• 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 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 2 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 3 What's the time?

  • 4 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 5 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 6 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 7 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 8 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 9 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 10 Warmington's garage ad

  • 11 Can spring be far away?

  • 12 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 13 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 14 Six footed lamb

  • 15 Hartland Dancers
  • 16 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 17 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 18 Out of puff!

  • 19 Sweets derationing

  • 20 Northam's almshouse

  • 21 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 22 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 23 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 24 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 25 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 26 Traditions and skills still there

  • 27 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 28 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 29

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 30 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 31 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 32 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 33 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 34 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 35 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 36 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 37 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 38 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 39 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 40 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 41 The art of the thatcher

  • 42 Artisans' Club

  • 43 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 44 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 45 Northam footballers of the future

  • 46 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 47 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 48 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 49 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 50 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 51 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 52 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 53 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 54 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 55 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 56

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 57 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 58

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 59 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 60 New Post Office

  • 61 Simple Item 138
  • 62

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 63 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 64 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 65 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 66

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 67 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 68 New shipyard on schedule

  • 69 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 70 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 71 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 72 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 73 It really was the 'last time'

  • 74 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 75 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 76 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 77 Decontrol of meat

  • 78 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 79 Modern living at Bideford

  • 80 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 81 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 82 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 83 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 84 Appledore's largest

  • 85 By pony and trap to market

  • 86 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 87 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 88 Life begins at 80

  • 89 Bideford loses training ship

  • 90 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 91 The Geneva marionettes

  • 92 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 93 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 94 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 95 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 96 Hartland's invitation

  • 97 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 98 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 99 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 100 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 101 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 102 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 103

    Building works
  • 104 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 105 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 106 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 107 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

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

  • 109 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 110 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 111 Ten year old scrambler

  • 112 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 113 Some mushroom!

  • 114 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 115 Waldon Triplets
  • 116 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 117 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 118 New Estate's view of estuary activities

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

  • 120 Variety in summer weather

  • 121 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 122 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 123 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 124 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 125 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 126 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 127 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 128 All for the love of a lady!

  • 129 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 130

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 131 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 132 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 133 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 134 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 135

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 136 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 137 New addition to Quay front

  • 138 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 139 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 140 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 141 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 142 All aboard the ark

  • 143 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

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

  • 145 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 146 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 147 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 148 North Devon Driving School

  • 149

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 150 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 151 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 152 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 153 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 154 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 155 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 156 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 157 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 158 Twenty-one yachts

  • 159 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 160 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 161 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 162

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 163 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 164 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 165 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 166 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 167 Emergency ferry services

  • 168 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 169 Peter poses for TV film

  • 170 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 171

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 172 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 173

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 174 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 175 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 176 Ships at Bideford

  • 177 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 178 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 179 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 180 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 181 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 182 Bideford Bridge re-opens

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

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

  • 185

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 186 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 187 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 188 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 189 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 190 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 191 Capers on the cobbles

  • 192 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 193 Centenary of Gazette

  • 194 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 195 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 196 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 197 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 198 For crying out loud!

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

  • 200 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 201

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 202 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 203 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 204 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 205

    Married in 1908
  • 206 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 207 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 208 Last train from Torrington

  • 209

    Exhibition of school work
  • 210 Bridging the stream

  • 211 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 212

    Relatives all over the world
  • 213 Off on a great adventure

  • 214 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 215 Torrington in 1967

  • 216 Picking the pops

  • 217 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 218 In their new robes and hats

  • 219 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 220 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 221

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 222

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 223 New Lundy stamps

  • 224 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 225 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 226 First ship in 8 years

  • 227 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 228 Circus comes to town

  • 229 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 230 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 231 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 232 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 233 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 234 Recognise this resort?

  • 235 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 236 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 237 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 238 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 239 No laughing matter

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

  • 241 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 242 Picking the pops

  • 243 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 244 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 245 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 246 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 247

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 248 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 249 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 250 Filming at Hartland

  • 251 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 252 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 253

    First prize
  • 254 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 255 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 256 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 257

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 258 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 259 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 260 Service with a smile

  • 261 A bird of their own!

  • 262 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 263 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 264 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 265 Torrington children build igloo
  • 266

    Was a missionary
  • 267 New art gallery opened

  • 268 Little 'Big Ben'

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

  • 270 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 271

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 272 Happy Days!

