• 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

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 2 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 3 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 4 Finished in 1876

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

  • 6 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 7

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 8 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 9 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 10 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 11 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 12 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 13 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 14 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 15

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 16 North Devon Driving School

  • 17 Just over a year old

  • 18 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 19 First ship in 8 years

  • 20 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 21

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 22 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 23 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 24 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 25 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 26 Circus comes to town

  • 27 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 28 When horses score over the tractor

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

  • 30 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 31 Modern living at Bideford

  • 32

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 33

    Married in 1908
  • 34

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 35

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 36 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 37 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 38 Burnard family reunion

  • 39 Picking the pops

  • 40 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 41 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 42

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 43 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 44 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 45 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 46 New choral society's growing response

  • 47 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 48 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 49 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 50 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 51 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 52 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 53 Peter poses for TV film

  • 54 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 55 Can spring be far away?

  • 56 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 57 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 58 Last train from Torrington

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

  • 60 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 61

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 62 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 63 Happy Days!

  • 64 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 65 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 66 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 67 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 68 From Bobby to Brian

  • 69 Safe door weighing two tons

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

  • 71

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 72 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 73 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 74 Torrington children build igloo
  • 75 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 76 Off on a great adventure

  • 77 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 78

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 79 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 80 Pretty pennies at Beaford

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

  • 82 Polish custom on Pancake Day

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

  • 84 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 85

    Building works
  • 86 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 87 Devil sent packing

  • 88 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 89 Appledore's largest

  • 90 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 91 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 92 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 93 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 94 Bideford regatta

  • 95 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 96 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 97 Penny for the guy

  • 98 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 99 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 100 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 101 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 102

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 103 The art of the thatcher

  • 104 New look in the hayfields

  • 105 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 106 Sight of a lifetime

  • 107 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 108 New Post Office

  • 109 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 110 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 111 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 112 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 113 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 114 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 115 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 116

    First prize
  • 117 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 118 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 119 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 120 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 121 Traditions and skills still there

  • 122 Emergency ferry services

  • 123 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 124 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 125 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 126 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 127 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 128 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 129 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 130 A story to tell!

  • 131 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 132 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 133 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 134

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 135 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 136 Torrington in 1967

  • 137 Picking the pops

  • 138 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 139 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 140 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 141 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 142 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 143 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 144 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 145 A man and his wheel

  • 146 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 147 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 148 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 149 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 150 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 151 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 152 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 153 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 154 Bideford Bridge re-opens

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

  • 156 Calligrapher extraordinary

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

  • 158

    New gateway
  • 159 In their new robes and hats

  • 160 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 161 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 162 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 163 Torrington's new amenity

  • 164 Hartland's invitation

  • 165 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 166 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 167 Bridging the stream

  • 168 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 169 Centenary of Gazette

  • 170 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 171 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 172 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 173 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 174 No laughing matter

  • 175 Waldon Triplets
  • 176 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 177

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 178 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 179 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 180 School's link with cargo ship

  • 181 Riverside mystery

  • 182 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 183 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 184 Six footed lamb

  • 185 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 186 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 187

    Relatives all over the world
  • 188 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 189 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 190 Out of puff!

  • 191 Shoes certainly not made for walking

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

  • 193 Service with a smile

  • 194

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 195 113 years at Instow

  • 196 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 197 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 198 Warmington's garage ad

  • 199 Littleham family's five generations

  • 200 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 201 All for the love of a lady!

  • 202

    Was a missionary
  • 203 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 204 Artisans' Club

  • 205 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 206 New art gallery opened

  • 207 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 208

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 209 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 210 Pannier Market's future?

  • 211 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 212 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

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

  • 214

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 215 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 216 School crossing patrol begins

  • 217 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 218 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 219 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 220 Some 240 exhibits

  • 221 Twenty-one yachts

  • 222 Northam's almshouse

  • 223 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 224 Bideford loses training ship

  • 225 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 226 Hartland Dancers
  • 227 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 228 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 229 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 230 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 231 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 232

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 233 Filming at Hartland

  • 234 New shipyard on schedule

  • 235 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 236 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 237

    Bidefordians
  • 238 Life begins at 80

  • 239 Northam footballers of the future

  • 240 A bird of their own!

  • 241 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

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

  • 243 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 244 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 245 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 246 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 247 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 248 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 249 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 250 All aboard the ark

  • 251 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 252 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 253 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 254 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 255 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 256 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 257 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 258 Private home for public pump

  • 259 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 260 Mobile missionary

  • 261 Some mushroom!

