• 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 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 2 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 3 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 4 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 5 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 6 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 7 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 8 New choral society's growing response

  • 9 New look for Torrington Lane

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

  • 11 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 12 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 13 A man and his wheel

  • 14 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 15 By pony and trap to market

  • 16 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 17 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 18 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 19 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 20 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 21 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 22 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 23 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 24 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 25 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 26 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 27 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 28 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 29 Torridge wins on time schedule

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

  • 31 Hartland postman retires

  • 32 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 33 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 34 Just over a year old

  • 35 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 36 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 37 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 38 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 39

    Bidefordians
  • 40 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 41 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 42

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 43 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 44 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 45 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 46 What's the time?

  • 47 Sweets derationing

  • 48 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 49 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 50 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 51 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 52

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 53 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 54 Parkham plan realised

  • 55 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 56 Littleham family's five generations

  • 57 New Estate's view of estuary activities

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

  • 59 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 60 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 61 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 62 Peter poses for TV film

  • 63 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 64 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 65 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 66 For crying out loud!

  • 67 Pannier Market's future?

  • 68 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 69 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 70 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 71

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

  • 73 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 74 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 75 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 76 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 77 The art of the thatcher

  • 78 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 79 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 80 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 81 Waldon Triplets
  • 82 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 83 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 84 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 85 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 86 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 87 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 88 A roof-top view - where?

  • 89 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 90 Artisans' Club

  • 91 Northam's almshouse

  • 92 A bird of their own!

  • 93 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 94 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 95 Cruising down the river

  • 96 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 97

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 98 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 99 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 100 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 101 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 102 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 103 Clovelly custom

  • 104 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 105 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 106 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 107 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 108 School crossing patrol begins

  • 109 Recognise this resort?

  • 110 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 111

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 112 Centenary of Gazette

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

  • 114 Picking the pops

  • 115 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 116 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 117 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 118 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 119 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 120 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 121 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 122 Six footed lamb

  • 123 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 124 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 125 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 126 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 127 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 128 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 129 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 130 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 131 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 132 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 133 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 134 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 135 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 136 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 137

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 138 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 139 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 140 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 141 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 142 School's link with cargo ship

  • 143 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 144 So this is the mainland!

  • 145 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 146 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 147

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 148 Private home for public pump

  • 149 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 150 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 151 New Post Office

  • 152 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 153 Mobile missionary

  • 154 Bridging the stream

  • 155 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 156 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 157 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 158 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 159 First ship in 8 years

  • 160 Weare Giffard potato

  • 161 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 162 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 163 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 164 Revenge in style

  • 165 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 166 Burnard family reunion

  • 167 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 168 Service with a smile

  • 169 New Lundy stamps

  • 170 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 171 Some mushroom!

  • 172 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 173 North Devon Driving School

  • 174

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 175 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 176 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 177 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 178 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 179 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 180 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 181 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 182 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 183 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 184

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 185 New addition to Quay front

  • 186 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 187 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 188

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 189 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 190 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 191 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 192 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 193 Police station view of Bideford

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

  • 195

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 196 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 197 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 198 Ships at Bideford

  • 199 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 200 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 201 No laughing matter

  • 202

    Married in 1908
  • 203 Traditions and skills still there

  • 204 From Bobby to Brian

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

  • 206 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 207 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 208 Bideford regatta

  • 209 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 210

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 211 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 212 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 213 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 214 Bideford computer stars

  • 215 Off on a great adventure

  • 216 The Geneva marionettes

  • 217

    Building works
  • 218 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 219 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 220 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 221

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 222 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 223 All for the love of a lady!

  • 224 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 225 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 226 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 227 New shipyard on schedule

  • 228 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 229 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 230 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 231 Decontrol of meat

  • 232 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 233 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 234 Some 240 exhibits

  • 235 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 236

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 237 Sixty-two year old Picarooner makes ready for season

  • 238

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 239 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 240 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 241 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 242 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 243 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 244 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 245 Torrington in 1967

  • 246 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 247 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 248 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 249 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 250 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 251 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 252 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 253 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 254 Ten year old scrambler

  • 255 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 256

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 257 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 258 The cab at the corner>
  • 259 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 260 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 261

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 262 Warmington's garage ad

  • 263 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 264 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 265 Torrington's new amenity

  • 266 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 267 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 268 They are parted pro-tem

  • 269 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 270

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 271 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 272 Little 'Big Ben'

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

  • 274 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 275 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 276 Can spring be far away?

  • 277 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 278

    Exhibition of school work
  • 279 Finished in 1876

  • 280 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 281 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 282 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 283 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 284 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 285 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 286 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 287 Simple Item 138
  • 288 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 289 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 290 A story to tell!

