• 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 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 2 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 3 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 4 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 5 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 6 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 7

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 8 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 9 Simple Item 138
  • 10 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 11 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 12 Peter poses for TV film

  • 13 New addition to Quay front

  • 14 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 15 Off on a great adventure

  • 16 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 17 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 18 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 19 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 20 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 21 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 22 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 23 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 24 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 25 Devil sent packing

  • 26 New Post Office

  • 27 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 28 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 29 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 30 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 31 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 32

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 33 Torrington's new amenity

  • 34 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 35 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 36 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 37 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 38 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 39 Penny for the guy

  • 40

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 41 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 42

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 43 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 44 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 45 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 46 A story to tell!

  • 47

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 48 All for the love of a lady!

  • 49 North Devon Driving School

  • 50 Bideford loses training ship

  • 51 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 52 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 53 He beat the floods

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

  • 55 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 56 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 57 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 58 Life begins at 80

  • 59 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 60 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

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

  • 62 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 63 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 64 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 65 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 66 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 67 Some 240 exhibits

  • 68 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 69 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 70 New shipyard on schedule

  • 71 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 72 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 73 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 74 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 75 Traditions and skills still there

  • 76 A man and his wheel

  • 77 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 78 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 79 Bridging the stream

  • 80 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 81 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 82 In their new robes and hats

  • 83 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 84 No sale of Springfield House

  • 85 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 86 Warmington's garage ad

  • 87 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 88 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 89 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 90 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 91 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

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

  • 93 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 94 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 95 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 96 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 97 Police station view of Bideford

  • 98 End of the line

  • 99 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 100 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 101 Hartland Dancers
  • 102 It really was the 'last time'

  • 103 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 104 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 105 Torrington in 1967

  • 106

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 107 New choral society's growing response

  • 108 Six footed lamb

  • 109 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 110 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 111 Weare Giffard potato

  • 112

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 113 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 114 Passing of a Torrington landmark

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

  • 116 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 117 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 118 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 119 Littleham family's five generations

  • 120 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 121 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 122 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 123 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 124 Burnard family reunion

  • 125 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 126 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 127 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 128 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 129 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 130 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 131 Just over a year old

  • 132 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 133 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 134 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 135 Happy Days!

  • 136 Parkham plan realised

  • 137 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 138

    Bidefordians
  • 139 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 140 Finished in 1876

  • 141 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 142

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

  • 144 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 145 113 years at Instow

  • 146 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 147 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 148 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 149 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 150 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 151 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 152 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 153 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 154 No laughing matter

  • 155 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 156 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 157 Some mushroom!

  • 158 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 159 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 160 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 161 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 162 Service with a smile

  • 163 Circus comes to town

  • 164 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 165 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 166 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 167 Variety in summer weather

  • 168 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 169 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 170 Can spring be far away?

  • 171 New look in the hayfields

  • 172 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 173 Emergency ferry services

  • 174

    Building works
  • 175

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 176 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 177 Ships at Bideford

  • 178

    Exhibition of school work
  • 179 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 180 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 181 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 182 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 183 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 184 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 185

    First prize
  • 186 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 187

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 188 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 189 Bideford regatta

  • 190 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 191 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 192 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 193

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 194 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 195 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 196 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 197 Decontrol of meat

  • 198 Last train from Torrington

  • 199 Recognise this resort?

  • 200 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 201 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 202 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 203

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 204 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 205 Out of puff!

  • 206 Clovelly custom

  • 207 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 208 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 209 Torrington children build igloo
  • 210 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 211 Sight of a lifetime

  • 212 Pannier Market's future?

  • 213 For crying out loud!

  • 214 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 215 Cruising down the river

  • 216 A roof-top view - where?

  • 217 Loads of black and white

  • 218 Appledore's largest

  • 219 All aboard the ark

  • 220 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 221 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 222 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 223 The art of the thatcher

  • 224 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 225 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 226 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 227 So this is the mainland!

