• 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 Appledore's largest

  • 2 Bideford regatta

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

  • 4 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 5 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 6 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 7 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 8 New look in the hayfields

  • 9 Hartland Dancers
  • 10 Picking the pops

  • 11

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 12 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 13 Clovelly nightmare

  • 14 He beat the floods

  • 15 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 16 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 17 Simple Item 138
  • 18 New art gallery opened

  • 19 They are parted pro-tem

  • 20 Torrington in 1967

  • 21 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 22 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 23 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 24 By pony and trap to market

  • 25 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 26 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 27 The art of the thatcher

  • 28 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 29

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 30 Pannier Market's future?

  • 31 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 32 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 33 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 34 Littleham family's five generations

  • 35 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 36 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 37 New shipyard on schedule

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

  • 39 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 40 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 41 Emergency ferry services

  • 42 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 43

    Exhibition of school work
  • 44 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 45 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 46 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 47 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 48 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 49 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 50 New Lundy stamps

  • 51 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 52 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 53 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 54 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 55

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 56 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 57 School crossing patrol begins

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

  • 59 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 60

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 61 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 62 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 63 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 64 A man and his wheel

  • 65

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 66 Weare Giffard potato

  • 67 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 68 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 69 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 70 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 71 First steel ship built at Bideford

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

  • 73 No laughing matter

  • 74 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 75 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 76 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 77 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 78 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 79 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 80 Penny for the guy

  • 81 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 82 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 83 Ten year old scrambler

  • 84 North Devon Driving School

  • 85 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 86 Artisans' Club

  • 87 Some 240 exhibits

  • 88

    New gateway
  • 89 A bird of their own!

  • 90 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 91 New choral society's growing response

  • 92 A roof-top view - where?

  • 93

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 94 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 95 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 96 Northam footballers of the future

  • 97 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 98 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 99 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 100 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 101 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 102 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 103 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 104 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 105 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 106 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 107 Six footed lamb

  • 108 Northam's almshouse

  • 109 Ships at Bideford

  • 110 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 111

    Relatives all over the world
  • 112 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 113 Life begins at 80

  • 114 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 115 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 116 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 117 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 118 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 119 Riverside mystery

  • 120

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 121 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 122 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 123 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

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

  • 125 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 126 Torrington's new amenity

  • 127 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 128 Happy Days!

  • 129

    Bidefordians
  • 130 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 131 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 132 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 133 First ship in 8 years

  • 134 Hartland postman retires

  • 135 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 136 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 137 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 138 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 139 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 140 End of the line

  • 141 Out of puff!

  • 142 New Post Office

  • 143 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 144 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 145 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 146 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 147 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 148 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 149 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 150

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 151 Burnard family reunion

  • 152 Torrington children build igloo
  • 153 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 154 Warmington's garage ad

  • 155 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 156 Capers on the cobbles

  • 157 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 158 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 159 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 160 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 161 Decontrol of meat

  • 162 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 163 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 164 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 165

    First prize
  • 166

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 167 Centenary of Gazette

  • 168 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 169 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 170 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 171 School's link with cargo ship

  • 172

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 173 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 174 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 175 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 176 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 177 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 178 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 179 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 180 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 181 A story to tell!

  • 182 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 183 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 184 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 185 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 186 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 187 Bideford loses training ship

  • 188 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 189 Picking the pops

  • 190 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 191 All for the love of a lady!

  • 192 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 193 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 194 New look for Torrington Lane

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

  • 196 Circus comes to town

  • 197 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 198 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 199 Last train from Torrington

  • 200 When horses score over the tractor

  • 201 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 202 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 203 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 204 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 205

    Married in 1908
  • 206 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 207 Off on a great adventure

  • 208 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 209 It really was the 'last time'

  • 210 Twenty-one yachts

  • 211 Sight of a lifetime

  • 212 Variety in summer weather

  • 213 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 214 Loads of black and white

  • 215 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 216 Hartland's invitation

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

  • 218 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 219 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 220 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 221 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 222 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 223 Police station view of Bideford

  • 224 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 225 Clovelly custom

  • 226 Some mushroom!

  • 227 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 228 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 229 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 230 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 231 Can spring be far away?

  • 232

    Was a missionary
  • 233 Unique holiday adventure!

