• 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 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 2

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 3 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 4 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 5 Some mushroom!

  • 6 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 7 Pannier Market's future?

  • 8 New look in the hayfields

  • 9 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 10 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 11 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 12 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 13 For crying out loud!

  • 14 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 15 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 16 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 17 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 18 Panto time at Westward Ho!

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

  • 20 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 21 Waldon Triplets
  • 22 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 23 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 24 Parkham plan realised

  • 25 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 26 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 27 Private home for public pump

  • 28 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 29 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 30 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 31 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 32 Bideford computer stars

  • 33 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 34

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 35 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 36 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 37

    New gateway
  • 38 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 39 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 40

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 41

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 42

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 43 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 44 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 45 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 46 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 47 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 48 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 49 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 50 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 51 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 52 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 53 No sale of Springfield House

  • 54 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 55 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 56 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 57 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 58 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 59 Police station view of Bideford

  • 60 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 61 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 62 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 63 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 64 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 65 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 66 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 67 All aboard the ark

  • 68 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 69 Bideford loses training ship

  • 70

    Married in 1908
  • 71 Hartland postman retires

  • 72 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 73

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 74

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 75 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 76 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 77 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 78 Out of puff!

  • 79 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 80 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 81 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 82 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 83 Torrington's new amenity

  • 84 113 years at Instow

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

  • 86 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 87 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 88 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 89 Modern living at Bideford

  • 90 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 91 New Post Office

  • 92 Capers on the cobbles

  • 93 Service with a smile

  • 94 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 95 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 96 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 97 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 98 Picking the pops

  • 99 A man and his wheel

  • 100 Simple Item 138
  • 101 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 102 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 103 Penny for the guy

  • 104 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 105 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 106 Bridging the stream

  • 107 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 108 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 109 Torrington in 1967

  • 110 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 111 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 112 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 113 Cruising down the river

  • 114 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 115 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 116 When horses score over the tractor

  • 117 He beat the floods

  • 118 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 119 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 120

    Exhibition of school work
  • 121 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 122 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 123 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 124 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 125 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 126 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 127 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 128 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 129 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 130 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 131

    First prize
  • 132 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 133 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 134 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 135 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 136 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 137 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 138 Ten year old scrambler

  • 139 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 140 A bird of their own!

  • 141 Spray dodging - the new pastime

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

  • 143 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 144 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 145 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 146 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 147 School crossing patrol begins

  • 148 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 149 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 150 End of the line

  • 151 New choral society's growing response

  • 152

    Building works
  • 153 Happy Days!

  • 154 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 155 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 156 Northam's almshouse

  • 157 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 158

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 159

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 160 All for the love of a lady!

  • 161 North Devon Driving School

  • 162 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 163 Mobile missionary

  • 164 Devil sent packing

  • 165

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 166 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 167

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 168 Bideford regatta

  • 169 Recognise this resort?

  • 170 Clovelly nightmare

  • 171 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 172 Six footed lamb

  • 173 New Lundy stamps

  • 174 A roof-top view - where?

  • 175 They are parted pro-tem

  • 176 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 177 Revenge in style

  • 178 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 179

    Bidefordians
  • 180 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 181 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 182 Can spring be far away?

  • 183 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 184 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 185 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 186 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 187 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 188 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 189

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 190 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 191 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 192 Loads of black and white

  • 193 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 194 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 195

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 196 The Geneva marionettes

  • 197 Emergency ferry services

  • 198 New civic medallions

  • 199 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 200 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 201 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 202 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 203 Ships at Bideford

  • 204 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 205

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 206 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 207 New addition to Quay front

  • 208 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 209 It really was the 'last time'

  • 210 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 211 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 212 In their new robes and hats

  • 213 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 214 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 215 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 216 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 217

    Relatives all over the world
  • 218 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 219 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 220 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 221 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 222

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 223 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 224 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 225 Weare Giffard potato

  • 226 Unique holiday adventure!

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

  • 228 A story to tell!

