• 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 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 2 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 3 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 4 Torrington in 1967

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

  • 6

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 7 All for the love of a lady!

  • 8 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 9 Torrington children build igloo
  • 10

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 11

    Married in 1908
  • 12 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 13 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 14 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 15 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 16 All aboard the ark

  • 17 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 18 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 19 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 20 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 21 A man and his wheel

  • 22 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 23 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 24 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 25 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 26

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 27 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 28 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 29 Police station view of Bideford

  • 30 Six footed lamb

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

  • 32 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 33 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 34 113 years at Instow

  • 35 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 36 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 37 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 38 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 39 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 40 Happy Days!

  • 41 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 42 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 43 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 44 Parkham plan realised

  • 45

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 46 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 47 The art of the thatcher

  • 48 Clovelly custom

  • 49

    First prize
  • 50 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 51 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 52 Decontrol of meat

  • 53

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 54 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 55 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 56 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 57

    New gateway
  • 58 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 59 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 60 Cruising down the river

  • 61 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 62

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 63 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 64 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 65 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 66 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 67 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 68 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 69 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 70 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 71 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 72 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 73 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 74 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 75 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 76 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 77 Ships at Bideford

  • 78 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 79 Northam footballers of the future

  • 80 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 81 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 82 Burnard family reunion

  • 83 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 84 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 85 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 86 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 87 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 88 No laughing matter

  • 89 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 90 New civic medallions

  • 91 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 92 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 93 Traditions and skills still there

  • 94

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 95 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 96 Weare Giffard potato

  • 97 The Geneva marionettes

  • 98 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 99 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 100 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 101 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 102

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

  • 104 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 105 Getting up steam for tomorrow

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

  • 107 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 108 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 109 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 110 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 111 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 112 When horses score over the tractor

  • 113 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 114 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 115 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 116 What's the time?

  • 117 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 118 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 119 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 120 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 121 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 122 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 123 Revenge in style

  • 124 Can spring be far away?

  • 125 Last train from Torrington

  • 126 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 127

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 128 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 129 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 130 Some mushroom!

  • 131 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 132 Bideford loses training ship

  • 133 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 134 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 135 Just over a year old

  • 136 In their new robes and hats

  • 137 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

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

  • 139 Centenary of Gazette

  • 140 New life for Hartland organ

  • 141 Bideford regatta

  • 142 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 143 Clovelly nightmare

  • 144 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 145 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 146 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 147 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 148 New addition to Quay front

  • 149 Some 240 exhibits

  • 150 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 151

    Relatives all over the world
  • 152 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 153 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 154 Northam's almshouse

  • 155 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 156 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 157 Ten year old scrambler

  • 158 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 159 Picking the pops

  • 160 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 161 Waldon Triplets
  • 162 Hartland Dancers
  • 163 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 164 First ship in 8 years

  • 165 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 166 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 167 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 168 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 169 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 170 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 171 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 172 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 173 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 174 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 175 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 176 New shipyard on schedule

  • 177 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 178 School's link with cargo ship

  • 179 Jumble sale fever

  • 180

    Bidefordians
  • 181 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 182

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 183 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 184 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 185 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 186 Penny for the guy

  • 187 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 188 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 189 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 190 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 191 Off on a great adventure

  • 192 Emergency ferry services

  • 193 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 194 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 195 Bridging the stream

  • 196

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 197 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 198 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 199 Hartland postman retires

  • 200 Capers on the cobbles

  • 201 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 202 New Lundy stamps

  • 203 A bird of their own!

  • 204 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 205 Modern living at Bideford

  • 206 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 207 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 208 Warmington's garage ad

  • 209 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 210 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 211 Puppet characters introduced

  • 212 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 213 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 214 A roof-top view - where?

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

  • 216

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 217 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 218 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 219 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 220

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 221 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 222 Pannier Market's future?

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

  • 224 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 225 Devil sent packing

  • 226 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 227 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 228 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 229 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 230 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 231 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

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

  • 233 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 234

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 235

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 236

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 237 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 238 Simple Item 138
  • 239 Sight of a lifetime

  • 240 They are parted pro-tem

  • 241 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 242 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 243 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 244 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 245

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 246 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 247 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 248 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 249 Variety in summer weather

  • 250 For crying out loud!

  • 251 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 252 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 253 He beat the floods

  • 254 Picking the pops

  • 255 Twenty-one yachts

  • 256 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 257 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 258 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 259 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 260 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 261 Finished in 1876

  • 262 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 263 New art gallery opened

  • 264 Recognise this resort?

  • 265 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 266 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 267 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 268 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 269 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 270 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 271 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 272 Out of puff!

