• 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 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 2 Fishermen of Greencliff

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

  • 4 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 5

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 6 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 7 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 8 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 9 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 10 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 11 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 12 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 13

    New gateway
  • 14 Life begins at 80

  • 15 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 16 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 17 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 18 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 19 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 20

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 21 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 22 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 23 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 24 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 25 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 26 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 27 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 28 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 29 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 30 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 31 Torrington in 1967

  • 32 When horses score over the tractor

  • 33 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 34 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 35 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 36 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 37 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 38 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 39 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 40 Service with a smile

  • 41 Recognise this resort?

  • 42 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 43 Waldon Triplets
  • 44 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 45 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 46

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 47 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 48 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 49 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 50 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 51 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 52 Clovelly custom

  • 53 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 54 Private home for public pump

  • 55 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 56 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 57 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 58 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 59 Twenty-one yachts

  • 60 Peter poses for TV film

  • 61 Some 240 exhibits

  • 62 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 63 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 64 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 65 Artisans' Club

  • 66 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 67 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 68 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 69 Traditions and skills still there

  • 70 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 71 Parkham plan realised

  • 72 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 73 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 74 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 75 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 76 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 77 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 78 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 79 By pony and trap to market

  • 80 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 81 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 82 What's the time?

  • 83 He beat the floods

  • 84

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 85 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 86 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 87

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 88 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 89 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 90 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 91 From Bobby to Brian

  • 92 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 93 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 94 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 95

    Bidefordians
  • 96 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 97 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 98 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 99

    Exhibition of school work
  • 100 New look in the hayfields

  • 101 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 102 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 103 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 104 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 105 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 106 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 107 They are parted pro-tem

  • 108 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 109 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 110 Modern living at Bideford

  • 111 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 112 The cab at the corner>
  • 113 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 114 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 115

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 116 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 117 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 118 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 119 Circus comes to town

  • 120 Puppet characters introduced

  • 121

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 122

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 123 Bideford regatta

  • 124 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 125 North Devon Driving School

  • 126 Northam's almshouse

  • 127 Can spring be far away?

  • 128 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 129 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 130 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 131 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 132 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 133 Penny for the guy

  • 134 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 135 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 136 Some mushroom!

  • 137 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 138 Police station view of Bideford

  • 139 No laughing matter

  • 140 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 141

    Was a missionary
  • 142 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 143 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 144 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 145 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 146 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 147 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 148 New addition to Quay front

  • 149 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 150 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 151 Devil sent packing

  • 152 School crossing patrol begins

  • 153 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 154 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 155 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 156 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 157 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 158 A man and his wheel

  • 159 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 160 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 161 The art of the thatcher

  • 162 Bideford computer stars

  • 163 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 164 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 165 Sweets derationing

  • 166 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 167 No ancient Grecian temple this

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

  • 169 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 170 New art gallery opened

  • 171 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 172 Pannier Market's future?

  • 173 Simple Item 138
  • 174 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 175 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 176

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 177 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 178 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 179 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

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

  • 181 Centenary of Gazette

  • 182 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 183 Finished in 1876

  • 184

    Building works
  • 185 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 186 Northam footballers of the future

  • 187 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 188 Picking the pops

  • 189 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 190 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 191 New shipyard on schedule

  • 192 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 193 Just over a year old

  • 194 Emergency ferry services

  • 195 Littleham family's five generations

  • 196 Burnard family reunion

  • 197 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 198 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 199 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 200 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 201 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 202

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 203 Torrington children build igloo
  • 204 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 205

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 206 So this is the mainland!

  • 207 Bridging the stream

  • 208 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 209 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 210 A bird of their own!

  • 211 Cruising down the river

  • 212

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 213 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 214 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 215 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 216 Ten year old scrambler

  • 217 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 218 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 219 It really was the 'last time'

  • 220 Out of puff!

  • 221 Down at the dump something stirs

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

  • 223 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 224 Torrington's new amenity

  • 225 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 226 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 227

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 228

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 229 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 230 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 231 Variety in summer weather

  • 232 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 233 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 234 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 235 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 236 113 years at Instow

  • 237 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 238 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 239 Hartland's invitation

  • 240 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 241 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 242 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 243 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 244 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 245 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 246 New life for Hartland organ

  • 247 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 248

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 249 A roof-top view - where?

  • 250 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 251 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 252 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 253 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 254 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 255

    First prize
  • 256 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 257

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 258 Weare Giffard potato

  • 259 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 260 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 261 All for the love of a lady!

