• 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 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 3 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 4 The Geneva marionettes

  • 5 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 6 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 7 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 8 All for the love of a lady!

  • 9 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 10 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 11 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 12 Northam footballers of the future

  • 13 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 14 Fishermen of Greencliff

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

  • 16 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 17 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 18 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 19 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 20 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 21 A story to tell!

  • 22 In their new robes and hats

  • 23 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 24 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 25 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 26 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 27 Waldon Triplets
  • 28

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 29

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 30 Bideford loses training ship

  • 31 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 32 Penny for the guy

  • 33 Parkham plan realised

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

  • 35 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 36 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 37 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 38 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 39 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 40 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 41 Hartland's invitation

  • 42 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 43 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 44 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 45 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 46 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 47 Emergency ferry services

  • 48 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 49

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 50 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 51 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 52 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 53 New choral society's growing response

  • 54 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 55 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 56 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 57

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 58 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 59 Peter poses for TV film

  • 60 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 61 Appledore's largest

  • 62 A bird of their own!

  • 63 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 64

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 65

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 66 New shipyard on schedule

  • 67 New Lundy stamps

  • 68 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 69 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 70 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 71 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 72 Recognise this resort?

  • 73

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 74 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 75 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 76 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 77 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 78 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 79 Traditions and skills still there

  • 80 He beat the floods

  • 81

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 82 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 83 First ship in 8 years

  • 84 Torrington's shelter for the aged

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

  • 86 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 87

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 88 Out of puff!

  • 89 New art gallery opened

  • 90 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 91

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 92 Variety in summer weather

  • 93 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 94 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 95

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 96

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 97 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

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

  • 99 A roof-top view - where?

  • 100 New look in the hayfields

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

  • 102 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 103 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 104 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 105 Littleham family's five generations

  • 106 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 107 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 108 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 109 Torrington in 1967

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

  • 111 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 112 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 113 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 114 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 115 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 116 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 117 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 118 Bideford computer stars

  • 119 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 120 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

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

  • 122 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 123 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 124 New life for Hartland organ

  • 125 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 126 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 127 No sale of Springfield House

  • 128 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 129 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 130 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 131 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 132 Police station view of Bideford

  • 133

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 134 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 135 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 136 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 137 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 138 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 139 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 140 Puppet characters introduced

  • 141 Artisans' Club

  • 142 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 143

    New gateway
  • 144 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 145 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 146 113 years at Instow

  • 147 They are parted pro-tem

  • 148 Sight of a lifetime

  • 149 Bridging the stream

  • 150

    Relatives all over the world
  • 151 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 152 Centenary of Gazette

  • 153 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 154 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 155 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 156 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 157 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 158 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 159

    Exhibition of school work
  • 160 Revenge in style

  • 161 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 162 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 163 Pannier Market's future?

  • 164 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 165 Ten year old scrambler

  • 166 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 167 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 168 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 169 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 170 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 171 So this is the mainland!

  • 172 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 173 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 174 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 175 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 176 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 177 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 178 Off on a great adventure

  • 179

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 180 Capers on the cobbles

  • 181 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 182 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 183 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 184 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 185 Life begins at 80

  • 186 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 187 Finished in 1876

  • 188 The art of the thatcher

  • 189 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 190 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 191 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 192 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 193 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 194 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 195

    Bidefordians
  • 196 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 197 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 198 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 199 Jumble sale fever

  • 200 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 201 It really was the 'last time'

  • 202 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 203 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 204 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 205 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 206 Torrington's new amenity

  • 207 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 208 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 209 For crying out loud!

  • 210 Weare Giffard potato

  • 211 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 212 Ships at Bideford

  • 213 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 214

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 215 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 216 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 217 Can spring be far away?

  • 218 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 219 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 220 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 221 Just over a year old

  • 222 Cruising down the river

  • 223 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 224 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 225 A man and his wheel

  • 226 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 227 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 228 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 229

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 230 North Devon Driving School

  • 231

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 232

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 233 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 234 No laughing matter

  • 235 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 236 Some mushroom!

  • 237 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 238 Burnard family reunion

  • 239 Service with a smile

  • 240 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 241 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 242 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 243 Northam's almshouse

  • 244 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 245 Picking the pops

  • 246 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 247 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

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

  • 249 What's the time?

