• 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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    Bidefordians
  • 2 A story to tell!

  • 3 Happy Days!

  • 4 Hartland's invitation

  • 5 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 6 School crossing patrol begins

  • 7 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 8 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 9 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 10 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 11 They are parted pro-tem

  • 12 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 13 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 14 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 15 Jumble sale fever

  • 16 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 17 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 18 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 19 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 20 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 21 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 22 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 23 Puppet characters introduced

  • 24 By pony and trap to market

  • 25 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 26 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 27 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 28 Bideford loses training ship

  • 29 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 30 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 31 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 32 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 33 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 34 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 35 Decontrol of meat

  • 36 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 37 Life begins at 80

  • 38 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 39 Modern living at Bideford

  • 40

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 41 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 42 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 43

    New gateway
  • 44 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 45 Police station view of Bideford

  • 46 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 47 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 48 Littleham family's five generations

  • 49 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 50 School's link with cargo ship

  • 51 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 52 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 53 New shipyard on schedule

  • 54 Circus comes to town

  • 55 Sight of a lifetime

  • 56

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 57 Picking the pops

  • 58 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 59 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 60 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 61 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 62 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 63 New art gallery opened

  • 64 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 65 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 66 A roof-top view - where?

  • 67 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

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

  • 69

    Was a missionary
  • 70 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 71 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 72 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 73 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 74 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 75 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 76 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 77 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 78 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 79 A bird of their own!

  • 80 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 81 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 82

    First prize
  • 83 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 84 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 85 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 86 Northam's almshouse

  • 87 In their new robes and hats

  • 88 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 89 Riverside mystery

  • 90 It really was the 'last time'

  • 91 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 92 Bideford computer stars

  • 93 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 94 Just over a year old

  • 95 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 96 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 97 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 98 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

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

  • 100 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 101 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 102 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 103 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 104 New addition to Quay front

  • 105 Clovelly custom

  • 106 Can spring be far away?

  • 107 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 108 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 109 Capers on the cobbles

  • 110 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 111

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 112

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 113 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 114 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 115 Waldon Triplets
  • 116 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 117 Private home for public pump

  • 118 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 119

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 120 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 121 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 122

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 123 What's the time?

  • 124 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 125 Ships at Bideford

  • 126 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 127

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 128 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 129 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 130 No sale of Springfield House

  • 131 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 132

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 133 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 134 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 135 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 136 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 137 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 138 A man and his wheel

  • 139 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 140 A craftsman's 'potted' history

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

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

  • 143 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 144 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 145 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 146

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 147 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 148 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 149 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 150

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 151 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 152 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 153 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 154

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 155 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 156 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 157 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 158 New choral society's growing response

  • 159 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 160 Finished in 1876

  • 161 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 162 New life for Hartland organ

  • 163 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 164

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 165 Cruising down the river

  • 166 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 167 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 168 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 169 Variety in summer weather

  • 170 All for the love of a lady!

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

  • 172 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 173 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 174 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 175 Mobile missionary

  • 176 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 177 So this is the mainland!

  • 178 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 179 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 180 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 181

    Exhibition of school work
  • 182 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 183 Service with a smile

  • 184 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 185 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 186 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 187 Burnard family reunion

  • 188 For crying out loud!

  • 189 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

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

  • 191 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 192 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 193 All aboard the ark

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

  • 195 Out of puff!

  • 196 Peter poses for TV film

  • 197 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 198 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 199 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 200 Pretty pennies at Beaford

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

  • 202 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 203 He beat the floods

  • 204 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 205 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 206 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 207 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 208 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 209 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 210 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 211 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 212 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 213 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 214 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 215 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 216 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 217 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 218 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

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

  • 220

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 221

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 222 Artisans' Club

  • 223 Traditions and skills still there

  • 224

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 225 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 226 Northam footballers of the future

  • 227 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 228 Bridging the stream

  • 229

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 230 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 231 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 232 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 233

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 234 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

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

  • 236 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 237 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 238 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 239 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 240 Huntshaw TV mast

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

  • 242 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 243 New look in the hayfields

  • 244 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 245 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 246 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 247

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 248 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 249 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 250 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 251 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 252 Twenty-one yachts

  • 253 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 254 113 years at Instow

  • 255 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 256

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 257 No laughing matter

  • 258 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 259 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 260 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 261 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 262 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 263 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 264 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 265 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 266 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 267 Revenge in style

  • 268

    Married in 1908
  • 269 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 270 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 271 Six footed lamb

  • 272 Picking the pops

  • 273 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 274 Torrington in 1967

  • 275 The Geneva marionettes

  • 276 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 277 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 278 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 279

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 280 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 281 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 282 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 283 When horses score over the tractor

  • 284 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 285 Simple Item 138
  • 286 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 287 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 288 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 289 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 290 Hartland postman retires

  • 291 Pannier Market's future?

  • 292

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 293 Hartland Dancers
  • 294 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 295 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 296

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 297 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 298 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 299 New Post Office

  • 300 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 301 Appledore's largest

  • 302 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 303 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 304

    Building works
  • 305 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 306 Weare Giffard potato

  • 307 Parkham plan realised

  • 308 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 309 Liked holidays here - so starts business

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

  • 311 Recognise this resort?

  • 312 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 313 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 314 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 315 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 316 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 317 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 318 New civic medallions

  • 319 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 320 Loads of black and white

  • 321 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 322 Last train from Torrington

  • 323 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 324 Centenary of Gazette

  • 325 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 326 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 327 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 328 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 329 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 330 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 331

    Relatives all over the world
  • 332 New Lundy stamps

  • 333 Penny for the guy

  • 334 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 335 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 336 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 337 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 338

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 339 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 340 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 341 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 342 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 343 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 344 Ten year old scrambler

  • 345 Some mushroom!

  • 346

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 347 Clovelly nightmare

  • 348 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 349 First ship in 8 years

  • 350 Chess - their bridge over the years

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

  • 352 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 353 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 354 Bideford regatta

  • 355 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 356 Torrington children build igloo
  • 357 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 358 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 359 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 360 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 361 Emergency ferry services

  • 362 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 363 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 364 North Devon Driving School

  • 365 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 366

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 367 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 368 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 369 Torrington's new amenity

  • 370 Some 240 exhibits

  • 371 End of the line

  • 372 Devil sent packing

  • 373 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 374 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 375 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 376 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 377 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 378 Off on a great adventure

  • 379 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 380 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 381 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 382 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 383 The art of the thatcher

  • 384 Warmington's garage ad

  • 385 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

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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  • 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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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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