• 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 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 2 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 3 Modern living at Bideford

  • 4 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 5 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 6 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 7 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 8 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 9 New art gallery opened

  • 10 Clovelly nightmare

  • 11 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 12 Filming at Hartland

  • 13 Hartland postman retires

  • 14 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 15 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 16 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 17 By pony and trap to market

  • 18 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 19 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 20 Life begins at 80

  • 21 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 22 The Geneva marionettes

  • 23 Eight to strike and a race to win

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

  • 25 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 26 North Devon Driving School

  • 27 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 28 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 29 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 30

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 31 Burnard family reunion

  • 32

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 33 No laughing matter

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

  • 35 Devil sent packing

  • 36 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 37

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 38 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 39 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 40 School crossing patrol begins

  • 41 Clovelly custom

  • 42

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 43 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 44 Some mushroom!

  • 45 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 46

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 47

    New gateway
  • 48 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 49 Bideford loses training ship

  • 50 The art of the thatcher

  • 51 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 52 Torrington children build igloo
  • 53 So this is the mainland!

  • 54 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 55 Centenary of Gazette

  • 56 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 57 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 58 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 59 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 60 Bridging the stream

  • 61 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 62

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 63 New look in the hayfields

  • 64 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 65 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 66 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 67 Recognise this resort?

  • 68 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 69 New civic medallions

  • 70

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 71 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 72 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 73 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 74 Happy Days!

  • 75 Peter poses for TV film

  • 76 Private home for public pump

  • 77 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 78 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 79 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 80 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 81 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 82 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 83 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 84 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 85 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 86 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 87 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 88 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 89 New life for Hartland organ

  • 90 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 91 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 92

    Married in 1908
  • 93 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 94 Torrington's new amenity

  • 95 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 96 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 97 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 98 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 99 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 100 New addition to Quay front

  • 101 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 102 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 103 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 104

    Bidefordians
  • 105

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 106 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 107 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 108 No sale of Springfield House

  • 109

    Building works
  • 110

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 111 What's the time?

  • 112 Big develolpment at Calveford

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

  • 114 Riverside mystery

  • 115 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 116 Police station view of Bideford

  • 117 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 118 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 119 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 120 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 121 113 years at Instow

  • 122 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 123

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 124 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 125

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 126 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 127 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 128 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 129 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 130 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 131 Penny for the guy

  • 132 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 133 From Bobby to Brian

  • 134 Out of puff!

  • 135 Hartland Dancers
  • 136 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

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

  • 138 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 139 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 140 Torrington in 1967

  • 141 Pannier Market's future?

  • 142 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 143 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 144 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 145 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 146 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 147 Traditions and skills still there

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

  • 149 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 150 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 151 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 152 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 153 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 154 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 155 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 156 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 157 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 158 Finished in 1876

  • 159 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 160 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 161 New shipyard on schedule

  • 162 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 163 Cruising down the river

  • 164 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 165 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 166 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 167 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 168 Capers on the cobbles

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

  • 170 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 171 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 172 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 173 Bideford computer stars

  • 174 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 175 Can spring be far away?

  • 176 Some 240 exhibits

  • 177 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 178

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 179 Loads of black and white

  • 180

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 181 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 182 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 183 Artisans' Club

  • 184 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 185 Emergency ferry services

  • 186 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 187 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 188 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 189 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 190

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 191 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 192 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 193 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 194 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 195 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 196 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 197 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 198

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 199 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 200 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 201 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 202 Northam's almshouse

  • 203 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 204 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 205 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 206 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 207 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 208 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 209 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 210 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 211 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 212

    Relatives all over the world
  • 213 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 214 Twenty-one yachts

  • 215 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 216 Picking the pops

  • 217 The cab at the corner>
  • 218 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 219

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 220 New Post Office

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

  • 222 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 223 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 224 Puppet characters introduced

  • 225 Northam footballers of the future

  • 226 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 227 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 228 Off on a great adventure

  • 229 Simple Item 138
  • 230 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 231 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 232 Appledore's largest

  • 233 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 234 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 235 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 236 Sight of a lifetime

  • 237 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 238 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 239 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 240 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 241 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 242 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 243 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 244 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 245 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 246

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 247 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 248 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 249 Circus comes to town

  • 250

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 251 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 252 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 253 Bideford regatta

  • 254 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 255 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 256 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 257 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 258 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 259 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 260 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 261 Parkham plan realised

  • 262 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 263 Mobile missionary

  • 264 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 265 He beat the floods

  • 266 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 267 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 268 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 269 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 270 Variety in summer weather

  • 271 Ten year old scrambler

  • 272 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 273 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 274 Floral dancing at Appledore

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

  • 276 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 277 Service with a smile

  • 278

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 279 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 280 A roof-top view - where?

