• 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 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 2 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 3 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 4 Can spring be far away?

  • 5 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 6 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 7 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 8 New life for Hartland organ

  • 9 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 10 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 11 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 12 Picking the pops

  • 13 Torrington's new amenity

  • 14

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 15 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 16 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 17 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 18 Out of puff!

  • 19 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 20

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 21 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 22 Clovelly nightmare

  • 23 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 24 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 25 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 26 By pony and trap to market

  • 27 Designed and made in Bideford

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

  • 29 New choral society's growing response

  • 30 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 31 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 32 Life begins at 80

  • 33 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 34 Littleham family's five generations

  • 35 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 36 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 37 School crossing patrol begins

  • 38 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 39 Some 240 exhibits

  • 40 Waldon Triplets
  • 41 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 42 New addition to Quay front

  • 43 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 44 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 45 Revenge in style

  • 46 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 47

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 48 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 49 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 50

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 51 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 52 It really was the 'last time'

  • 53 They are parted pro-tem

  • 54 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 55 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 56 Twenty-one yachts

  • 57 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 58 Riverside mystery

  • 59 Ten year old scrambler

  • 60 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 61 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 62 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 63 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 64 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 65 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 66 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 67 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 68 Bridging the stream

  • 69 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 70 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 71 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 72 Parkham plan realised

  • 73 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 74 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 75 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 76 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 77 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 78 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 79 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 80 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 81 Cruising down the river

  • 82 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 83 A man and his wheel

  • 84 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 85

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 86

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 87

    Relatives all over the world
  • 88 Modern living at Bideford

  • 89 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 90

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 91 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 92 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 93 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 94 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 95 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 96 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 97 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 98 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 99

    Married in 1908
  • 100 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 101 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 102 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 103 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 104

    First prize
  • 105 End of the line

  • 106 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 107 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 108 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 109 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 110 Centenary of Gazette

  • 111 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 112 Circus comes to town

  • 113 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 114 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 115 Sight of a lifetime

  • 116 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 117

    Exhibition of school work
  • 118

    Was a missionary
  • 119 Sweet success at Langtree School

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

  • 121 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 122 Loads of black and white

  • 123 School's link with cargo ship

  • 124 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 125 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 126 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 127 Torrington children build igloo
  • 128 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 129 Police station view of Bideford

  • 130 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 131 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 132 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 133 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 134 Bideford computer stars

  • 135 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 136 Farewell to passenger trains

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

  • 138 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 139 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 140 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 141 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

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

  • 143 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 144 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 145 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 146 Pannier Market's future?

  • 147

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 148 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 149 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 150 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 151

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 152 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 153 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 154 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 155 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 156 Devil sent packing

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

  • 158 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 159 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 160

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 161 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 162 No sale of Springfield House

  • 163 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 164 Northam's almshouse

  • 165

    Building works
  • 166 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 167 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 168 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 169 Happy Days!

  • 170 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 171 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 172 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 173

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 174 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 175 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 176 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 177 So this is the mainland!

  • 178 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 179 Penny for the guy

  • 180 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 181 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 182 What's the time?

  • 183 All for the love of a lady!

  • 184 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 185 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 186 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 187 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 188 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 189 When horses score over the tractor

  • 190 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 191 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 192 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 193 Northam footballers of the future

  • 194 Mobile missionary

  • 195 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 196 Peter poses for TV film

  • 197 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 198 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 199 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 200 A roof-top view - where?

  • 201 Private home for public pump

  • 202 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 203 New Lundy stamps

  • 204 Picking the pops

  • 205 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 206 Weare Giffard potato

  • 207 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 208 Puppet characters introduced

  • 209 Decontrol of meat

  • 210 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 211 Warmington's garage ad

  • 212 Last train from Torrington

  • 213 All aboard the ark

  • 214 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 215 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 216 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 217 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 218 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 219 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 220

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 221 Hartland Dancers
  • 222 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 223 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 224 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 225 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 226 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 227 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 228 Six footed lamb

  • 229 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 230 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 231 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 232 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 233 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 234 The art of the thatcher

  • 235 First ship in 8 years

  • 236 Finished in 1876

  • 237 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 238 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 239 He beat the floods

  • 240

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 241 New shipyard on schedule

  • 242 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 243 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 244 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 245 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 246 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 247 Torrington in 1967

  • 248 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 249 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 250 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 251 Service with a smile

  • 252 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 253

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 254 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 255

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 256 Off on a great adventure

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

  • 258 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 259 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 260 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 261 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 262 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 263 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 264 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 265 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 266 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 267 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 268 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 269 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 270 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 271 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 272 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 273 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 274

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 275 No laughing matter

  • 276 Just over a year old

  • 277 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 278

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 279 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 280 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 281 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 282 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 283 Variety in summer weather

  • 284 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 285 Some mushroom!

  • 286 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 287 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 288 A lost Bideford 'island'

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

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

  • 291 Artisans' Club

  • 292 113 years at Instow

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

  • 294 New civic medallions

  • 295 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 296 Appledore's largest

  • 297 New look in the hayfields

  • 298

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 299 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 300 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 301 In their new robes and hats

  • 302 Clovelly custom

  • 303 Bideford loses training ship

  • 304 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 305 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 306

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 307 Jumble sale fever

  • 308 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 309 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 310 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 311 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 312 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 313 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 314

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 315 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 316 A bird of their own!

  • 317 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 318

    New gateway
  • 319 Hartland's invitation

  • 320

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 321 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 322 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 323 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 324

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 325 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 326 Hartland postman retires

  • 327 New art gallery opened

  • 328 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

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

  • 330 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 331 North Devon Driving School

  • 332 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 333 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 334 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 335 New Post Office

  • 336 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 337 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 338 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 339 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 340 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 341 Simple Item 138
  • 342 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

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

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

  • 345 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 346 For crying out loud!

  • 347 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 348 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 349 Traditions and skills still there

  • 350 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 351 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 352 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 353

    Bidefordians
  • 354 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 355 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 356 Burnard family reunion

  • 357 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 358 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 359 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 360

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 361 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 362

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 363 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 364 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 365 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 366 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 367 Ships at Bideford

  • 368 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 369 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 370 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 371 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 372 Capers on the cobbles

  • 373 The Geneva marionettes

  • 374 A story to tell!

  • 375 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 376 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 377

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 378 Bideford regatta

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

  • 380 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 381 Emergency ferry services

  • 382 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 383 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 384 Recognise this resort?

  • 385 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

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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  • 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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  • 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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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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