• 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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    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 2 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 3 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 4

    Bidefordians
  • 5 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 6 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 7 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 8 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 9 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 10 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 11 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 12 Pannier Market's future?

  • 13 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 14 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 15

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 16

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 17 Decontrol of meat

  • 18 Some mushroom!

  • 19 What's the time?

  • 20 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 21 A man and his wheel

  • 22 Salmon netting at Bideford

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

  • 24 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 25 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 26 Hartland Dancers
  • 27 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 28 All aboard the ark

  • 29 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 30 Twenty-one yachts

  • 31 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 32 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 33 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 34 Clovelly nightmare

  • 35 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 36 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 37 Simple Item 138
  • 38 New look in the hayfields

  • 39 Northam footballers of the future

  • 40 A bird of their own!

  • 41 Traditions and skills still there

  • 42 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 43 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 44 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 45 Clovelly custom

  • 46 Picking the pops

  • 47 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 48 Just over a year old

  • 49 Sweets derationing

  • 50 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 51 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 52 Private home for public pump

  • 53 Finished in 1876

  • 54 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 55 No laughing matter

  • 56 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 57 Variety in summer weather

  • 58 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 59 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 60 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 61 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 62 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 63 Emergency ferry services

  • 64 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 65 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 66 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 67 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 68

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 69 Hartland's invitation

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

  • 71 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 72 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 73 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 74 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 75 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 76 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 77 Jumble sale fever

  • 78 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 79 Picking the pops

  • 80

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 81 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 82 Riverside mystery

  • 83 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 84 Appledore's largest

  • 85 New Lundy stamps

  • 86 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 87 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 88 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 89 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 90 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 91 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 92 Centenary of Gazette

  • 93 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 94 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 95 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 96 Recognise this resort?

  • 97 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 98 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 99 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 100 First ship in 8 years

  • 101 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 102 Police station view of Bideford

  • 103 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 104

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 105 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 106 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 107 Northam's almshouse

  • 108 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 109 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 110

    New gateway
  • 111 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 112 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 113

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 114 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 115 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 116 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 117 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 118 New shipyard on schedule

  • 119 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 120 Penny for the guy

  • 121 Burnard family reunion

  • 122 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 123 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 124 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 125 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 126 Weare Giffard potato

  • 127 A roof-top view - where?

  • 128 New art gallery opened

  • 129 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 130 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 131 New Post Office

  • 132 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 133 Parkham plan realised

  • 134 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 135 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 136 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 137 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 138 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 139 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 140

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 141 In their new robes and hats

  • 142 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 143 Peter poses for TV film

  • 144 New addition to Quay front

  • 145 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 146 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 147 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

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

  • 149 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 150 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 151 The Geneva marionettes

  • 152 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 153 End of the line

  • 154 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 155 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 156 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 157 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 158 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 159 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 160 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 161 The art of the thatcher

  • 162 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 163 For crying out loud!

  • 164 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 165 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 166 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 167 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 168

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 169 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 170 Devil sent packing

  • 171 North Devon Driving School

  • 172

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 173 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 174 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 175 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 176 Bideford computer stars

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

  • 178 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 179 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 180 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 181 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 182

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 183 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 184 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 185 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 186 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 187 When horses score over the tractor

  • 188 Puppet characters introduced

  • 189 Artisans' Club

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

  • 191 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 192 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 193 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 194 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 195

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 196 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 197 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 198 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 199 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 200

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 201 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 202 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 203 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 204 Filming at Hartland

  • 205 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 206 Bideford loses training ship

  • 207 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 208 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 209 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 210 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 211 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 212 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 213 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 214 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 215 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 216 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 217 A story to tell!

  • 218 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

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

  • 220 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 221 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 222 Can spring be far away?

  • 223 He beat the floods

  • 224 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 225 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 226 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 227 Some 240 exhibits

  • 228

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 229 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 230 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 231 Ships at Bideford

  • 232 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 233 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 234 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 235 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 236 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 237 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 238 Last train from Torrington

  • 239

    First prize
  • 240 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 241 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 242 From Bobby to Brian

  • 243 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 244 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 245 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 246 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 247 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 248 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 249 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 250 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 251 Warmington's garage ad

  • 252 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 253 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 254 Torrington children build igloo
  • 255 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 256

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 257 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 258 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 259

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 260 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 261 113 years at Instow

  • 262 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 263 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 264 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 265 Happy Days!