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

  • 235 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 236 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 237 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 238

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 239 In their new robes and hats

  • 240 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 241 Symbol of Lundy independence

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

  • 243 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 244 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 245 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 246 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 247 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 248 Peter poses for TV film

  • 249 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 250 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

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

  • 252

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 253 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 254 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 255 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 256 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 257

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 258 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 259 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 260 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 261

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 262 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 263 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 264 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 265 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 266 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 267 No sale of Springfield House

  • 268 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 269 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 270 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 271 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 272 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 273 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 274 Devil sent packing

  • 275 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 276 Watch the dicky bird!

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

  • 278 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 279 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 280 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 281 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 282 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 283

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 284

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 285 113 years at Instow

  • 286 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 287 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 288 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 289 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 290 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 291 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 292 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 293 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 294 Private home for public pump

  • 295 Puppet characters introduced

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

  • 298 For crying out loud!

  • 299 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 300 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 301 Just over a year old

  • 302 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 303 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 304 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 305 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 306 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 307 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 308 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 309 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 310 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 311 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 312

    Building works
  • 313 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 314 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 315 What's the time?

  • 316 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 317

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 318 So this is the mainland!

  • 319 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 320 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 321 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 322

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 323 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 324 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 325 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 326 Traditions and skills still there

  • 327 Finished in 1876

  • 328 New civic medallions

  • 329 Cruising down the river

  • 330 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 331

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 332 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 333 New life for Hartland organ

  • 334 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 335 All aboard the ark

  • 336 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 337 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 338

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 339 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 340 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 341 Mobile missionary

  • 342

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 343 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 344 The Geneva marionettes

  • 345 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 346 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 347

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 348 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 349 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 350 Modern living at Bideford

  • 351 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 352 Parkham plan realised

  • 353 Bideford computer stars

  • 354 Recognise this resort?

  • 355 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 356

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 357 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 358 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 359 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 360 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 361 Service with a smile

  • 362 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 363 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 364 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 365 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 366 Bringing shopping home by goat

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

  • 368 Bridging the stream

  • 369 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 370 Revenge in style

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

  • 372 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 373 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 374

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 375 New addition to Quay front

  • 376 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 377 Waldon Triplets
  • 378 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 379 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 380 Jumble sale fever

  • 381 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 382

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 383 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 384 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 385 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

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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World War 1

Westward Ho!

2.7.1918 Westward Ho

On Wednesday, the 26th, tea was given by Mrs Hammersley to the wounded soldiers from “The Commons” and Torrington Hospital, at Westward Ho! followed by a concert organised by Mrs Cutbill, assisted by many well known local artists.
Cigarettes were handed round to the men during the performance by Miss Mary Granville and Miss Jane Smith, who also made a silver collection amongst the rest of the audience in aid of the ‘Westward Ho! Wounded Soldiers’ Tea” Fund which realised £10
Gazette article dated 2 July 1918

Bideford Bride-To-Be To Cross The Atlantic

Westward Ho! bridegroom now with Canadian Air Force

27.6.1958 WHo Beer

As the coastline of Canada appears on the horizon from the bows of the liner, Empress of England, so the wedding day for 20 years old Miss Rosemary Beer, 25 Meddon Street, Bideford, will be nearer both in days and miles.
Rosemary, who is the only daughter of Mr and Mrs F Beer, will commence her 3,000 mile voyage across the Atlantic Ocean from Liverpool, a fortnight today, July 11th.
She and her fiancé, Mr Terry Powell, aged 24, elder son of Mr and Mrs W Powell, 2 Nelson Terrace, Westward Ho! plan to marry in Toronto in the middle of August.
When Rosemary does get married she will walk up the aisle on the arm of a former well-known Bideford footballing personality, Mr Franz Belak.
Carefully packed away in her luggage will be numerous wedding presents, including a cheque from Messrs F W Woolworth and Co Ltd, and a clock from the Bideford staff.
Rosemary will be accompanied by her mother and aunt when she leaves Bideford to go to Liverpool and before she get married in Canada, she will live with her great-aunt, Mrs Nell Smith, in Toronto.
Full Gazette article dated 27 June 1958

Westward Ho! Gets A Discotheque

Latest addition to the night life of Westward Ho! is the Sandpiper discotheque, opening on Saturda and featuring disc jockey Mr Kazoon, back from Expo 68.

24.5.1968 Sandpiper disco

In the future top ten groups will be booked as well as local talent.

Open every night of the week throughout the summer in the old Station Hall, which has been transformed at a cost of £1,500, it will cater for 200-250 people. Man behind the scheme is Mr Geoff Thompson of Barnstaple. 

Gazette article dated 24 May 1968

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