• 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 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 2 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 3 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 4 Sweets derationing

  • 5 New choral society's growing response

  • 6 Some mushroom!

  • 7 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 8 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 9 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 10 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 11 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 12 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 13 New look in the hayfields

  • 14 Happy Days!

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

  • 16 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 17 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 18 Jumble sale fever

  • 19 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 20 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 21 So this is the mainland!

  • 22 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 23 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 24 Off on a great adventure

  • 25 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 26 Hartland Dancers
  • 27 Appledore's largest

  • 28 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 29 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 30 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 31 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 32 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 33 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 34 Circus comes to town

  • 35 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 36 What's the time?

  • 37 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 38 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 39 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 40 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 41 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 42 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 43 Warmington's garage ad

  • 44 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 45 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 46 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 47 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 48 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 49 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 50 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 51 Traditions and skills still there

  • 52 He beat the floods

  • 53 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 54

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 55 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 56

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 57 Bideford computer stars

  • 58 Pannier Market's future?

  • 59 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 60 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 61 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 62 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 63 Ships at Bideford

  • 64 Bideford loses training ship

  • 65

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 66 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 67 Weare Giffard potato

  • 68 Capers on the cobbles

  • 69 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 70 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 71 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 72

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 73 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 74 New life for Hartland organ

  • 75 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 76 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 77 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 78 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 79 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 80 New civic medallions

  • 81 New art gallery opened

  • 82 Ship-in-bottle world record

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

  • 84 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 85 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 86 When horses score over the tractor

  • 87 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 88 Picking the pops

  • 89 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 90 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 91 Northam footballers of the future

  • 92 Shoes certainly not made for walking

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

  • 94

    Exhibition of school work
  • 95 Bideford regatta

  • 96 New Post Office

  • 97 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 98 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 99 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 100 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 101 The Geneva marionettes

  • 102 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 103 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 104 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 105 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 106 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 107 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 108 Just over a year old

  • 109 Last train from Torrington

  • 110 Loads of black and white

  • 111 New Lundy stamps

  • 112 Northam's almshouse

  • 113 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 114 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 115 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 116 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 117 Riverside mystery

  • 118 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 119 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

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

  • 121

    Married in 1908
  • 122 Centenary of Gazette

  • 123

    Was a missionary
  • 124 A roof-top view - where?

  • 125

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 126 All for the love of a lady!

  • 127 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 128 Bridging the stream

  • 129 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 130 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 131 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 132 In their new robes and hats

  • 133 No sale of Springfield House

  • 134 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 135 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 136 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 137 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 138 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 139 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 140

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 141 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 142 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 143 Clovelly nightmare

  • 144 Emergency ferry services

  • 145 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

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

  • 147 Torrington in 1967

  • 148

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 149 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 150 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 151 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 152 Twenty-one yachts

  • 153 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 154 Hartland's invitation

  • 155 Filming at Hartland

  • 156

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 157 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 158 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 159 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 160 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 161 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 162 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 163 Waldon Triplets
  • 164 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 165 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 166 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 167 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 168 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 169

    New gateway
  • 170 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 171 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 172 Penny for the guy

  • 173 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 174 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 175 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 176 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 177 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 178 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 179 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 180 Burnard family reunion

  • 181 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 182 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 183 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 184 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 185 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 186 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 187 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 188 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 189 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 190 Photo mural in Bideford bank

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

  • 192

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 193 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 194 Peter poses for TV film

  • 195 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 196 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 197 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 198 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 199 Life begins at 80

  • 200 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 201 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 202

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 203 Recognise this resort?

  • 204 Mobile missionary

  • 205 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 206

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 207 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 208 Clovelly custom

  • 209 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 210 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 211 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 212 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 213 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 214 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 215 Puppet characters introduced

  • 216 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 217 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 218 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 219 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 220 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 221 Up-to-date Bideford!

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

  • 223 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 224 Artisans' Club

  • 225 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 226

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 227 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 228

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 229 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 230 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 231 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 232 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 233 First ship in 8 years

  • 234 By pony and trap to market

  • 235 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 236 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 237 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 238 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 239 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 240 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 241 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

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

  • 243 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 244 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 245

    Bidefordians
  • 246 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 247 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 248 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 249 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 250 Ten year old scrambler

  • 251 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 252 Finished in 1876

  • 253 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 254 No laughing matter

  • 255 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 256 113 years at Instow

  • 257 Sight of a lifetime

  • 258 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 259 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 260 Some 240 exhibits

  • 261 Hartland postman retires

  • 262 New shipyard on schedule

  • 263 School's link with cargo ship

  • 264 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 265 A bird of their own!

