• 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 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 2 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 3 Happy Days!

  • 4 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 5 Sweets derationing

  • 6

    Married in 1908
  • 7 All aboard the ark

  • 8 Littleham family's five generations

  • 9

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 10 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 11 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 12 Centenary of Gazette

  • 13 Success to Festival of the Arts

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

  • 15 First ship in 8 years

  • 16 From Bobby to Brian

  • 17 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 18 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 19

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 20 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 21 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 22 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

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

  • 24 Bridging the stream

  • 25 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 26 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 27 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 28 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 29 Clovelly custom

  • 30 Torrington children build igloo
  • 31 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 32 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 33 Hartland's invitation

  • 34 The cab at the corner>
  • 35 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 36 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 37 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 38 Police station view of Bideford

  • 39 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 40 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 41 New look in the hayfields

  • 42 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 43 Six footed lamb

  • 44 No sale of Springfield House

  • 45 The art of the thatcher

  • 46 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 47 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 48 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 49 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 50 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 51 A roof-top view - where?

  • 52 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 53 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 54 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 55 Modern living at Bideford

  • 56 113 years at Instow

  • 57 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 58 Loads of black and white

  • 59 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 60 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 61 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 62 Devil sent packing

  • 63 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 64 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 65 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 66 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 67 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 68 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 69 Bideford regatta

  • 70 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 71 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 72 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 73 Hartland postman retires

  • 74 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 75 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 76 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 77 Picking the pops

  • 78

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 79 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 80 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

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

  • 82 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 83 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 84 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 85 Can spring be far away?

  • 86 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 87 Variety in summer weather

  • 88 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 89 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 90 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 91 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 92

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 93 Private home for public pump

  • 94

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 95 Artisans' Club

  • 96

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 97 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 98 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 99

    Bidefordians
  • 100 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 101 A bird of their own!

  • 102 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 103

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 104 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 105 Just over a year old

  • 106 Off on a great adventure

  • 107 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 108 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 109 Jumble sale fever

  • 110 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 111 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 112 New art gallery opened

  • 113 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 114 Circus comes to town

  • 115 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 116 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 117 Simple Item 138
  • 118 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 119 Recognise this resort?

  • 120 End of the line

  • 121 Decontrol of meat

  • 122

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 123 Parkham plan realised

  • 124 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 125 Life begins at 80

  • 126 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 127 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 128 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 129 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 130 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 131 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 132 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

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

  • 134 Finished in 1876

  • 135 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 136 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 137 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 138

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 139 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 140 Filming at Hartland

  • 141

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 142 Ships at Bideford

  • 143 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 144 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 145 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 146 New Lundy stamps

  • 147 In their new robes and hats

  • 148 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 149 Capers on the cobbles

  • 150 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 151 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 152 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 153 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 154 Service with a smile

  • 155 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 156 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 157 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 158 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 159 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 160 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 161 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 162 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 163 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 164

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 165 Some mushroom!

  • 166 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 167 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 168 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 169 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 170 For crying out loud!

  • 171 Warmington's garage ad

  • 172 By pony and trap to market

  • 173 Torrington in 1967

  • 174 New Post Office

  • 175 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 176 Cruising down the river

  • 177

    New gateway
  • 178 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 179 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 180 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 181 A story to tell!

  • 182 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 183

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 184 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

  • 185

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 186 Out of puff!

  • 187 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 188 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 189 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 190 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 191 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 192 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 193 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 194 They set out for Bideford and became lost

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

  • 196

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 197 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 198 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 199 So this is the mainland!

  • 200 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 201 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 202 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 203 Traditions and skills still there

  • 204 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 205 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 206 Bideford computer stars

  • 207 Weare Giffard potato

  • 208 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 209 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 210 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 211 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 212 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 213 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 214 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 215 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 216 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 217 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 218 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 219 Sweet success at Langtree School

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

  • 221 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

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

  • 223 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 224 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 225

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

  • 227 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 228

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 229 Waldon Triplets
  • 230 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 231 New civic medallions

  • 232 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 233 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 234 Twenty-one yachts

  • 235 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 236 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 237 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 238 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 239 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 240 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 241 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 242 Childrens' model of Torrington

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

  • 244 Ten year old scrambler

  • 245 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 246 Colour TV salesman at eight

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

  • 248 Picking the pops

  • 249 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 250 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 251 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 252 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 253 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 254

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 255 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 256 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 257 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 258 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 259 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 260 They are parted pro-tem

  • 261 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 262 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 263 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 264 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 265

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 266

    Relatives all over the world
  • 267 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 268 School's link with cargo ship

  • 269 What's the time?

  • 270 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 271 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 272 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 273 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 274 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 275 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 276 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 277 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 278 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 279

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 280 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 281 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 282 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 283 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 284 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 285 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 286 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 287 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 288 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 289 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 290 The Geneva marionettes

  • 291 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 292 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 293 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 294 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 295 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 296

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 297 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 298 He beat the floods

  • 299 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 300 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 301 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 302 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 303 Mobile missionary

  • 304

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 305 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 306 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 307 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 308 Northam's almshouse

  • 309

    Exhibition of school work
  • 310 Hartland Dancers
  • 311 Westward Ho! combined op

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

  • 313 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 314 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 315 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 316 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 317 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 318 All for the love of a lady!

  • 319 Peter poses for TV film

  • 320 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 321 North Devon Driving School

  • 322 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 323 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 324 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 325 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 326 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 327 Photo mural in Bideford bank

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

  • 329 Puppet characters introduced

  • 330 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 331 Torrington's new amenity

  • 332 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 333 Revenge in style

  • 334 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 335 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 336 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 337 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 338 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 339

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 340 Northam footballers of the future

  • 341 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 342 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 343 Sight of a lifetime

  • 344 Clovelly nightmare

  • 345 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 346 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 347 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 348 When horses score over the tractor

  • 349 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 350 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 351

    Building works
  • 352 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 353 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 354 Penny for the guy

  • 355 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 356 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 357 Riverside mystery

  • 358

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 359

    Was a missionary
  • 360 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 361 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 362

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 363 Some 240 exhibits

  • 364 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 365 Burnard family reunion

  • 366 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 367 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 368 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 369 No laughing matter

  • 370

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 371 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 372 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 373 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 374 Pannier Market's future?

  • 375 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 376 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 377 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 378 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 379 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 380 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 381 New shipyard on schedule

  • 382 New addition to Quay front

  • 383 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 384 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 385

    First prize
  • 386 Emergency ferry services

  • 387 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 388 Last train from Torrington

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

  • 390 Bideford loses training ship

  • 391 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 392 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 393 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 394 A man and his wheel

  • 395 Appledore's largest

  • 396 It really was the 'last time'

  • 397 School crossing patrol begins

  • 398 New life for Hartland organ

  • 399 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 400 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 401 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 402 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 403 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 404 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 405 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 406 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 407 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 408 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 409 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 410 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 411 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 412 New choral society's growing response

  • 413 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

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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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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