• 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 Torrington's new amenity

  • 2 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 3 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 4 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 5 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 6 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 7 New shipyard on schedule

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

  • 9 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 10 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 11 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 12 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 13 New art gallery opened

  • 14 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 15 No laughing matter

  • 16 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 17

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 18 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 19 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

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

  • 21 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 22 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 23 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 24

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 25

    Building works
  • 26

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 27 New choral society's growing response

  • 28 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 29 Bideford regatta

  • 30 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 31 Symbol of Lundy independence

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

  • 33 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 34 Torrington children build igloo
  • 35 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 36 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 37 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 38 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 39 113 years at Instow

  • 40 Traditions and skills still there

  • 41 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 42 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 43 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 44 New Lundy stamps

  • 45 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 46 Hartland postman retires

  • 47 Devil sent packing

  • 48 Six footed lamb

  • 49 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 50 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 51 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 52 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 53 What's the time?

  • 54 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 55 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 56 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 57 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 58 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 59 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 60 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 61 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 62 Recognise this resort?

  • 63 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 64 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 65 Just over a year old

  • 66

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 67 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 68 Peter poses for TV film

  • 69 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 70

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 71 Bideford - as Rowlandson saw it about 1810-15

  • 72 Decontrol of meat

  • 73 Modern living at Bideford

  • 74 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 75 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 76 North Devon Driving School

  • 77 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 78 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 79 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 80 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 81 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 82 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 83

    First prize
  • 84 Centenary of Gazette

  • 85 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 86 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 87

    New gateway
  • 88 The art of the thatcher

  • 89 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 90

    Was a missionary
  • 91 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 92 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 93 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 94 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 95

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 96 He beat the floods

  • 97 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 98 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 99 No sale of Springfield House

  • 100 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 101 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 102 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 103 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 104

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 105 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 106 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 107 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 108 Out of puff!

  • 109 Picking the pops

  • 110 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 111 Private home for public pump

  • 112 Picking the pops

  • 113 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 114 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

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

  • 116 Torrington in 1967

  • 117 Police station view of Bideford

  • 118 Finished in 1876

  • 119 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 120 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 121 Cruising down the river

  • 122 New civic medallions

  • 123 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 124 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 125

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 126

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 127 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 128 First ship in 8 years

  • 129 Life begins at 80

  • 130 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 131 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 132 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 133 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 134 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 135 In their new robes and hats

  • 136 A bird of their own!

  • 137 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 138 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 139 New addition to Quay front

  • 140

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 141 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 142

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 143

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 144 Bideford loses training ship

  • 145 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 146 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 147 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 148 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 149 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 150 Ten year old scrambler

  • 151 When horses score over the tractor

  • 152

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 153 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 154 It really was the 'last time'

  • 155 Loads of black and white

  • 156 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 157 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 158 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 159 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 160 All for the love of a lady!

  • 161

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 162 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 163 They are parted pro-tem

  • 164 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 165 By pony and trap to market

  • 166 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 167 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 168

    Relatives all over the world
  • 169 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 170 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 171 Clovelly custom

  • 172 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 173 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 174 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 175 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 176 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 177 Northam footballers of the future

  • 178 End of the line

  • 179 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 180 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 181 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 182 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 183 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 184 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 185 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 186 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 187 A man and his wheel

  • 188

    Exhibition of school work
  • 189 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 190 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 191 Riverside mystery

  • 192 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 193 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 194 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 195 Northam's almshouse

  • 196 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 197 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 198 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 199 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 200 Capers on the cobbles

  • 201 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 202

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 203

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 204 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 205 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 206 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 207 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 208 The Geneva marionettes

  • 209 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 210 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 211

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 212 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 213 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 214 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 215 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 216 Warmington's garage ad

  • 217 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 218 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 219 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 220 A story to tell!

  • 221 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 222 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 223 For crying out loud!

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

  • 225 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 226 Happy Days!

  • 227 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 228 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 229 Appledore's new lifeboat

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

  • 231 Bridging the stream

  • 232

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 233

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 234

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 235 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 236 Sight of a lifetime

  • 237 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 238 Emergency ferry services

  • 239 Bideford computer stars

  • 240 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 241 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 242 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 243 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 244

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 245 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 246 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 247 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 248 Appledore's largest

  • 249 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 250 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 251 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 252 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 253 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 254 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 255 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 256 Circus comes to town

  • 257 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 258 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 259 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 260 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 261

    Bidefordians
  • 262 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 263 Puppet characters introduced

  • 264 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 265 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 266 School's link with cargo ship

  • 267 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 268 Littleham family's five generations

  • 269 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 270 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 271 New life for Hartland organ

  • 272 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 273 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 274 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 275 Simple Item 138
  • 276 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 277 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 278 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 279 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 280 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 281 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 282 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 283 Off on a great adventure

  • 284 Some mushroom!