  • 266 Private home for public pump

  • 267 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 268 Variety in summer weather

  • 269 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 270 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

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

  • 272 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 273 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 274 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 275

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 276 Simple Item 138
  • 277 For crying out loud!

  • 278 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 279 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 280 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 281 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 282 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 283 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 284 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 285 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 286

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 287 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 288 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 289 The cab at the corner>
  • 290 Devil sent packing

  • 291 Out of puff!

  • 292 Service with a smile

  • 293 Torrington children build igloo
  • 294

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 295 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 296 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 297 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 298 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 299 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 300

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 301 Picking the pops

  • 302 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 303 Six footed lamb

  • 304 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 305 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 306 All aboard the ark

  • 307 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 308 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 309 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 310 Littleham family's five generations

  • 311 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 312

    First prize
  • 313 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 314 Decontrol of meat

  • 315 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 316 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 317 North Devon Driving School

  • 318 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 319 It really was the 'last time'

  • 320 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 321 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 322 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 323

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 324 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 325 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 326 Police station view of Bideford

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

  • 328 End of the line

  • 329 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 330 They are parted pro-tem

  • 331 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 332 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 333 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 334

    Relatives all over the world
  • 335 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 336 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 337 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 338 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 339 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 340 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 341 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 342 A story to tell!

  • 343 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 344 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 345 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 346 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 347 Torrington's new amenity

  • 348 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 349 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 350 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 351 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 352 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 353 Modern living at Bideford

  • 354 The art of the thatcher

  • 355 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 356 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 357 New addition to Quay front

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

  • 359 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 360 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 361 Can spring be far away?

  • 362 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 363 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 364 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 365 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 366 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 367 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 368

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 369 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 370 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 371

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 372 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 373 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 374 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 375 What is future of railway goods yard?

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

  • 377 School crossing patrol begins

  • 378 A man and his wheel

  • 379 From Bobby to Brian

  • 380 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 381 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 382 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 383 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 384 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 385 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 386

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 387

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 388 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 389 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 390 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

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

  • 392 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 393 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 394 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 395 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 396 Cruising down the river

  • 397 Revenge in style

  • 398 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 399 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 400 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 401 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 402 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 403 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 404

    Building works
  • 405

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 406 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 407 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 408

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 409

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 410 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 411 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 412 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 413 Parkham plan realised

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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  • 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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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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Rehearsing For Their Great Day

The young May Queen, Josephine Squire, and her retinue take part in a rehearsal last weekend for their leading parts in yesterday’s celebrations at Torrington.

2.5.1958 Torrington Carnival

With her is the crowner, Caroline Bastin, and her attendants Angela Vanstone, Lesley Folland, Sally Darch, Lynn Jury, Susan Copp, Jennifer Lock, Sandra Davis and Trudy Hobson. 

Boys have an equally important part to play in the ceremony but as their uniforms were still awaited the two heralds, Raymond Drayton and Kenneth Cobbledick, are not in the photograph.

Gazette article dated 2 May 1958

Tomorrow’s Carnival Belles

Torrington May Fair Carnival Queen, Mrs Doreen Mills of Langtree, surrounded by her attendants, will lead tomorrow evening’s carnival procession at Torrington.

2.5.1958 Carnival Belles

She is seen here in the centre with her attendants – Miss Rosemary Mitchell, Petrockstowe; Miss Pamela Barkwell, Shebbear; Miss M Watkins, Little Torrington; Miss Jean Moore, Weare Giffard. 

Gazette article dated 2 May 1958

Able Seaman R K Roach and Miss M M E Ayre

The wedding took place at St Michael’s Church, Torrington, on Saturday, March 24th, of Miss Mary Margaret Eileen Ayre, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs William Ayre, 2 Risdon Terrace, Torrington, and Able Seaman Richard Kenneth Roach, RN, only son of Mr and Mrs R E Roach, 3 Mant Row, Aberdare, South Wales.

6.4.1951 Torrington Roach Ayre wedding

The Vicar of Torrington, Rev C J Barker, officiated, Miss M L Wright, at the organ, accompanied the hymns. Mr Robert Snell, uncle of the bride, carried out the duties of the best man. 

Full Gazette article is dated 6 April 1951

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