  • 291 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 292 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 293 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 294 Appledore's largest

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

  • 296 113 years at Instow

  • 297 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 298 Emergency ferry services

  • 299 Happy Days!

  • 300 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 301 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 302

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 303 Northam footballers of the future

  • 304 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 305 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 306 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 307

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 308 Modern living at Bideford

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

  • 310 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 311 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 312 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 313 Capers on the cobbles

  • 314

    New gateway
  • 315 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 316 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 317 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 318

    First prize
  • 319 New life for Hartland organ

  • 320 Puppet characters introduced

  • 321 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 322 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 323 Circus comes to town

  • 324 New civic medallions

  • 325

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 326 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 327 All aboard the ark

  • 328 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 329 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 330 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 331 Picking the pops

  • 332 Riverside mystery

  • 333 Hartland Dancers
  • 334 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 335 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 336 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 337 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 338 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 339 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 340 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 341 He beat the floods

  • 342 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 343 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 344 Filming at Hartland

  • 345 Twenty-one yachts

  • 346 Variety in summer weather

  • 347 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 348 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 349 Last train from Torrington

  • 350 Hartland's invitation

  • 351 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 352 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 353 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 354 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 355

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 356 Out of puff!

  • 357 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 358 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 359

    Relatives all over the world
  • 360 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 361 Bideford loses training ship

  • 362 Clovelly nightmare

  • 363 Penny for the guy

  • 364 When horses score over the tractor

  • 365 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 366 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 367 It really was the 'last time'

  • 368 Devil sent packing

  • 369 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 370 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 371 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 372

    Was a missionary
  • 373 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 374 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 375 Westward Ho! combined op

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

  • 377 New art gallery opened

  • 378 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 379 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 380 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 381 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 382 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 383 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 384

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 385 In their new robes and hats

  • 386 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 387 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 388 Sight of a lifetime

  • 389 Torrington children build igloo
  • 390 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 391 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 392 No sale of Springfield House

  • 393 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 394

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 395 Loads of black and white

  • 396 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 397

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 398 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 399 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 400 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 401 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 402 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 403 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 404 Jumble sale fever

  • 405 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 406 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 407 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 408 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 409 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 410 Life begins at 80

  • 411 End of the line

  • 412 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 413 Bideford's new market opens next week

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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  • 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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  • 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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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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Stella Maris Convent, Bideford - Oliver

Stella Maris Convent, Bideford - Oliver 1975

4.7.1975 Stella Maris Oliver

Stella Maris Convent, Bideford

Oliver

July 10 and 11 7pm

Music, Lyrics and book by Earl Bart, produced for the Broadway Stage by David Merrick and Donald Alberry by arrangement with Evans Brothers Ltd and Stage Musicals of New York.

Admission 35p Children 20p

 

Summer Visitors to Bideford

Summer Visitors to Bideford

1955 Cardiff Queen

Saturday afternoon brough the first of the summer season visits to Bideford of Messrs P and A Campbell's pleasure steamers. It was the 'Cardiff Queen' and the warm welcome accorded was reminiscent of the occasion last year when she came to reintroduce pleasure trips by the firm from Bideford after a lapse of some thirty years. Bideford Town Band played on the Quayside and many of the crowd went aboard for a trip down the Torridge around Bideford Bay and back. Later she again left Bideford for Ilfracombe and her cross-Channel schedule. A series of trips is arranged for the summer season.

Safe Door Weighing Two Tons!

Safe Door Weighing Two Tons!

1955 safe door Barclays Bideford

Arrival of a new strong-room door at Barclay's bank in High Street, Bideford, last week attracted a crowd of interested sightseers.

Weighing two tons five hundred weights, the door provided quite a problem when it came to taking it inside the building. The entrance door had to be widened by the sub-contractors, Messrs A F Beer and Son, of Bideford, and then steel rollers used to push the heavy door inside. The photograph shows Messrs Littlejohns' new 'Jumbo' mobile crane being used to lift the new doors. However, apart from one incident, when, describes an eye-witness, the door dropped and "hit the pavement as if the ground was butter" the operation was carried out successfully, and completed the following day.

Mr E C Midlen, the bank manager, told the Bideford Gazette that the new door was the latest of its kind, incorporating many new devices, including automatic lighting and an ability to resite the acetylene burner.

Manufactured by Messrs Hobb, Hart and Company of London, the door travelled by rail to Bideford, then by lorry and finally by crane to the bank. "I think we can safely defy any safebreaker who may be in Bideford with this one!" commented Mr Midlen.

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