• 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 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 2 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 3 Picking the pops

  • 4 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 5 In their new robes and hats

  • 6 Waldon Triplets
  • 7 Simple Item 138
  • 8 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 9 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 10 Just over a year old

  • 11 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 12 New choral society's growing response

  • 13 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 14 All aboard the ark

  • 15 End of the line

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

  • 17 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 18 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 19 New art gallery opened

  • 20 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 21 Modern living at Bideford

  • 22 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

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

  • 24 New addition to Quay front

  • 25 No sale of Springfield House

  • 26 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 27 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 28 The art of the thatcher

  • 29 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 30 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 31 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 32 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 33 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 34 So this is the mainland!

  • 35 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 36 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 37 Torrington children build igloo
  • 38 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 39 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 40 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 41 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 42 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 43 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 44

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 45 Circus comes to town

  • 46 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 47

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 48 No laughing matter

  • 49 Recognise this resort?

  • 50 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 51 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

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

  • 53 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 54

    Was a missionary
  • 55 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 56

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 57 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 58 Penny for the guy

  • 59 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 60 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 61 Ten year old scrambler

  • 62 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 63

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 64 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 65 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 66 Sight of a lifetime

  • 67

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 68 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 69 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 70

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 71 Off on a great adventure

  • 72 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 73 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 74 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 75 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 76 Emergency ferry services

  • 77 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 78 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 79 A bird of their own!

  • 80 New Lundy stamps

  • 81

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 82 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 83 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 84 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 85 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 86 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 87 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 88 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 89 Can spring be far away?

  • 90 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 91 A lost Bideford 'island'

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

  • 93 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 94 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 95

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 96 Some mushroom!

  • 97 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 98 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 99 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 100 Revenge in style

  • 101 A man and his wheel

  • 102 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 103 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 104 New life for Hartland organ

  • 105 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 106 Northam's almshouse

  • 107 Parkham plan realised

  • 108 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 109

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 110 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 111 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 112 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 113 North Devon Driving School

  • 114 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 115 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 116 Life begins at 80

  • 117 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 118 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 119

    Building works
  • 120

    Bidefordians
  • 121 Police station view of Bideford

  • 122 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 123 A story to tell!

  • 124 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 125 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 126 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 127 New shipyard on schedule

  • 128 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 129 Clovelly nightmare

  • 130 Riverside mystery

  • 131 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 132 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 133 Hartland Dancers
  • 134 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 135 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 136 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 137 Mobile missionary

  • 138

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 139 Six footed lamb

  • 140 Bridging the stream

  • 141 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 142 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 143 Loads of black and white

  • 144 Hartland's invitation

  • 145 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 146 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 147 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 148 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 149 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 150 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 151 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

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

  • 153 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 154 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 155 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 156 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 157 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 158 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 159 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 160 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 161 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 162 Jumble sale fever

  • 163 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 164 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 165 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 166 Bideford regatta

  • 167 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 168 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 169 Clovelly custom

  • 170 Torridge wins on time schedule

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

  • 172 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 173 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 174 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 175

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 176 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 177 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 178 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 179 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 180 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 181 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 182 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 183 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 184 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 185 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 186 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 187 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 188

    New gateway
  • 189 Appledore's largest

  • 190 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 191 Capers on the cobbles

  • 192 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 193 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 194 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 195 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 196 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 197

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 198 Northam footballers of the future

  • 199 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 200 Torrington's new amenity

  • 201 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 202 He beat the floods

  • 203 New Post Office

  • 204 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 205 Out of puff!

  • 206

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 207 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 208 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 209 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 210 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 211 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 212 Littleham family's five generations

  • 213 Torrington in 1967

  • 214

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 215 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 216

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 217

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 218 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 219 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 220 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 221 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 222 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 223 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 224

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 225 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 226 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 227 What's the time?

  • 228 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 229 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 230 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 231 By pony and trap to market

  • 232 First ship in 8 years

  • 233 School's link with cargo ship

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

  • 235 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

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

  • 237 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 238 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 239 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 240 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 241 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 242 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 243 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 244 Cruising down the river

  • 245

    Married in 1908
  • 246 Centenary of Gazette

  • 247 For crying out loud!

  • 248 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 249 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 250 Ships at Bideford

  • 251 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 252 Last train from Torrington

  • 253 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 254 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 255 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 256 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 257 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 258 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 259 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 260 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 261 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 262 When horses score over the tractor

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

  • 264 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 265 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 266 New look in the hayfields

  • 267 Private home for public pump

  • 268 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 269 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 270

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 271 Artisans' Club

  • 272 Devil sent packing

  • 273 Burnard family reunion

  • 274 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 275 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 276 The Geneva marionettes

  • 277

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 278 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 279 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 280 Picking the pops

  • 281 Twenty-one yachts

  • 282 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 283 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 284 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 285 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 286 Finished in 1876

  • 287 Warmington's garage ad

  • 288 New civic medallions

  • 289 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 290 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 291 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 292 They are parted pro-tem

  • 293

    First prize
  • 294 Traditions and skills still there

  • 295 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 296 Happy Days!

