• 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 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 2

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 3 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 4 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 5 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 6 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 7 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 8 No sale of Springfield House

  • 9 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 10 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 11 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 12 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 13 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 14 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 15 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 16 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 17 Finished in 1876

  • 18 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 19 Torrington's new amenity

  • 20 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 21 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 22

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 23 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 24 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 25 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 26 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 27 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 28 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 29 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 30 Ships at Bideford

  • 31 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 32 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 33 New Lundy stamps

  • 34 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 35 Sweets derationing

  • 36 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 37 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 38 The Geneva marionettes

  • 39 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 40 First ship in 8 years

  • 41 Pannier Market's future?

  • 42 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 43 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 44 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 45 A roof-top view - where?

  • 46

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 47 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 48 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 49 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 50 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 51 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 52 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 53 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 54 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 55 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 56 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 57 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 58 Revenge in style

  • 59 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 60 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 61 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 62 Circus comes to town

  • 63 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

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

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

  • 66 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 67 Mobile missionary

  • 68 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 69 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 70 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 71 Bideford loses training ship

  • 72 For crying out loud!

  • 73 School crossing patrol begins

  • 74 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 75 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 76 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 77 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 78 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 79 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 80 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 81 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 82 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 83 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 84 Last train from Torrington

  • 85 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 86 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 87 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 88 By pony and trap to market

  • 89 From Bobby to Brian

  • 90

    First prize
  • 91 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 92 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 93

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 94 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 95 North Devon Driving School

  • 96 Filming at Hartland

  • 97 Simple Item 138
  • 98 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 99 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 100 Hartland postman retires

  • 101 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 102 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 103 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 104 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 105 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 106 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 107 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 108 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 109

    Was a missionary
  • 110 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 111 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 112 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 113 All aboard the ark

  • 114 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 115 New look in the hayfields

  • 116

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 117 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 118 They are parted pro-tem

  • 119 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 120 Clovelly custom

  • 121 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 122 A story to tell!

  • 123 Happy Days!

  • 124 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 125 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 126 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 127 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 128 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 129 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 130 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 131 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 132 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 133 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 134 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 135 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 136

    New gateway
  • 137 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 138

    Relatives all over the world
  • 139 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 140 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 141 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 142 Picking the pops

  • 143 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 144

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 145 Parkham plan realised

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

  • 147 Bridging the stream

  • 148 End of the line

  • 149

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 150 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 151 Centenary of Gazette

  • 152 Ten year old scrambler

  • 153 Traditions and skills still there

  • 154 Modern living at Bideford

  • 155 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 156 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 157 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 158 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 159 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 160 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 161 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 162 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 163 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 164 Appledore's largest

  • 165 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 166 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 167 Burnard family reunion

  • 168

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 169 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 170 Capers on the cobbles

  • 171 A bird of their own!

  • 172 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 173 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 174 Penny for the guy

  • 175 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 176

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 177 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 178 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 179 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 180 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 181 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 182 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 183 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 184 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 185 A man and his wheel

  • 186 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 187 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 188

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 189 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 190 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 191 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 192 Sight of a lifetime

  • 193 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 194

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 195

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 196 Peter poses for TV film

  • 197 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 198 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 199 Riverside mystery

  • 200 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 201 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 202 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 203 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 204 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 205 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 206 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 207 Northam's almshouse

  • 208 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 209 Sailing to victory at Appledore

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

  • 211 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 212 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 213 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 214 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 215 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 216 The art of the thatcher

  • 217 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 218 Loads of black and white

  • 219 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 220 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 221 New Post Office

  • 222 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 223 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 224

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 225 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

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

  • 227

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 228 Six footed lamb

  • 229 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 230 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 231 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 232 Clovelly nightmare

  • 233 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 234 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 235 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 236 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 237 Littleham family's five generations

  • 238 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 239 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 240 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 241 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 242 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 243

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 244 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

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

  • 246

    Exhibition of school work
  • 247 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 248 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 249 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 250 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 251 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 252 Decontrol of meat

  • 253 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 254 Can spring be far away?

  • 255 Some 240 exhibits

  • 256 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 257 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 258 New art gallery opened

  • 259 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 260 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 261 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 262 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 263 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 264 Weare Giffard potato

  • 265 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 266 New civic medallions

  • 267 All for the love of a lady!

  • 268 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 269 Life begins at 80

  • 270 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 271 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 272 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 273 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 274 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 275 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 276 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 277

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 278 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 279 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 280 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 281 It really was the 'last time'

  • 282 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 283

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 284 Bideford regatta

  • 285 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 286 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 287 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 288

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 289 Out of puff!