  • 229 Riverside mystery

  • 230 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 231 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 232 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 233 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 234 Circus comes to town

  • 235

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 236 Twenty-one yachts

  • 237 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 238 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 239 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 240 Just over a year old

  • 241 Centenary of Gazette

  • 242 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 243 Jumble sale fever

  • 244 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 245 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 246 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 247

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 248 By pony and trap to market

  • 249 Peter poses for TV film

  • 250 Variety in summer weather

  • 251 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 252 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 253 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 254 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 255 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 256 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

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

  • 258 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 259 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 260 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 261 Off on a great adventure

  • 262 Hartland Dancers
  • 263 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 264 Practical sympathy at Northam

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

  • 266 No laughing matter

  • 267 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 268 Northam footballers of the future

  • 269 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 270

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 271 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 272 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 273 Life begins at 80

  • 274 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 275 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 276 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 277 East-the-Water sets town an example

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

  • 279 Appledore's largest

  • 280 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 281 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 282 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 283 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 284 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 285 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 286 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 287 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 288

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 289 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 290 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 291 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 292 Last train from Torrington

  • 293 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 294 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 295 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 296 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 297 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 298 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 299 Some 240 exhibits

  • 300 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 301 So this is the mainland!

  • 302 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 303 First ship in 8 years

  • 304

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 305 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 306 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 307 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 308 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 309 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 310 The art of the thatcher

  • 311 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 312 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 313

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 314 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 315

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 316 Hartland's invitation

  • 317 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 318

    Was a missionary
  • 319 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 320 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 321 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 322 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 323 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 324 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 325 Picking the pops

  • 326 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 327 Burnard family reunion

  • 328 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 329 Sight of a lifetime

  • 330 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 331 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 332 Daisy's pride and joy

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

  • 334 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 335 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 336 Artisans' Club

  • 337 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 338 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 339 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 340 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 341 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 342 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 343 They never miss a game at Torrington

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

  • 345 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 346 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 347 Decontrol of meat

  • 348 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 349 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

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

  • 351 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 352 Warmington's garage ad

  • 353 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 354 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 355 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 356 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 357

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 358 Puppet characters introduced

  • 359 Clovelly custom

  • 360 Torrington children build igloo
  • 361

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 362 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 363 New shipyard on schedule

  • 364 Finished in 1876

  • 365 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 366 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 367 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 368 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 369 Traditions and skills still there

  • 370 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 371 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 372 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 373 New art gallery opened

  • 374 Littleham family's five generations

  • 375 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 376 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 377 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 378 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 379

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 380 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 381 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 382 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 383 School's link with cargo ship

  • 384 New life for Hartland organ

  • 385 What's the time?

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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Bideford-Appledore Wedding

 The wedding took place at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, on February 4th,

17.2.1942 Popham Paddon

of Corpl W G Popham, second son of Mr and Mrs G H Popham, 9 Marine Parade, Appledore, and Miss Alice Mary Paddon, only daughter of Mr and Mrs R Paddon, 20 Chingswell Street, Bideford.

The ceremony was conducted by the Rector of Bideford, the Rev Preb. W N Manning. Mr R Harper was the organist. Miss A James was the chief bridesmaid and there were two small attendants. Sergt C J Popham, RAOC, brother of the bridegroom, carried out the duties of the best man.

A reception was held at Morrison’s Café, Bridgeland Street, Bideford, where some 80 guests were entertained. Later, Mr and Mrs Popham left for Torquay for the honeymoon.

The full Gazette article is dated 17 February 1942.

A naval reunion of men

who had met while serving in the Mediterranean theatre was a happy feature

14.3.1944 Alexander Perkins1

14.3.1944 Alexander Perkins2

of the wedding which took place at St Michael’s Church, Torrington on Wednesday March 1st of Signalman Reuben J L Alexander, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Alexander, 23 Well Street, Torrington, and Corpl Violet May Perkins, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs W J Perkins, Longham Farm, Coryton, Okehampton.

The best man was Torpedoman Stanley Davy, RN, a Torritonian who had met Signlmn Alexander in Tripoli. Among the guests was Leading Seaman Braunton, of Bideford, who has been a shipmate of the bridegroom.

The Vicar of Torrington, Rev C J Barker, officiated and Mr S Parkes was at the organ. The bride was accompanied by Miss Margaret Alexander and two little pageboys – Master Tony Stapleton and Peter Webber – were in attendance.

The full Gazette article is dated 14 March 1944.

Bideford-Westward Ho! Wedding

There was much local interest

13.2.1945 Lang Stevens

in the wedding on January 30th at the High Street Methodist Church, Bideford, between LAC David Charles Blake Lang, RAF, eldest son of Mr F G and the late Mrs Lang, 36 Old Town, Bideford, and Miss Daphne Grace Stevens, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs J Stevens, 2 Eastbourne Terrace, Westward Ho!

The Rev T E Clarke officiated at the ceremony. Mrs Cox presided at the organ. The bride was given away by her brother, Mr F A B Stevens. The duties of the best man were carried out by Mr Frank Babb.

Gazette articled dated 13 February 1945

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