  • 285 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 286 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 287 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 288 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 289 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 290 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 291 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 292 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 293 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 294 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 295 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 296 A roof-top view - where?

  • 297 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 298 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 299 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 300 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 301 Last train from Torrington

  • 302 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 303 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 304 Burnard family reunion

  • 305 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 306 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 307 So this is the mainland!

  • 308 Revenge in style

  • 309 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 310 Ships at Bideford

  • 311

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 312 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 313 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 314 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 315 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

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

  • 317 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 318 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 319 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 320 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 321 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 322 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 323 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 324 Clovelly nightmare

  • 325 Weare Giffard potato

  • 326 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 327 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 328 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 329 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 330 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 331 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 332 Pannier Market's future?

  • 333 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 334 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 335 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 336 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 337 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 338 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 339 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 340 New look in the hayfields

  • 341 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 342

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 343 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 344 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 345 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 346 Mobile missionary

  • 347 Waldon Triplets
  • 348 Parkham plan realised

  • 349 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 350 Service with a smile

  • 351 Twenty-one yachts

  • 352 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 353 Penny for the guy

  • 354 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

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

  • 356 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 357

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 358 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 359 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 360 Hartland Dancers
  • 361 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

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

  • 363 New Post Office

  • 364 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 365 Jumble sale fever

  • 366 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 367 Hartland's invitation

  • 368 Childrens' model of Torrington

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

  • 370 Artisans' Club

  • 371 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 372 Some 240 exhibits

  • 373

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 374 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 375 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 376 Can spring be far away?

  • 377 All aboard the ark

  • 378 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 379 Variety in summer weather

  • 380

    Married in 1908
  • 381 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 382 School crossing patrol begins

  • 383 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

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

  • 385 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

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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  • 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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  • 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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Northam School - 1972

Northam School - 10th March 1972

10.3.1972 Northam School1
10.3.1972 Northam School2
 

St Margaret's School

Winners of a new under 12 years old section of Northam urban district road safety quiz were St. Margaret's Scool, Notham, "A" team, seen here with the plaques they received to mark their success. Left to right - William Peacock, Kim Bernard, Carol Moorefield and Beverley Tutton.

Northam School Netball

Northam School Netball - 13th May 1977

13.5.1977 Northam School netball
 

These young pupils of St Margaret's School, Northam, have plenty to smile about.
Since the 11-year-olds formed a netball team last September they have played some 20 matches and they have won them all.
Their latest success came in Torridge District Schools football and netball rally at which they won the netball trophy with a 13-10 victory over East-the-Water School, Bideford in the final.
The team comprises: Lindsay Warmington, Alison Jarvis, Julie Chattey, Sandra Maxfield, Carolynne Moore, Suzanne Holder, Polly Hughes with Harriet Peacock and Cerys Parry as reserves.

Bid To Protect Memorial From Vandals

Bid To Protect Memorial From Vandals - 13th January 1967

13.1.1967 Northam Bonehill
 

News that the flagstaff at Bonehill, Northam, is to be repaired was welcomed by Northam Urban Council.
The surveyor, Mr Clive Barber, reported that although £125 had been allowed in the estimates for such a repair, it would probably cost a good deal more. Mr A C Saunders hoped that not only the flagstaff but the whole memorial would be restored.
Most of the seats had borne brass plates indicating that they had been placed there to commemorate the golden jubilee in 1887 of Queen Victoria but several of them had been removed. To commemorate the diamond jubilee there was a stone to represent each year of the Queen's reign. There were silver coins embedded but mostly these had disappeared through vandalism and deterioration.
Mr Saunders suggestd that to prevent further vandalism the memorial should be padlocked at night. The matter could safely be left in the hands of the Surveyor, said Mrs E M Hilder who presided.
It was in May 1897 that at a parish meeting in Northam Mr W Blakeney, R.N. of 'Hillsborough', Westward Ho! moved that a permanent memorial should be erected 'on the rocky knoll outside the churchyard wall.' It was decided to provide a cairn and flagstaff, the cairn to be formed from 60 pebbles from the foreshore of Bideford Bay. On these stones would be chiselled the names of some of the seamen of North Devon who in the days of Queen Elizabeth sailed over the Bay to defeat her enemies and lay the foundations of England's sea power. In the event stones in the cairn at the base of the flagstaff bore the names of Drake, Raleigh and Grenville and the Gazette of June 23rd 1897 recorded: 'Should funds increase other names of great Elizabethans will be engrave upon the remaining boulders.' This was done.
Above a brass tablet setting out the circumstances surrounding the memorial and bearing a quotation from Kingsley's 'Westward Ho!' the Gazette said, was embedded in the rock 'an authentic bronze medal cast in Rome by order of Pope Suxrus V to convey his sanction to the Spanish Armada attempting the conquest of England'. The medal was presented by Mr W Blakeney.
In a large pebble below the tablet was embedded a silver coin with the inscription 'Terra Mari Securitas 1588'. The flagstaff has subsequently been renewed.

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