  • 266 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 267 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 268 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 269 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 270 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 271 Littleham family's five generations

  • 272 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 273 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 274

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 275 Life begins at 80

  • 276 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 277 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 278 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 279 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 280

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 281 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 282 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 283 Waldon Triplets
  • 284 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 285 New civic medallions

  • 286 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 287 Hartland postman retires

  • 288

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 289 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 290 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 291 They are parted pro-tem

  • 292 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 293 New choral society's growing response

  • 294 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 295 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 296 By pony and trap to market

  • 297 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 298 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

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

  • 300 Revenge in style

  • 301

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 302 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 303 School crossing patrol begins

  • 304 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 305 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

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

  • 307

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 308 Bridging the stream

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

  • 310 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 311 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 312 Off on a great adventure

  • 313 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 314 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 315

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 316 Torrington in 1967

  • 317 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 318 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 319 Bideford regatta

  • 320 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 321 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 322 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 323 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 324 All for the love of a lady!

  • 325 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 326 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 327

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 328 Modern living at Bideford

  • 329 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 330 Cruising down the river

  • 331 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 332 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 333

    Relatives all over the world
  • 334 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 335 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 336 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 337 No sale of Springfield House

  • 338 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 339 Circus comes to town

  • 340 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 341 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 342 Torrington's new amenity

  • 343 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 344 Loads of black and white

  • 345 New life for Hartland organ

  • 346 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 347 Capers on the cobbles

  • 348 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 349 So this is the mainland!

  • 350 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 351 School's link with cargo ship

  • 352 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 353 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 354 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

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

  • 356

    Was a missionary
  • 357

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 358 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 359 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 360 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 361 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 362 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 363 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 364 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

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

  • 366 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 367 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 368 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 369 It really was the 'last time'

  • 370 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 371 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 372 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 373 Sight of a lifetime

  • 374 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 375 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 376 Ten year old scrambler

  • 377 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 378 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 379 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 380 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 381 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 382 Service with a smile

  • 383 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 384 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 385 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 386 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 387 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 388 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 389 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 390 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 391 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 392 Out of puff!

  • 393 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 394 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 395 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 396 Six footed lamb

  • 397 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 398

    Building works
  • 399

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 400 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 401 The cab at the corner>
  • 402 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 403 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 404 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 405

    Exhibition of school work
  • 406 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 407 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 408

    Married in 1908
  • 409 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 410 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 411 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 412 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 413 Mobile missionary

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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Peter Sands and Henry Hopkins meet abroad

Service In Borneo - Meets fellow officer from Northam in Singapore

1963 Borneo

18.1.1963 Borneo

A 27 year old RAF officer from Northam, Flight-Lieut Peter Sands, has recently been serving with the British Far East Forces engaged fighting rebel troops in Borneo. 

Last week Flight-Lieut Sands, son of Mr and Mrs Reginald Sands, of Restharrow, Higher Clevelands, Northam, returned to Singapore where he was posted in Traffic Control 18 months ago, and where he was accompanied by his wife, When he returned from Brunei he found he was living in the same block of flats Flight-Lieut Henry Hopkins, son of Mr and Mrs Hopkins, 9 Seaview Terrace, Morwenna Park, Northam who has been stationed at Singapore with his wife, Brenda, and two children. The two officers had not previously known each other.
The full Gazette article is dated 18 January 1963

Princess Anne 'Let Off' Quoted

In a letter to Bideford magistrates on Tuesday a 21 year olf Northam shipwright, Robert Sydney Stevens, of 6 Honey Street, asked why Princess Anne was let off with a caution for speeding instead of receiving the punishment he would probably receive.

1972 Robert Stevens

'We may not be high-class or Royal Family, but that does not mean that she should not receive the same punishment as I and other citizens will probably get' he added.
The magistrate did not answer his question, but fined him £20 and endorsed his licence for exceeding the speed limit at Instow on his motorcycle.

Former Northam Postmistress is 95

Celebrating her 95th birthday on Sunday was Miss C M Davis, former sub postmistress of Northam.

1.12.1972 Miss C M Davis

Although her health does now permit her to venture beyond her home, The Cairns, Windmill Lane, Miss Davis continues her alert interest in local affairs. Five years ago she published a history of her native Northam.

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