  • 250 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 251 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 252 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 253 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 254 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 255 New addition to Quay front

  • 256 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 257 Decontrol of meat

  • 258 Hartland postman retires

  • 259 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 260 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 261 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 262 New civic medallions

  • 263 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 264 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 265 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 266 New Post Office

  • 267 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 268 Modern living at Bideford

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

  • 270 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 271 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 272 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 273 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 274 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 275 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 276 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 277 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 278 Mobile missionary

  • 279 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 280 Warmington's garage ad

  • 281 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 282 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 283 Devil sent packing

  • 284 Riverside mystery

  • 285 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 286 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 287 Circus comes to town

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

  • 289 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 290

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 291 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 292 Picking the pops

  • 293 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 294 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 295 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 296 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 297 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 298 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 299 Bideford regatta

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

  • 301 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 302 Clovelly custom

  • 303 Torrington children build igloo
  • 304 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 305

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 306 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 307 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 308 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 309 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 310 School's link with cargo ship

  • 311 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 312 Loads of black and white

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

  • 314 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 315

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 316 Six footed lamb

  • 317 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 318 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 319 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 320 Happy Days!

  • 321 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 322 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 323

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 324

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 325 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 326 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 327 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 328 Last train from Torrington

  • 329 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 330 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 331 By pony and trap to market

  • 332 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 333

    Building works
  • 334

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 335 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 336 Colour TV salesman at eight

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

  • 338 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 339 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 340 Simple Item 138
  • 341 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 342 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 343 All aboard the ark

  • 344 When horses score over the tractor

  • 345

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 346 Private home for public pump

  • 347 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 348 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 349 Hartland Dancers
  • 350 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 351 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 352 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 353 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 354 Some 240 exhibits

  • 355 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 356 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 357 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 358

    Was a missionary
  • 359 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 360 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 361 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 362 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 363 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 364 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 365 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 366 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 367 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 368 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 369 Twenty-one yachts

  • 370 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 371 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 372 Clovelly nightmare

  • 373 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 374 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 375 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 376 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 377

    Married in 1908
  • 378 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 379 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 380

    First prize
  • 381 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 382 End of the line

  • 383 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 384 School crossing patrol begins

  • 385 Westward Ho! combined op

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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Soccer Star on Holiday

The day they played soccer with Nat Lofthouse at Westward Ho!

Bolton Wanderers' manager Nat Lofthouse is on holiday at Westward Ho! this week.

20.6.1969 Westward Ho Nat Lofthouse football

Nat joined Bolton as a 15 year old the day after the outbreak of World War II. Twelve months later he made his first appearance with Bolton's first team. Since then he has played over 700 league games. In 1961 he became assistant trainer and was later appointed chief coach. Last August he took over as manager.

Nat is staying at the Atlanta Hotel, with his wife Alma and daughter Vivien.

In the photograph he enjoys a kick around with some young holidaymakers in the hotel grounds.

Gazette dated 20 June 1969

Who has the rights to the Pebble Ridge?

Mr Hobart Braddick

A claim which might involve expensive litigation would probably be abandoned.

25.7.1916 WHo Hobart Braddick

Sleeping Beauty

The well-known saying 

“Beyond the best there is a better” must have been foremost in the mind of Ada Powell when she first started putting the Westward Ho! Follies through their paces in October in preparation for their eighth annual pantomime “Sleeping Beauty” which is being presented at the Kingsley Hall, Westward Ho! all this week.

10.1.1958 WHo pantomime1

When she produced her first pantomime last year – Mother Goose’s Folly – audiences claimed it the best of the series they had seen to date. It may confidently be submitted that this year’s show is even better, judging by the reception given to it by enthusiastic audiences.

Continuity is a fault which sometimes tends to mar amateur productions such as this but Sleeping Beauty runs very smoothly and has been tightened up to a brisk show of about one and a half hours.

There are, naturally, pauses between scenes and acts but the audience is fully occupied listening to pianist Fred Verney, a former Church organist. The author of the show is Norah Gibbs who under the pen-name of ‘Claire Ritchie’ has written a series of novels.

If one could pick a star from this show the spotlight would fall on Jean Moon in her part as Dumkins. She receives excellent support from her partner, Count Borokwid (Graham Humphrey).

Muriel Eagle brilliantly portrays the sinister role of bad fairy. Carol Slaymaker makes a delightful Princess Bellarosa. Her opposite number, young Margaret Humphrey, as Prince Trulova, shows up well in her stage debut. Another young performer is Carol Grey, not the one of Archers fame, and she made a charming fairy. Three tiny tots – Thelma and Wendy Wathen and Margaret Jeffery – deserve a special mention.

Cast in order of appearance – Dorothy Lewis, Arthur Feron, Doris Hudson, Lee Lancaster, Carol Grey, Janet Moon, Patricia Fisher, Thelma and Wendy Wathen, Margaret Jeffery, Muriel Eagle, Carol Slaymaker, Rosemary Hosegood, Patricia Fisher, Jean Moon, Graham Humphrey, Margaret Humphrey, Arthur Eagle, Muriel Eagle.

Stage manager, A Eagle; electrician, T Ryan; props, P Alexander; stage staff, E and R Westoby, J Mouncey; dancing arrangements, Dorothy Taylor.

10.1.1958 WHo pantomime2

Full article dated 10 January 1958

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