• 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 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 2 Bideford regatta

  • 3 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 4 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 5 Torrington's new amenity

  • 6 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 7 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 8

    Married in 1908
  • 9 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

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

  • 11 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 12 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 13 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 14 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 15 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 16 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 17 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 18 New look in the hayfields

  • 19 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 20 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 21 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 22 A bird of their own!

  • 23 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 24 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 25 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 26 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 27 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 28 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 29 Traditions and skills still there

  • 30 Northam footballers of the future

  • 31 Waldon Triplets
  • 32 Bideford loses training ship

  • 33

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 34 Six footed lamb

  • 35 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 36 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 37 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 38 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 39 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 40 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 41 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 42 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 43 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 44 Torrington in 1967

  • 45 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 46

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 47 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 48 A story to tell!

  • 49 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 50 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 51

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 52 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 53 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 54

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 55 Police station view of Bideford

  • 56 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 57 Loads of black and white

  • 58

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 59 What's the time?

  • 60 Private home for public pump

  • 61 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 62 Puppet characters introduced

  • 63 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 64 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 65 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 66 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 67 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 68 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 69 Bridging the stream

  • 70 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 71 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 72 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 73 Can spring be far away?

  • 74 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 75 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 76 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 77 New shipyard on schedule

  • 78 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 79 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 80 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 81 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 82

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 83 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 84 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 85 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 86

    Exhibition of school work
  • 87 Appledore's largest

  • 88 The Geneva marionettes

  • 89 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 90 Just over a year old

  • 91 Ships at Bideford

  • 92 Twenty-one yachts

  • 93 Hartland Dancers
  • 94 When horses score over the tractor

  • 95 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 96 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 97 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 98 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 99

    First prize
  • 100 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 101 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 102 Circus comes to town

  • 103

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 104 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 105 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

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

  • 107 Sight of a lifetime

  • 108 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 109 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 110 Torrington children build igloo
  • 111 Recognise this resort?

  • 112 End of the line

  • 113 He beat the floods

  • 114 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 115 Clovelly custom

  • 116 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 117 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 118 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 119 Burnard family reunion

  • 120 Picking the pops

  • 121 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 122 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 123 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 124 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 125 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 126

    Was a missionary
  • 127

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 128 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 129 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 130 A man and his wheel

  • 131 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 132 It really was the 'last time'

  • 133 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 134 113 years at Instow

  • 135 Some 240 exhibits

  • 136

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 137 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 138 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 139

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 140

    New gateway
  • 141 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 142 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 143 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 144 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 145 Bideford country dancers on TV

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

  • 147 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 148 Penny for the guy

  • 149 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 150 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

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

  • 152 Picking the pops

  • 153 All aboard the ark

  • 154 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 155 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 156 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 157 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 158 Finished in 1876

  • 159 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 160 So this is the mainland!

  • 161 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 162 Riverside mystery

  • 163 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 164 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 165 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 166 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 167 Success to Festival of the Arts

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

  • 169 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 170 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 171 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 172 Revenge in style

  • 173 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 174 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 175 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 176 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 177

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 178 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 179 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 180 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 181 Peter poses for TV film

  • 182 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 183 Landmark at Bradworthy

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

  • 185 Jumble sale fever

  • 186 For crying out loud!

  • 187 All for the love of a lady!

  • 188 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 189 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 190 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 191 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 192 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 193 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 194 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 195 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 196 The art of the thatcher

  • 197 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 198 North Devon Driving School

  • 199 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 200 First ship in 8 years

  • 201 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 202 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 203 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 204 School's link with cargo ship

  • 205 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 206 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 207 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 208 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 209

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 210 Capers on the cobbles

  • 211 Variety in summer weather

  • 212 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 213 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 214 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 215 Bideford computer stars

  • 216 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 217 New choral society's growing response

  • 218 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 219

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 220 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 221 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 222 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 223 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 224 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 225 Decontrol of meat

  • 226 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 227 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 228 Last train from Torrington

  • 229 Hartland postman retires

  • 230

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 231

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 232 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 233

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 234 Ten year old scrambler

  • 235 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 236

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 237 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 238 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 239

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 240 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 241 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 242 Mobile missionary

  • 243 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 244 Northam's almshouse

  • 245 New art gallery opened

  • 246 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 247 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 248 Some mushroom!

