• 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 Happy Days!

  • 2 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 3 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 4 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 5 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 6 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 7 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 8 Last train from Torrington

  • 9 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 10 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 11 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 12 Watch the dicky bird!

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

  • 14 New life for Hartland organ

  • 15 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 16 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 17 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 18 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 19 Artisans' Club

  • 20 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 21 The cab at the corner>
  • 22 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 23 Burnard family reunion

  • 24 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 25 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 26 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 27 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 28 Police station view of Bideford

  • 29 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 30 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 31 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 32 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 33 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 34 Littleham family's five generations

  • 35 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 36 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 37 Simple Item 138
  • 38

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 39

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 40 By pony and trap to market

  • 41 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 42 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 43 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 44 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 45 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 46 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 47 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

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

  • 49 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 50 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 51 Ten year old scrambler

  • 52 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 53 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 54 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 55 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 56 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 57

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 58 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 59 Filming at Hartland

  • 60

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 61 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 62

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 63 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 64

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 65 Clovelly custom

  • 66 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 67 Liked holidays here - so starts business

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

  • 69 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 70 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 71 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 72 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 73 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 74 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 75 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 76 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 77 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 78 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 79 School's link with cargo ship

  • 80

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 81 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 82 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 83 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 84 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 85 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 86 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 87 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 88 Cruising down the river

  • 89 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 90 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 91 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 92 Picking the pops

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

  • 94 Eight to strike and a race to win

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

  • 96 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 97 Jumble sale fever

  • 98 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 99

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 100

    Relatives all over the world
  • 101 Northam footballers of the future

  • 102 Off on a great adventure

  • 103 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 104 Torrington children build igloo
  • 105 Just over a year old

  • 106 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 107 Weare Giffard potato

  • 108 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 109 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 110 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 111 Twenty-one yachts

  • 112 Penny for the guy

  • 113 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 114 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 115 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 116 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 117 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 118 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 119 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 120 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 121 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 122 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 123 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 124 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 125 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 126 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 127 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 128 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 129 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 130 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 131 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 132 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 133

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 134 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 135 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 136 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

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

  • 138 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 139 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 140

    First prize
  • 141 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 142 A bird of their own!

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

  • 144 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 145 Can spring be far away?

  • 146 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 147 Loads of black and white

  • 148 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

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

  • 150 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 151 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 152 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 153 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 154 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 155 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 156 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 157 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 158 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 159 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 160 Circus comes to town

  • 161 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 162 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 163 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 164 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 165 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 166 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 167 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 168

    Was a missionary
  • 169 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 170 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 171 113 years at Instow

  • 172

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 173 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 174 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 175 Parkham plan realised

  • 176

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 177

    Bidefordians
  • 178 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 179 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 180 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 181 Finished in 1876

  • 182 X-ray shoe fitting

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

  • 184 No laughing matter

  • 185 Devil sent packing

  • 186 A man and his wheel

  • 187

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 188 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 189 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 190 Bideford regatta

  • 191 Peter poses for TV film

  • 192 Service with a smile

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

  • 194 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 195 Fish nearly pulled him in

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

  • 197

    Building works
  • 198 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 199 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 200 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 201 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 202 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 203 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 204 Torrington in 1967

  • 205 Hartland's invitation

  • 206 Some 240 exhibits

  • 207

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 208 Picking the pops

  • 209 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 210 Mobile missionary

  • 211 Clovelly nightmare

  • 212 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 213 New Post Office

  • 214

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 215 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 216 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 217 Capers on the cobbles

  • 218 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 219 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 220 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 221 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 222 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 223 The Geneva marionettes

  • 224 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 225 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 226 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 227

    Married in 1908
  • 228 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 229 Variety in summer weather

  • 230 So this is the mainland!

  • 231 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 232 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 233 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 234 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 235 It really was the 'last time'

  • 236 Emergency ferry services

  • 237 Waldon Triplets
  • 238 A story to tell!

  • 239 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 240 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 241 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 242 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 243 Appledore's largest

  • 244 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 245 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 246 Sweets derationing

  • 247 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 248

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 249 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 250 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 251

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 252

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 253 New shipyard on schedule

  • 254 New art gallery opened

  • 255 He beat the floods

  • 256 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 257 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 258 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 259 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 260 End of the line

  • 261 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 262 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 263 Ships at Bideford

  • 264

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 265 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 266 The art of the thatcher

  • 267 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 268 Bridging the stream

  • 269 Private home for public pump

  • 270 Record pebble-throwing day

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

  • 272 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 273 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 274 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 275 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 276 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

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

  • 278 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 279 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 280 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 281 Life begins at 80

  • 282 Hartland postman retires

  • 283 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 284 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 285 They are parted pro-tem

  • 286 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 287 Six footed lamb

  • 288 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 289 New look in the hayfields

  • 290 For crying out loud!

  • 291 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 292 From Bobby to Brian

  • 293 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 294 Revenge in style

  • 295 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 296 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 297 A roof-top view - where?

  • 298 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 299

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 300 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 301 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 302

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 303 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 304 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 305

    New gateway
  • 306

    Exhibition of school work
  • 307 Riverside mystery

  • 308 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 309 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 310 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 311 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 312 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 313 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 314 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 315 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 316 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 317 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 318 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 319 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 320 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 321 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 322

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 323 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 324 Centenary of Gazette

  • 325 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 326 Traditions and skills still there

  • 327 Out of puff!

  • 328 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 329 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 330 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 331 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 332 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 333 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 334 Puppet characters introduced

  • 335 Warmington's garage ad

  • 336 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 337 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 338 North Devon Driving School

  • 339 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 340 First ship in 8 years

  • 341 Pannier Market's future?

  • 342 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 343 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 344 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 345 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 346 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 347 Torrington's new amenity

  • 348 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 349 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 350 All aboard the ark

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

  • 352 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 353 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 354 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 355 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 356 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 357 Decontrol of meat

  • 358 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 359 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 360 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 361 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 362 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 363 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 364 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 365 Recognise this resort?

  • 366 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 367 School crossing patrol begins

  • 368 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 369 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 370 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 371 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 372 Hartland Dancers
  • 373

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 374 Bideford computer stars

  • 375 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 376 New civic medallions

  • 377 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 378 New addition to Quay front

  • 379 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 380 When horses score over the tractor

  • 381 New choral society's growing response

  • 382

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 383 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 384 Northam's almshouse

  • 385 New Lundy stamps

  • 386 Bideford loses training ship

  • 387 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 388 Sight of a lifetime

  • 389 Some mushroom!

  • 390 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 391 What's the time?

  • 392 Modern living at Bideford

  • 393 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 394 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 395 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 396 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 397

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 398 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 399 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 400 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 401 No sale of Springfield House

  • 402 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 403 In their new robes and hats

  • 404 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 405 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 406 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 407 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 408 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 409 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 410 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 411 All for the love of a lady!

  • 412 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 413

    Jinxed School Trip
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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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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