  • 290 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 291

    Married in 1908
  • 292 So this is the mainland!

  • 293 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 294

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 295

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 296 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 297 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 298 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 299 He beat the floods

  • 300 Jumble sale fever

  • 301 Practical sympathy at Northam

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

  • 303 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 304

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 305 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 306 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 307 New life for Hartland organ

  • 308 Recognise this resort?

  • 309 New shipyard on schedule

  • 310 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 311 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 312 Variety in summer weather

  • 313 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 314 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 315 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 316 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 317 Warmington's garage ad

  • 318 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 319

    Bidefordians
  • 320 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 321 New addition to Quay front

  • 322 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 323 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 324 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 325 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 326 Waldon Triplets
  • 327 Torrington in 1967

  • 328 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 329 Cruising down the river

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

  • 331 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 332 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

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

  • 334 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 335 Some mushroom!

  • 336 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 337 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 338 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 339 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 340 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 341 The cab at the corner>
  • 342 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 343 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 344 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

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

  • 346 Off on a great adventure

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

  • 348 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 349 New choral society's growing response

  • 350 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 351 What's the time?

  • 352 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 353 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 354 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 355 Children's procession with foxgloves

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

  • 357 No laughing matter

  • 358 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 359 Police station view of Bideford

  • 360 Picking the pops

  • 361 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 362 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 363 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 364 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 365 Service with a smile

  • 366 Hartland's invitation

  • 367 Devil sent packing

  • 368

    Building works
  • 369 Twenty-one yachts

  • 370 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 371 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 372 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 373 Northam footballers of the future

  • 374 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 375 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 376 Just over a year old

  • 377 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 378 Puppet characters introduced

  • 379 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 380 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 381 Emergency ferry services

  • 382 When horses score over the tractor

  • 383 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 384 113 years at Instow

  • 385 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

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

  • 387

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 388 Bideford computer stars

  • 389 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 390 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 391

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 392 Artisans' Club

  • 393 Torrington children build igloo
  • 394 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 395 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 396 Private home for public pump

  • 397 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 398 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 399

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 400 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 401 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 402 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

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

  • 404 School's link with cargo ship

  • 405 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 406 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 407 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 408 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 409 Hartland Dancers
  • 410 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 411

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 412 In their new robes and hats

  • 413 They never miss a game at Torrington

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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Milkman Saw His Van Running Away

A Bideford milkman who left his van on a hill to make a delivery in Westcombe heard the handbrake release and saw the vehicle moving backwards, the local magistrates were told last week. 

5.4.1963 milkman

Terance George Frederick Cox, 69 Clovelly Road, was said to have made a statement that had tried to get into the van to stop it, but was prevented from doing so by the slippery road service. The runaway van, said Police Sergt Honeywill, crashed into the doors of a garage, damaging them and a vehicle in the garage. A Ministry vehicle examiner found that the brakes were efficient on the road, but that a pawl on the handbrake mechanism was worn. When the brake was fully applied the handbrake released itself. 

For using the vehicle with defective brakes Cox was fined £2 and the owners of the van – Bideford Dairies Ltd – were similarly fined for the same offence. Mr P J Evans, managing director of the dairy, said there had been no complaint about the brake and apparently there had been no similar occurrence previously. The vehicles were regularly serviced but it would be difficult to detect such a fault. The manufacturers had now altered this type of brake. 

Gazette article dated 5 April 1963

CSM Bullimore Off Duty

Actor William Hartnell, star of ITV’s ‘The Army Game’ programme as CSM Bullimore, met friends in Bideford over the weekend. 

21.4.1961 William Hartnell

Mr Hartnell is seen with Mr Arthur Braunton, a well-known local hairdresser, and Mrs Mel Moore, wife of the licensee of the Swan, Mill Street. 

Mr Hartnell, who comes from South Devon, and now lives in Sussex, has an aunt, Mrs Bessie Andrew, living at 4 Torridge Mount, Bideford. He stayed at Portledge Hotel.This part of North Devon is one of his favourite holiday haunts and he has been here on several occasions. Beside his TV work he is, of course, well known on the stage. Appearance in the four year run of ‘Seagulls over Sorento’ is particularly well remembered. 

21.4.1961 William Hartnell1

Full Gazette article is dated 21 April 1961

Farewell New Street!

Bulldozers move into New Street, Bideford, which has been made a clearance area.

3.3.1972 New Street

Despite its name, this narrow street of character, between High Street and Lower Gunstone, was one of the oldest parts of the town.
It is said that John Strange, the hero of the plague visitation of Bideford in 1645-46, owned property there.

Gazette article dated 3 March 1972

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