  • 249 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 250 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 251 Cruising down the river

  • 252 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 253 Out of puff!

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

  • 255 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 256 Devil sent packing

  • 257 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 258 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 259 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 260 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 261 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 262 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 263 Littleham family's five generations

  • 264 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 265 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 266 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 267 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 268 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 269 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 270 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 271

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 272 Weare Giffard potato

  • 273

    Relatives all over the world
  • 274 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 275 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 276 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 277 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

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

  • 279

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 280 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 281 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 282 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 283 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 284

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 285 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 286 A roof-top view - where?

  • 287 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 288 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 289 Pannier Market's future?

  • 290 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 291

    Bidefordians
  • 292 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 293 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 294 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 295 No sale of Springfield House

  • 296 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 297

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 298 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 299 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 300 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 301 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 302 School crossing patrol begins

  • 303 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 304 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 305 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 306 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 307 New Post Office

  • 308 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 309 Hartland's invitation

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

  • 311 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 312 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 313 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 314 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 315 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 316 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 317 Life begins at 80

  • 318 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 319 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 320 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 321 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 322 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 323

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 324 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 325 Centenary of Gazette

  • 326 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 327 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 328 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 329 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 330 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 331 No laughing matter

  • 332 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 333 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 334 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 335 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 336 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 337 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 338 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 339 Happy Days!

  • 340 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 341 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 342 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 343 Off on a great adventure

  • 344 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 345 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 346 Artisans' Club

  • 347 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 348 Warmington's garage ad

  • 349 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 350 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 351 New Lundy stamps

  • 352 New addition to Quay front

  • 353 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 354 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 355

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 356 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 357 New life for Hartland organ

  • 358 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 359 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 360 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 361 Emergency ferry services

  • 362 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 363 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 364 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 365

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 366 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 367 Parkham plan realised

  • 368 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 369 Clovelly nightmare

  • 370 New civic medallions

  • 371 In their new robes and hats

  • 372 They are parted pro-tem

  • 373 Service with a smile

  • 374 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

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

  • 376 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 377 Modern living at Bideford

  • 378 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 379 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 380 Simple Item 138
  • 381 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 382

    Building works
  • 383 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 384 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 385 By pony and trap to market

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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Another New Factory for Torrington?

A London bookbinding firm, W J Rawlinson Ltd, has put in plans to build a factory on a site at Calvesford, Torrington, but no definite decision to go ahead with the project has yet been made.

Torrington Factory 16.10.1970

If the firm decides to go ahead with it, it is understood part of the production will continue in London.
At Torrington Town Council meeting it was stated that planning approval for the new factory had been given subject to three conditions, one of them being the provision of sufficient car parking space for employees.
The Calvesford Road site was provided by the Council specially for industrial development, and main services and access roads were laid in preparation.

Nursing Civil War Victims

Among those nursing children wounded and ill in Amman following the Jordanian civil war is Miss Audrey Brunt who, from 1957 to 1960, was district nurse in Torrington.

Torrington Nurse 970

Always she spends part of her leave in this country at Torrington where she was a member of the Baptist Church and a Sunday School teacher. She has addressed meetings about her work with the Save the Children Fund in the Middle East, and the Church has worked for her making and collecting clothes and blankets, which she has distributed.
On leaving Torrington Miss Brunt trained as a health visitor in Bristol and was a public health nurse in Canada before working for the Save the Children Fund in the Middle East. She nursed refugee children in North Jordan in 1967 following the six-day war, but has spent most of her time starting and running clinics for mothers and children at Ma’an in the south of the country.
She is now in a second term with the Fund which flew her to Amman.

Town Crier, Bert Waldron, Calls It A Day

Mr Bert Waldron, Torrington town crier and eight times British champion, has, at the age of 68, retired on health grounds.

Town Crier October 1971


His stentorian voice was first heard officially in1930 but five years later he gave up the job. In 1954 he made a comeback and two years later, at Hastings, he won his first national championship. The job took him to America and to the Continent as well as to radio and TV studios and plush hotels, and he was featured on a pop record.

Gazette article dated October 1971 

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