  • 262 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 263 Appledore's largest

  • 264 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 265 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 266

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 267 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 268 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 269 Happy Days!

  • 270 Decontrol of meat

  • 271 Revenge in style

  • 272 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 273 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 274 New Post Office

  • 275 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 276 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 277 Loads of black and white

  • 278

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 279 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 280 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 281 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 282

    Married in 1908
  • 283 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 284 For crying out loud!

  • 285 A story to tell!

  • 286 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 287 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 288 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 289 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 290

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 291 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 292 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 293 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 294 Hartland postman retires

  • 295 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 296 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 297 Six footed lamb

  • 298

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 299 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 300 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 301 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 302 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 303 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 304 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 305 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 306 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 307 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

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

  • 309 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 310 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 311 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 312 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

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

  • 314 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 315 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 316 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

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

  • 318 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 319 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 320 The Geneva marionettes

  • 321 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 322 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 323 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 324 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 325 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 326 They set out for Bideford and became lost

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

  • 328 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 329 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 330 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 331 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 332 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 333 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 334 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 335 Clovelly nightmare

  • 336 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 337 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 338 New civic medallions

  • 339 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 340 Mobile missionary

  • 341 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 342 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 343 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 344 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 345 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 346 Last train from Torrington

  • 347 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 348 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 349 Off on a great adventure

  • 350 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 351 Capers on the cobbles

  • 352

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 353 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 354

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 355 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 356 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

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

  • 358 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 359 Jumble sale fever

  • 360 New Lundy stamps

  • 361 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 362 New choral society's growing response

  • 363 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 364 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 365 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 366 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 367 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 368 Picking the pops

  • 369 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 370 End of the line

  • 371 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 372 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 373 No sale of Springfield House

  • 374 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 375 In their new robes and hats

  • 376 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 377 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 378 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 379 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 380

    Relatives all over the world
  • 381

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 382

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 383 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 384 Sight of a lifetime

  • 385 Hartland Dancers
  • 386 Bideford loses training ship

  • 387 Filming at Hartland

  • 388 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 389 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 390 Ships at Bideford

  • 391 All aboard the ark

  • 392 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 393 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 394 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 395 Riverside mystery

  • 396 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 397 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 398 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 399 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 400 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 401 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 402 First ship in 8 years

  • 403 School's link with cargo ship

  • 404 Warmington's garage ad

  • 405 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 406 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 407 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

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

  • 409

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 410 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 411 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 412 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 413 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

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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Christmas Babies At Torrington

The birth of two babies at Torrington Cottage Hospital – one on Christmas Eve and the other on Boxing Day – added to the joy of patients there at Christmas.

29 December 1948 Torrington Christmas babies

Although there was a fair number of patients in the Hospital and some shortage of staff, the Matron, Miss L M Bray, and her nurses spared no efforts to make it a happy Christmas for the patients. The wards and entrance hall had been gaily decorated and each patient had presents from the staff on their breakfast trays and off the Christmas tree.
There was goose and plum pudding for Christmas Day dinner and patients each entertained two visitors to tea. On Boxing Day there was a turkey, the gift of Dr G A Y West for dinner.
Visitors to the Hospital at Christmas included the choirs of the Parish Church and the Methodist Church, who sang carols.
Gazette article dated 29 December 1948

Britain in Bloom

Torrington's Mayor, Dr Harry Cramp, shows the plaque the town won in the Britain in Bloom Competition to Mr W Jeffery, president of the local Chamber of Commerce, and Mr L R Randall, Torrington area foreman of Torridge Council's parks department.

27.10.1978 Britain in Bloom

Also in the picture, Town Clerk, Mr M C F Howe.

Gazette article dated 27 October 1978

‘O, What A Fall Was There…’

From the top to the bottom in one easy stage.

17.7.1964 Torrington School2

That was the experience of Combe House at Torrington County Secondary School sports on Thursday week. As Cleave House soared to the top to win the shield by a substantial margin, Combe, the holders, sank to fourth position.
Points gained: Cleave, 116½; Leigh, 91½; Barton, 85; Combe, 84.

17.7.1964 Torrington School1


In the picture the two captains, of Cleave House, Michael Woolacott and Gwen Copp, are seen receiving the shield from Mrs M E Pitts. On the right is the headmaster, Mr J W Bastin.
The various events were keenly contested and three school records were broken.
In the senior shot Stephen Broer achieved 34ft 9in as against 34ft. Sally Darch created a new record of 13ft 10in for the senior girls’ long jump, and J Hewitt, with 4ft 3in, a new record in the junior girls’ high jump.
Gazette article dated 17 July 1964

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