• 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 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 2 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 3 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 4 Hartland's invitation

  • 5 113 years at Instow

  • 6 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 7 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 8 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 9 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

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

  • 11 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 12 Happy Days!

  • 13 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 14 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 15 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 16 Penny for the guy

  • 17 New shipyard on schedule

  • 18 They are parted pro-tem

  • 19 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 20 Pannier Market's future?

  • 21 Sight of a lifetime

  • 22 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 23 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 24 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 25 North Devon Driving School

  • 26 Cruising down the river

  • 27 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 28 Clovelly custom

  • 29

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 30 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 31 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 32 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 33 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 34 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 35 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 36 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 37 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 38 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 39 New Lundy stamps

  • 40 Out of puff!

  • 41 For crying out loud!

  • 42 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 43 Record player of 80 years ago

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

  • 45 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 46 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 47 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 48 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 49 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 50 Emergency ferry services

  • 51

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 52 Appledore's largest

  • 53 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 54 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 55 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 56 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 57 Peter poses for TV film

  • 58 Service with a smile

  • 59 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 60 Circus comes to town

  • 61 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 62 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 63 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 64 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 65 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 66 Weare Giffard potato

  • 67 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 68 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 69 Some 240 exhibits

  • 70 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 71 Mobile missionary

  • 72 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 73 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 74

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 75 A bird of their own!

  • 76 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 77 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 78

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 79 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 80 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 81 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 82 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 83 New choral society's growing response

  • 84 Six footed lamb

  • 85 First ship in 8 years

  • 86

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 87

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 88 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 89 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 90 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 91 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 92 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 93 Can spring be far away?

  • 94 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 95 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 96 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 97 The art of the thatcher

  • 98 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 99 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 100 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 101 Riverside mystery

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

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

  • 104 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 105 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 106 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 107 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 108 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 109 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 110 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 111 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 112 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 113 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 114 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 115

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 116 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

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

  • 118 Picking the pops

  • 119 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 120 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 121 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 122 No laughing matter

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

  • 124 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 125 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 126 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 127 Ten year old scrambler

  • 128 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 129 Bideford computer stars

  • 130 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 131 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 132 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 133 New art gallery opened

  • 134

    Exhibition of school work
  • 135 Picking the pops

  • 136 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 137 In their new robes and hats

  • 138

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 139 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 140 New addition to Quay front

  • 141 He beat the floods

  • 142 Police station view of Bideford

  • 143 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 144 All for the love of a lady!

  • 145

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 146 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 147 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 148 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 149 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 150 Life begins at 80

  • 151 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 152 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 153 Northam footballers of the future

  • 154 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 155 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 156

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 157 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 158 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 159 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 160 School crossing patrol begins

  • 161

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 162

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 163 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 164 Last train from Torrington

  • 165 Simple Item 138
  • 166 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 167 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 168 Waldon Triplets
  • 169 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 170 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 171 Jumble sale fever

  • 172 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 173 Traditions and skills still there

  • 174 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 175 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 176 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 177 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 178 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 179 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 180 The Geneva marionettes

  • 181 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 182 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 183 Modern living at Bideford

  • 184

    Relatives all over the world
  • 185 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 186 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 187 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 188 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 189 Ships at Bideford

  • 190

    Building works
  • 191 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 192 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 193

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 194 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 195 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 196

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 197 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 198 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 199 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 200 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 201 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 202 Littleham family's five generations

  • 203 School's link with cargo ship

  • 204 It really was the 'last time'

  • 205 Revenge in style

  • 206 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 207 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 208 All aboard the ark

  • 209 Devil sent packing

  • 210 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 211 A man and his wheel

  • 212 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 213 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 214 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 215 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 216 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 217 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 218 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 219 Finished in 1876

  • 220 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 221 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 222 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 223 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 224 Private home for public pump

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

  • 226 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 227 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 228 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 229 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 230 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 231 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 232 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 233 Parkham plan realised

  • 234

    Married in 1908
  • 235 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 236 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 237 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 238 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 239 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 240

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 241 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 242 Clovelly nightmare

  • 243 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 244 Just over a year old

  • 245 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 246 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 247 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 248 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 249 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 250 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 251 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 252 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 253

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 254

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 255

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 256 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 257 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 258 What's the time?