  • 297 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 298 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 299 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 300 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 301 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 302 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 303

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 304

    Exhibition of school work
  • 305 It really was the 'last time'

  • 306 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 307 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 308 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 309

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 310 Hartland postman retires

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

  • 312

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

  • 314 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 315 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 316 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 317 Second Monte Carlo Rally

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

  • 319 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 320 Service with a smile

  • 321 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 322 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 323 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 324 Weare Giffard potato

  • 325 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 326 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 327 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 328 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 329 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 330 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 331 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 332 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 333 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 334 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 335 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 336 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 337 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 338 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 339 Decontrol of meat

  • 340 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 341 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 342 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 343 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 344 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 345 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 346 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 347 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 348

    Relatives all over the world
  • 349 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 350 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 351 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 352 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 353 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 354 Bideford computer stars

  • 355

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 356 Peter poses for TV film

  • 357 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 358 School crossing patrol begins

  • 359 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 360 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 361 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

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

  • 363 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 364

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 365 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 366 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 367 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 368 Variety in summer weather

  • 369 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 370 Puppet characters introduced

  • 371 A roof-top view - where?

  • 372 113 years at Instow

  • 373 All for the love of a lady!

  • 374 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 375 Bideford loses training ship

  • 376

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 377 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 378 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 379 Some 240 exhibits

  • 380 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 381 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 382 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 383 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 384 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 385 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

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 Council Bombshell in 1940

A member of Bideford Town Council Mr A I Rogers, dropped a bombshell when without any previous intimation he announced at yesterday’s meeting of the Council that he was resigning his membership immediately. 

1940 Inkerman Rogers

Towards the end of the meeting Mr Rogers said that would be his last meeting on the Council and he was vacating his seat forthwith.
Mr G H Braddick: What for?
Mr Rogers said he would give his reasons in his notice to the Town Clerk the following day.
Mr Braddick: We cannot accept it without a reason.
Mr Rogers: I do not want you to accept anything. I will explain in my note to the Town Clerk.
Mr T A Goaman said Mr Rogers was elected for a term of three years, and he might just as well go on.
Mr Rogers: My decision is final.
Mr Braddick: Is it the Council’s fault?
There was no reply to this question, but when Mr Braddick mentioned the words ‘Ratepayers’ Association’ Mr Rogers jumped to his feet and said ‘I have never craved any man’ smile, and I do not fear their frowns’.
The Mayor, Mr J H Bright, who presided, said he was very sorry to hear Mr Rogers’ announcement and Ald H W Fulford said he hoped he would reconsider the matter. Questioned by a Press representative, Mr Rogers declined to make any statement on his decision. Mr Rogers was elected to the Council for a three years term in November 1938.

To Be Offered To Mr Inkerman Rogers and Alderman F E Whiting

Bideford Town Council, at their meeting yesterday (1947) decided to offer Mr Inkerman Rogers, author of the newly published ‘Ships and Shipyards of Bideford, Devon’, and Ald F E Whiting, former Mayor, the Honorary Freedom of the Borough.

May 1951 Mr Inkerman Rogers

At the September meeting of the Council, the General Purposes Committee was instructed to consider bestowing upon Mr Rogers some fitting recognition of the Borough’s gratitude for his valued services. At yesterday’s meeting the Committee recommended, and it was approved, that the Council should invite Mr Inkerman Rogers to allow the Council to confer upon him the Honorary Freedom of the Borough ‘as a mark of appreciation of his many antiquarian and other researches in connection with the history of the town’.
At a later meeting the Committee decided to recommend that Ald Frank E Whiting should also be asked to allow the Council to confer upon him the Honorary Freedom of the Borough in recognition of his many valued contributions to the life of the Borough.
In the event of their acceptance, it was decided, the necessary arrangements should be referred to a sub-committee consisting of the Mayor, Mr J Lang, Ald H A W Huxham, Ald T Burton and Cllr J H Sharley, with power to deal.
There are only two Honorary Freemen of Bideford left today – Sir Hugh N G Stucley and Ald H A W Huxham. Both are former Mayors.

Death of Mr E A Stapledon, a well known land agent, in 1952

The death occurred at ‘Damerels’, Limers Lane, Northam, on Sunday of Mr Ernest Allen Stepledon who, until he retired in 1946, had been the senior partner of the well known North Devon firm of land agents of Messrs Smyth-Richards and Stapledon for many years.

Death of Mr E A Stapledon 1952

Mr Stapledon, who was 80, was a son of the late Mr William Stapledon, of Lakenham, Northam, and was educated at the United Services College at Westward Ho! and the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester.

Mr Stapledon first entered into partnership with the late Mr J Groves Cooper under the title of Groves Cooper and Stapledon. On retirement of his partner, he took Mr C R E Powell into partnership, the firm becoming Groves Cooper, Stapledon and Powell. When Mr Powell retired, Mr Stapledon amalgamated with Messrs Smyth-Richards and Fox of Barnstaple, and on the death of Mr Fox, the firm became Messrs Smyth-Richards and Stapledon. For many years he carried out the duties of Consular Agent for France up to the time of the time of the collapse of that country during the evening 1939-45 war.

Mr Stapledon was a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, a Fellow of the Land Agents’ Society, a Member of the Institute of Registered Architects and a Member of the Royal Agricultural College.

He leaves a widow and two sons and a daughter. Mr C W Stapledon is partner of the firm of Messrs William Stapledon and Sons of Port Said, Egypt, and Mr R de S Stapledon, OBE, is economic secretary to the East African High Commission, Nairobi. The daughter, Miss Mariel Stapledon, lives at home. Another son, Mr C E C Stapledon B.Sc, (Naval architecture), who was with the Crown Agent, Singapore, died in a Japanese internment camp in Sumatra in 1945.

The funeral of Mr Stapledon took place privately.

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