 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 71 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 72 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 73 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 74 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 75 Emergency ferry services

  • 76 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 77 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 78 Parkham plan realised

  • 79 Picking the pops

  • 80 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 81 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 82

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 83 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 84 New life for Hartland organ

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

  • 86 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 87

    First prize
  • 88 Clovelly nightmare

  • 89 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 90 Finished in 1876

  • 91 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 92 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 93 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 94 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 95 All for the love of a lady!

  • 96 All aboard the ark

  • 97 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 98 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 99 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 100 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 101 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 102

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 103 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 104 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 105 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 106 New addition to Quay front

  • 107 New civic medallions

  • 108 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 109 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 110 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 111 Just over a year old

  • 112 Jumble sale fever

  • 113 So this is the mainland!

  • 114 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 115 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 116 Hartland postman retires

  • 117 Warmington's garage ad

  • 118 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 119 Bridging the stream

  • 120 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 121 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 122 Northam footballers of the future

  • 123 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 124 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 125 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 126 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 127 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 128 Ten year old scrambler

  • 129 113 years at Instow

  • 130 New Lundy stamps

  • 131 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 132 Pannier Market's future?

  • 133 Burnard family reunion

  • 134 Hartland's invitation

  • 135 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 136

    Exhibition of school work
  • 137 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 138 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 139 Hartland Dancers
  • 140 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 141 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 142 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 143 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 144 They are parted pro-tem

  • 145 Out of puff!

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

  • 147 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 148 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 149 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 150 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 151 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 152 Bideford loses training ship

  • 153 New choral society's growing response

  • 154

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 155 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 156 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 157 North Devon Driving School

  • 158

    Married in 1908
  • 159 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 160

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 161 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 162

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 163 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 164 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 165 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 166 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 167 Sight of a lifetime

  • 168 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 169

    Building works
  • 170 Alwington School closing after 120 years

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

  • 172 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 173 Can spring be far away?

  • 174 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 175 First ship in 8 years

  • 176 Decontrol of meat

  • 177 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 178 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 179 Loads of black and white

  • 180 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 181 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 182 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 183 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 184 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 185 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 186 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 187 Artisans' Club

  • 188 Modern living at Bideford

  • 189 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 190 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 191 Mobile missionary

  • 192 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 193 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 194 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 195 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 196 Peter poses for TV film

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

  • 198 End of the line

  • 199

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 200 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 201 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 202 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 203 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 204 Devil sent packing

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

  • 206 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 207 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 208 Some 240 exhibits

  • 209 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 210 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 211 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 212 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 213 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 214 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 215 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 216 The Geneva marionettes

  • 217 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 218 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 219 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 220 Circus comes to town

  • 221 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 222 Capers on the cobbles

  • 223

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 224 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 225 A story to tell!

  • 226 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 227 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 228 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 229 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 230 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 231

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 232 A man and his wheel

  • 233 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 234 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 235 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 236 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 237 New Post Office

  • 238 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 239 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 240 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 241 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 242 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 243 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 244 What's the time?

  • 245

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 246 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 247 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 248 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 249 Weare Giffard potato

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

  • 251 No laughing matter

  • 252 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 253 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 254 Life begins at 80

  • 255 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 256 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 257 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 258 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 259 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 260 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 261 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 262 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 263 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 264 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 265 When horses score over the tractor

  • 266 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 267 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 268 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 269 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 270 Waldon Triplets
  • 271 Variety in summer weather

  • 272 In their new robes and hats

  • 273

    Bidefordians
  • 274 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 275 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 276 Some mushroom!

  • 277 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 278 By pony and trap to market

  • 279 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 280 He beat the floods

  • 281 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 282 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 283 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 284 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 285 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 286 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 287 Simple Item 138
  • 288 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 289 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 290 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 291

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 292 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 293

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 294 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 295 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 296 Picking the pops

  • 297 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 298 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 299 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 300 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 301 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 302 Appledore's largest

  • 303 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 304

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 305 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 306 Recognise this resort?

  • 307 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 308 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 309 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 310 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 311 Centenary of Gazette

  • 312 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 313 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 314 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 315 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 316 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 317 Littleham family's five generations

  • 318 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 319

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 320 A roof-top view - where?

  • 321 Northam's almshouse

  • 322 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 323 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 324 Revenge in style

  • 325 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 326 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 327 Private home for public pump

  • 328 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 329 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 330 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 331 Ships at Bideford

  • 332 Torrington in 1967

  • 333 Penny for the guy

  • 334

    Was a missionary
  • 335 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 336 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 337 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 338 Cruising down the river

  • 339 Puppet characters introduced

  • 340 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 341 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 342 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 343 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 344 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 345 Traditions and skills still there

  • 346 Torrington children build igloo
  • 347

    New gateway
  • 348

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 349 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 350 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 351 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 352 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 353 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 354 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 355 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 356 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 357 Off on a great adventure

  • 358 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 359 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 360 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 361 Bideford regatta

  • 362 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 363 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 364 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 365

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 366 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 367 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 368 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 369 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 370 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 371 Service with a smile

  • 372 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 373 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 374 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 375

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 376 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 377

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 378 School's link with cargo ship

  • 379 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

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

  • 381 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 382 Torrington's new amenity

  • 383 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 384

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 385

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
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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Gift Aid To Cricket Fans

Playing members of Bideford and District Cricket Club

are photographed with their new scoreboard, the gift of Mr John R Gillespie, manager of the Westward Ho! Holiday Centre.

24.8.1951 WHo cricket

The new scoreboard is Mr Gillespie’s answer to the difficulties which hitherto faced visitors and spectators generally who, unless, they asked endless questions, had little idea of the state of the game or even the names of the teams playing.

Those appearing in the photograph are: Mr J R Gillespie, Messrs. A Robinson, A Bidgood, R Parsons, Ray Bird, P Hawke, R Waldon, S Pidler, G Waldon, S Young, R Mills, R Swain and G Bayliss.

Gazette article dated 24 August 1951

Triple New

New strip for a new season in a new league…

and Bideford Blues, busily preparing for their baptism in North Devon’s Junior Division One, find time to pause for a photograph. A memoir, like the runners-up plaques displayed, of their soccer return last season when they won promotion. Average age of the side is just 19.

20.8.1965 Bideford Blues

Photographed are: Dave Butler, Bob Arnold, Ken Taylor, Richard Hookway, Dave Backway, Keith Sowden, Frank Parkhouse, Ivor Jones, Roy Mitchell, Les Braddick, Jack Mitchell, Donald Cawsey, Eddie Shortridge, Bob Barter, Colin Curtis, Freddie Lamey, Chris Sowden.

Gazette article dated 20 August 1965

Peter Bids For Chance To Play World Master

Bideford schoolboy

Peter Gifford will be off to London in 12 days time to compete against 15 other top young darts players in the national finals of the ‘Our Show’ under-16 darts tournament for the Daily Mirror Trophy.

10.3.1978 Darts

Fifteen year old Peter, of 5B Honestone Street, Bideford, was one of two qualifiers at the West of England and Wales regional finals held at Bristol.

Should Peter be lucky enough to win the title he will not only receive the trophy from the reigning World Master and British Open champion Eric Bristow, but will also have the unique opportunity to play against the World’s number one in front of television cameras.

With his father Jack and brothers Paddy and Andy all keen players it was hardly surprising that Peter caught the darts bug at an early age.

The family team up at the Joiners Arms, Bideford.

Gazette article dated 10 March 1978

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