  • 281 Sweets derationing

  • 282 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 283 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 284 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 285 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 286 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 287 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 288 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 289 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 290 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 291 When horses score over the tractor

  • 292 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 293 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 294

    First prize
  • 295 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 296 A man and his wheel

  • 297 In their new robes and hats

  • 298 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 299 New choral society's growing response

  • 300 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 301 Hartland's invitation

  • 302 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 303 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 304 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 305 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 306 Waldon Triplets
  • 307 A story to tell!

  • 308 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 309 Ships at Bideford

  • 310 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 311 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 312 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 313 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 314 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 315 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 316 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 317 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 318 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 319 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 320 New Lundy stamps

  • 321 Jumble sale fever

  • 322 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 323

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

  • 325 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 326 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 327 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 328 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

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

  • 330 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 331 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 332 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 333 Decontrol of meat

  • 334 They are parted pro-tem

  • 335 All aboard the ark

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

  • 337 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 338 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 339 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 340 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 341 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 342 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 343 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 344

    Was a missionary
  • 345 School's link with cargo ship

  • 346 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 347 Just over a year old

  • 348 First ship in 8 years

  • 349

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 350 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 351 Revenge in style

  • 352 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 353

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 354 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 355 End of the line

  • 356

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 357 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 358 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 359 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 360 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 361 Littleham family's five generations

  • 362 Last train from Torrington

  • 363 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 364 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 365 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 366 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 367 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 368 It really was the 'last time'

  • 369 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

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

  • 371

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 372 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 373 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 374 A bird of their own!

  • 375 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 376 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 377 Weare Giffard potato

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

  • 379 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 380 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 381 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 382 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 383 All for the love of a lady!

  • 384

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 385 For crying out loud!

  • 386 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 387 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 388 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 389 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 390 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 391 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 392 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

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

  • 394

    Exhibition of school work
  • 395 Warmington's garage ad

  • 396 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 397 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 398 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 399 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 400 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 401 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 402 Six footed lamb

  • 403 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 404 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 405 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 406 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 407 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 408 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 409 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 410 Picking the pops

  • 411 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 412 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 413 Watch the dicky bird!

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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Torrington Loses Unique Distinction

Torrington is on the point of losing what is probably a unique distinction – its police station in the churchyard.

7.6.1968 Torrington police station1

The Town Council’s General Purposes Committee were told last week that in reply to the Council’s inquiry the County Council had said that the police station and three police houses were now surplus to requirements.
Although the houses have been vacated the police have been awaiting arrival of office furniture before they can move into their new headquarters at Hatchmoor. There five houses have also been built.
At one time in its police history Torrington had an officer of the rank of Superintendent. For many years now it has been in the charge of a sergeant as part of the Bideford sub-division of the North Devon division based at Barnstaple.
The full article is dated 7 June 1968

£100 Cheque For Hospital

Over £250 was raised by the local committee of Exeter Hospital Aid Society in 1975 to buy for patients amenities that are not available under the National Health Service.

4.6.1976 Torrington Cottage Hospital

Latest to benefit are those at Torrington Cottage Hospital, where a cheque is here seen being presented for the purchase of a ripple bed.
A cheque for £100 has been sent to Torridge Hospital, Bideford, to buy a variable height bed and bed tables have been bought by Bideford and District Hospital with £50 from the fund.
Seen in our picture are Miss B Pinsent, matron; Mr D Caldwell, assistant district administrator; Mr G Brion; Mrs R Troth, area secretary; staff nurse Mrs Anne Griffin, and Mr N Edcombe. The patient is Mrs Cecilia Law who has long been a worker for the society.
Gazette article dated 4 June 1976

Torrington Appoints New Town Clerk

A former Town Clerk of Livingstone, Zambia, Mr Allan Fitt, aged 42, has been appointed Town Clerk of Torrington.

7 May 1971 Torrington Town Clerk

He will take over on June 1st from Mr S J Parkes who has held the post for 25 years.
Married with three young children, Mr Fitt is a native of Bournemouth and is at present living with his family at Boscombe. He is an associate of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and a Member of the British Institute of Management.
The full Gazette article is dated 7 May 1971

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