  • 262 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 263 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 264 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 265 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 266 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

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

  • 268 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 269 End of the line

  • 270 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 271 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 272

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

  • 274 Variety in summer weather

  • 275 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 276 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 277 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 278 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 279 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 280 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 281 Revenge in style

  • 282 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 283 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 284

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 285 He beat the floods

  • 286 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 287 Bideford computer stars

  • 288 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 289 Jumble sale fever

  • 290 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 291 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 292 Recognise this resort?

  • 293 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 294 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 295 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 296 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 297 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 298 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 299 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 300 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 301 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 302 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 303 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 304 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 305 Ships at Bideford

  • 306 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 307

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 308 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 309 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 310 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 311 Cruising down the river

  • 312 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 313 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 314 Simple Item 138
  • 315 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 316 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 317 They are parted pro-tem

  • 318 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 319 The Geneva marionettes

  • 320 Parkham plan realised

  • 321 By pony and trap to market

  • 322 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 323 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 324 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 325 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 326 The cab at the corner>
  • 327 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 328 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 329 Decontrol of meat

  • 330 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 331

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 332 Puppet characters introduced

  • 333 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 334 Ten year old scrambler

  • 335 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 336 So this is the mainland!

  • 337 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 338

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 339 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 340 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 341 New Lundy stamps

  • 342 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 343 Clovelly custom

  • 344 Police station view of Bideford

  • 345 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 346 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 347 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 348

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 349 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 350 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 351 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 352 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 353 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 354 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 355 New addition to Quay front

  • 356 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 357 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 358 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 359 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 360 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 361 No sale of Springfield House

  • 362 It really was the 'last time'

  • 363 Clovelly nightmare

  • 364 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 365 What's the time?

  • 366 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 367 Capers on the cobbles

  • 368 New life for Hartland organ

  • 369 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 370 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 371 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 372

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 373 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 374 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 375 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 376 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

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

  • 378 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 379 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 380 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 381 Weare Giffard potato

  • 382 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 383 Sweets derationing

  • 384 Loads of black and white

  • 385 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 386

    Exhibition of school work
  • 387 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 388 A roof-top view - where?

  • 389 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 390 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 391 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 392 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 393 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 394 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 395 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 396 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 397 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 398 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 399 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 400 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 401 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 402 Hartland postman retires

  • 403 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 404 For crying out loud!

  • 405 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 406 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 407 New civic medallions

  • 408 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 409 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 410 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 411 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 412 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 413 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

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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  • 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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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 - by air

Just over 400 years ago the traveller-antiquarian John Leland came through Torrington

and described it in his journal as ‘a great large toune and standith on the brow of an hille and hath 3 fair streates in it”.

18.8.1961 Torrington by air

Making no claim nowadays to being a large town – in fact it is one of the smallest boroughs in the country – Torrington still stands on its hill and certainly has more than three fair streets, as this recent aerial photograph shows.

Gazette article dated 18 August 1961

Future of Torrington Almshouses

Torrington Town Council are exploring further an offer by the Clinton (Devon) Estates Co.

19.12.1958 Torrington Alms Houses1

to hand over to the Council free, subject to the Council paying legal costs, the six almshouses held by the estate in New Street. 

The Council have received a report from the District Valuer on the almshouses which stated that with the exception of the roofs, which required attention, the premises appeared to be in sound structural repair.

Members of the Council are at present considering the extent of improvements contemplated, bearing in mind the possibilities of getting the grant towards the cost of the works.

The consent of the appropriate Ministry will be required for the transfer.

One of the agreed conditions will be that the houses shall continue to be let to old people.

19.12.1958 Torrington Alms Houses2

Article dated 19 December 1958 and a 1964 article provides an update on progress.

 

Last ‘Time Please’

Closing of ‘Setting Sun’

13.2.1959 Torrington Setting Sun

An inn which has stood at Torrington for many years closed down on Sunday night.

It was the ‘Setting Sun’ belonging to the brewery firm of Starkey, Knight and Ford Ltd. The licensee and his wife, Mr and Mrs A Clarke, have become well known in Torrington during the two years in which they have occupied the premises.

Now they are moving to the Globe Hotel, at Barnstaple. They came to Torrington from Mortehoe.

Mrs Clarke told a Gazette reported on Saturday: “The structural conditions, especially in the upstairs rooms, which are very old, have got into a bad state over the years. So the brewers have decided to shut it down.”

Mr Clarke said he thought the inn was extremely old. “I think that, next to the Black Horse Inn in the Square, this place is one of the oldest in the town,” he added.

Article dated 13 February 1959

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