  • 259 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 260 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 261 Puppet characters introduced

  • 262 Burnard family reunion

  • 263 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 264 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 265 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 266 Centenary of Gazette

  • 267 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 268 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 269

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 270 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 271 Some mushroom!

  • 272 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 273 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 274 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 275 So this is the mainland!

  • 276 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 277 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 278 Twenty-one yachts

  • 279 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 280 Bridging the stream

  • 281 Bideford loses training ship

  • 282 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 283 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

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

  • 285 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 286 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 287 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 288 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 289 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

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

  • 291 Variety in summer weather

  • 292 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 293 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 294 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 295 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 296

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 297 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 298

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 299 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 300

    Was a missionary
  • 301 Torrington in 1967

  • 302

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 303 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 304 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 305

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 306 New look in the hayfields

  • 307 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 308 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 309 New life for Hartland organ

  • 310 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 311 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 312 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 313 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 314 Decontrol of meat

  • 315 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 316 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 317 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 318 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 319 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 320 When horses score over the tractor

  • 321

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 322 A roof-top view - where?

  • 323 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 324 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 325 End of the line

  • 326 Recognise this resort?

  • 327 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 328 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 329 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 330 A story to tell!

  • 331 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 332 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 333 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 334 Northam's almshouse

  • 335 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 336 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 337 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 338 New civic medallions

  • 339 New Post Office

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

  • 341

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 342 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 343 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 344 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 345 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 346 Bideford regatta

  • 347 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 348 Warmington's garage ad

  • 349 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 350 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 351 Capers on the cobbles

  • 352 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 353 Loads of black and white

  • 354 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 355

    First prize
  • 356 By pony and trap to market

  • 357 Torrington children build igloo
  • 358 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 359 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 360 Hartland Dancers
  • 361

    New gateway
  • 362 Hartland postman retires

  • 363 Torrington's new amenity

  • 364

    Bidefordians
  • 365 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 366 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 367 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 368 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 369 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

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

  • 371 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 372 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 373 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 374 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 375 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 376 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 377 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 378 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 379 No sale of Springfield House

  • 380 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 381 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 382 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 383 Off on a great adventure

  • 384 Artisans' Club

  • 385 Wishing well is pixielated

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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Appledore Tugs Fete London Tower!

These Appledore built tugs, ‘Prestwick’ and ‘George V’ were ‘on inspection’ at Tower Pier, London, last week, together with a smaller tug, the ‘Dart’ built for exclusive use on the Thames.

1.4.1955 Appledore tugs

Behind can be seen the famous landmark, the Tower of London. Up to 100 tug owners from leading British and some Continental ports, came to appraise the new design of these vessels, and Mr Gordon Harris, director and manager of  Messrs P K Harris and Sons, Appledore, told the Bideford Gazette he hoped to have good news shortly of further orders as a result of this inspired touch of salesmanship by the designers, Messrs Burness, Kendall and Partners Ltd.

Gazette article dated 1 April 1955

Appledore Couple Reach Barbados

Mr and Mrs Jeffery Clarkson, whose home is at The Gaiety, Irsha Street, Appledore, recently reached Barbados after having taken 29 days to complete the 2,760 miles Atlantic crossing in their 30ft sloop Pile Cap.

10.3.1972 appledore couple

In a message to Mr Alec Proven, the steward at the North Devon Yacht Club, of which the Clarksons are members and where their progress is being mapped, they explain they took it easy on the crossing.
The Clarksons, who spent Christmas at Lanzarote in the Canaries, plan to sail across the Caribbean to Panama via Curacao before continuing their voyage to Seattle.
Gazette article is dated 10 March 1972.

Egyptian Editors Visit

Four newspaper editors from the Arab Republic of Egypt toured Appledore Shipbuilders' covered yard on Wednesday during a 10 day visit to this country arranged by the Central Office of Information on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

24.3.1972 Egyptian visitors Appledore

On Tuesday they were shown Concorde at Bristol and yesterday they were at the House of Commons. The party spent Tuesday night at the Durrant House Hotel as guests of Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd.
Gazette article dated 24 March 1972

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