  • 273 Littleham family's five generations

  • 274 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 275 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 276 Loads of black and white

  • 277

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 278 The cab at the corner>
  • 279 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 280 Bideford computer stars

  • 281 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 282 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 283 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 284 A man and his wheel

  • 285 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 286 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 287 New life for Hartland organ

  • 288 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 289 Jumble sale fever

  • 290 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 291 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 292 They are parted pro-tem

  • 293 Revenge in style

  • 294 Mobile missionary

  • 295 Penny for the guy

  • 296 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 297 Sight of a lifetime

  • 298 Riverside mystery

  • 299 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 300

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 301 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 302 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 303 From Bobby to Brian

  • 304 Clovelly nightmare

  • 305 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 306 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 307 Devil sent packing

  • 308 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 309 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 310 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 311 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 312 Cruising down the river

  • 313 Puppet characters introduced

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

  • 315 New look in the hayfields

  • 316 New choral society's growing response

  • 317 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 318 New civic medallions

  • 319

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 320 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 321 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 322 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 323 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 324 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 325 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 326 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 327 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 328

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 329 Weare Giffard potato

  • 330 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 331 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 332 Just over a year old

  • 333 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 334 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 335 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 336 A roof-top view - where?

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

  • 338 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 339 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 340

    New gateway
  • 341 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 342 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 343 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 344 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 345 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 346 School crossing patrol begins

  • 347 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 348 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 349 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 350 Passing of a Torrington landmark

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

  • 352 Police station view of Bideford

  • 353 Torrington's new amenity

  • 354 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 355 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 356 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 357 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 358 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 359 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 360 Clovelly custom

  • 361 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 362 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 363 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 364 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 365 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 366 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 367 Finished in 1876

  • 368 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 369 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 370 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 371 End of the line

  • 372

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 373 Bideford regatta

  • 374 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 375 No sale of Springfield House

  • 376 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 377 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 378 School's link with cargo ship

  • 379 Some 240 exhibits

  • 380 Pannier Market's future?

  • 381 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 382

    Bidefordians
  • 383

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 384 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 385 Burnard family reunion

  • 386 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 387 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 388 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 389 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 390 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

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

  • 392 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 393 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 394 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

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

  • 396 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 397 113 years at Instow

  • 398 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 399 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 400 When horses score over the tractor

  • 401 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 402 Parkham plan realised

  • 403 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 404 Private home for public pump

  • 405

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 406 So this is the mainland!

  • 407 A story to tell!

  • 408 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 409 He beat the floods

  • 410 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 411 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 412 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 413 Hartland postman retires

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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  • 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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  • 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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Grand Double Easter Ball

The Southern/Western National Social Club, Bideford

Grand Double Easter Ball At the Westward Ho! Holiday Centre Ballroom

18.4.1957 Easter Ball WHo Holiday Centre

On Easter MondayApril 22 1957

From 8pm to 1am

Frank Fuge and his Orchestra (Plymouth)The Arcadians

Tickets 6/6

Licensed Bar Refreshments

Free transport from Bideford 7.45pm, 8.30pm, 9.15pm Free transport from Appledore 8pm and 8.45pm

Returning at 1am

Gazette article dated 18 April 1957

No Winter Ban On Parking At Westward Ho!

Double yellow lines painted along a Westward Ho! road have no significance in the winter. 

10.3.1967 WHo parking

This fact emerged at a meeting of Bideford Road Safety Committee on Friday. Mr M Crosley had asked why the lines were there together with signs saying that there must be not parking ‘at any time’ when an official notice in the local Press had said that parking was allowed during the winter. This type of seasonal order, replied Police Sergt D Page, was made a great deal of use of in small North Devon coastal villages where there was an influx of summer traffic. 

The Minister of Transport, Mrs Barbara Castle, has been invited to visit Bideford during the forthcoming Road Safety Week. The chairman of the organising committee, Mr G Robinson, told the meeting she had been asked to present the awards. 

The full Gazette article is dated 10 March 1967

£250,000 Sale At Westward Ho!

The Westward Holiday Village in Westward Ho! has been sold for more than £250,000 to the Bideford based Woodsmith Group of Companies. 

16.3.1973 WHo Holiday Village

The selling agents were Messrs John C Webber and Son, of Bideford. Woodsmith intend developing the 19 acre site with holiday bungalows and flats. Twenty three holiday bungalows and 36 flats, built on part of the land by the previous owner are being renovated. 

The first of the renovated bungalows are now on offer through agents John C Webber and Son’s Bideford office and Morris Dibben of Winchester. The purchase price of £3,500 for a 90 year lease (ground rent £65pa) includes equipment and furnishings to sleep six people.

Gazette article dated 16 March 1973

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