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

  • 229

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 230 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 231 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 232 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 233 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 234

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 235 Jumble sale fever

  • 236 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 237 Ten year old scrambler

  • 238 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 239 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 240 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

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

  • 242 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 243 New art gallery opened

  • 244 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 245 Mobile missionary

  • 246 First ship in 8 years

  • 247 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 248 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

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

  • 250 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 251 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 252 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 253 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 254 School crossing patrol begins

  • 255 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 256 New civic medallions

  • 257 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 258 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 259 When horses score over the tractor

  • 260 Hartland postman retires

  • 261 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 262 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 263 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 264

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 265 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 266 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 267 Riverside mystery

  • 268 Modern living at Bideford

  • 269 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 270 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 271 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 272

    New gateway
  • 273 Revenge in style

  • 274 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 275 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 276 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 277 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 278 The Geneva marionettes

  • 279 Private home for public pump

  • 280 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 281 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 282 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 283 Puppet characters introduced

  • 284 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 285 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 286 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 287 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 288

    Married in 1908
  • 289

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 290

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 291 Bideford computer stars

  • 292 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 293 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 294 Clovelly nightmare

  • 295

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 296 Saving money, wear and tear

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

  • 298 Waldon Triplets
  • 299 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 300 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 301 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 302 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 303 Capers on the cobbles

  • 304

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 305 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 306 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 307 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 308

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 309 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 310 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 311

    Relatives all over the world
  • 312 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 313 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

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

  • 315 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 316 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 317 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 318 New Lundy stamps

  • 319 Northam footballers of the future

  • 320 Up-to-date Bideford!

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

  • 322

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 323 By pony and trap to market

  • 324 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 325 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 326

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 327 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 328 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 329 Picking the pops

  • 330 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 331 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 332 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 333 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 334 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 335 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 336 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 337 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 338 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 339 Picking the pops

  • 340 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 341

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 342 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 343 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 344 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 345 What's the time?

  • 346 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 347 New life for Hartland organ

  • 348 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 349 A bird of their own!

  • 350 Hartland's invitation

  • 351 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 352 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 353 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 354 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 355 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 356 Northam's almshouse

  • 357 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

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

  • 359 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 360 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 361 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 362 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 363 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 364 Twenty-one yachts

  • 365 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 366 They are parted pro-tem

  • 367

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 368 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

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

  • 370

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 371 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 372 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 373 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 374 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 375 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 376 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 377 Artisans' Club

  • 378 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 379 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 380 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 381 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 382 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 383

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 384 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 385 Centenary of Gazette

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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MacDonald MBE - 1959

MacDonald MBE - 13th March 1959

13.3.1959 MacDonald MBE
 

Photographed with his wife and daughter, outside Buckingham Palace last week, when he received from the hands of H.M the Queen, the M.B.E. awarded him in the New Year Honours List, is Mr T R MacDonald, of 'Viewfield', Torrington, head forester to the Clinton (Devon) Estate Co.

Golden Wedding, Stapleton - 1957

Golden Wedding, Stapleton - 1st November 1957

1.11.1957 Golden Wedding Stapleton
 

A Day of Memories...

Next Sunday will be a day of memories for Mr and Mrs Arthur Stapleton, of 70a Calf Street, Torrington - memories of fifty years of married life, for it is on that day that they celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.
A family gathering at their home will mark the anniversary.
Mr and Mrs Stapleton were married in 1907, at Torrington Baptist Church by the Rev. Franklin Owen.
They have four surviving children, three sons and a daughter, ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. One daughter died in 1914.
The sons are Messrs Reg Stapleton, of Torrington, and Fred and Bill Stapleton of London, and the daughter is Mrs Rene Mills, of Torrington.
Mr Arthur Stapleton, who is 73, left school at the age of 13 and worked on a farm at Peters Marland for 12 months before going to Croydon in the grocery business. He later moved to Teignmouth in the same business.
After returning to Torrington at 16 he worked for a short time at Clay Moor, at Marland and later was employed at the Devonport and then the Swansea dockyards before returning to this district to work again at Clay Moor. Just after his marriage, Mr Stapleton was working at Clay Moor for nine hours a day at 4d. an hour.
During the 1914-18 war he served with the R.A.M.C in France and Belgium and received the M.M. in 1917 at Ypres for rescuing wounded under heavy shell fire. After the war he resumed work at Clay Moor until his retirement at the age of 66.
Mrs Stapleton, formerly Miss Selina (Lena) Page, is 69. Leaving school at 13 she worked at a Torrington gloving factory for 2s 6d a week. After her marriage, at the age of twenty, she continued her work at the factory.
Both Mr and Mrs Stapleton enjoy fairly good health and they are both very active.
Like many people of the same age, Mr and Mrs Stapleton did not find things too "easy going" during their earlier married life but, looking back over the years, they both agree "We have no regrets or anything we would really have changed if we had had the chance."

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