  • 273 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 274 New Post Office

  • 275 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 276 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 277 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 278 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

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

  • 280 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 281 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 282

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 283 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 284 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 285 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 286 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 287 Service with a smile

  • 288 Life begins at 80

  • 289

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 290 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 291 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 292 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 293 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 294 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 295 Hartland's invitation

  • 296

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 297

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 298 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 299 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 300

    Was a missionary
  • 301 Loads of black and white

  • 302 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 303 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 304 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 305 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 306 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 307 School crossing patrol begins

  • 308 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 309 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 310 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 311 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

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

  • 313 Appledore's largest

  • 314 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 315 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 316 New choral society's growing response

  • 317

    Building works
  • 318 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 319 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 320 New look in the hayfields

  • 321 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 322 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 323

    Exhibition of school work
  • 324 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 325 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 326 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 327 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 328 No sale of Springfield House

  • 329 Mobile missionary

  • 330 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 331 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 332 Torrington's new amenity

  • 333 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 334 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 335 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 336 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 337 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 338 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 339

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 340 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 341 By pony and trap to market

  • 342 Private home for public pump

  • 343 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

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

  • 345 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 346 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 347 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 348 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 349 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 350 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 351 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 352 Artisans' Club

  • 353 Peter poses for TV film

  • 354 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 355 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 356 A story to tell!

  • 357 End of the line

  • 358 Riverside mystery

  • 359 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 360 Circus comes to town

  • 361 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 362

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 363 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 364

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 365 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 366 So this is the mainland!

  • 367 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 368 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 369 Bideford computer stars

  • 370 It really was the 'last time'

  • 371 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 372 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 373 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 374 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 375

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 376 Littleham family's five generations

  • 377 North Devon Driving School

  • 378 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 379 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 380 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 381 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 382 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 383 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 384 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 385 Saving money, wear and tear

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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  • 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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  • 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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Twelfth Visit to the US - 1977

Twelfth Visit to the US - 1977

Cyril Braund 1977
 

Back from his 12th visit to the United States is Mr Cyril Braund, of Green Gardens, Northam, with a new fund of experiences to draw upon.

He and Mrs Braund have again been staying with their daughter, now in Kansas City. He had been there only three days and was sitting sunning himself in a temperature of 75 degrees when by chance an 'Eye Witness Report' television crew pulled up to obtain his views on that night's baseball match. More exciting was time spend with the police - but in the nicest possible way. A fellow Rotarian and a captain in the city police who is a traffic control officer took him on an extended tour of the black area. This really got him up in the air for his wish to travel in a police helicopter was quickly granted.

An assignment involved checking on a van speeding along the expressway and dropping down to take pictures, and another circling a house that it had been reported was being burgled. Back on the ground there was a visit to the pistol range.
Another highlight of the holiday was a trip to the Nasa Space Center in Houston where Mr Braund attended a meeting of the Rotary Club and heard a Congressman who had flown from Washington speaking about the engergy crisis in the US.

Mr Braund also enjoyed meeting again Mr Robert King, formerly a consultant at the NDI, Barnstaple, and now a heart specialist at St Luke's Hospital at Houston. He formerly lived in Instow which is the home of his son-in-law, Mr Geoffrey Day, former chairman of Bideford Round Table.

 

Joshua Petheridge Downing - Brass Plate

Joshua Petheridge Downing – Horwood, Devon - Brass Plate

A steam roller brass plate and booklets were donated by Richard Sandercock on 6 January 2015. His great-grandfather was Richard Dingle (Dingles Heritage Fairground at Lifton) who had 3 sons (no issue) and 1 daughter who married a Sandercock.

JP Downing of Horwood, Devon, ordered a Clayton and Shuttleworth steam roller (TA6236) from Dingles in 1913 – there was a legal requirement to have identification of the owner on the roller, hence the plaque.

The Downing Family history is:

1891 Census shows:

John Petheridge Downing (aged 35) married to Cora S Downing (aged 32) with 3 offspring – John Richard Downing (aged 10), Cora T Downing (aged 8 – 1882) and Joshua Downing (aged 1 – 1889). All living at East Barton, Horwood, Newton Tracey.
Later investigations identify Cora T Downing as Cora I Downing, Cora T Downind and Cora I Donning.

1901 Census shows:

As above with Richard C Downing (aged 2) and Penelope Rice Downing (aged 83). Cora T Downing still at Horwood.

John Petheridge Downing died in 1924 aged 69 – registered in Barnstaple. Joshua Downing died 1966 – registered in Barnstaple

1901 Census details an Ernest Charles Eveleigh (aged 19 - born Islington about 1882 – undergraduate at Oxford) boarding at Ilfracombe Hotel with other members of the Eveleigh family.

1911 Census (recorded 2 April) - Ernest Eveleigh, single, gentleman farmer and son of Head (10 Park Square West, Regents Park) – Irene Downing, aged 34 and single, from Horwood visiting.

Cora married Ernest C Eveleigh in the second quarter of 1911. Michael Eveleigh born 1914 – registered in first quarter in Barnstaple. 

Cora T Eveleigh died in 1967 and Ernest Charles Eveleigh died 4 February 1927, aged 45 (St Thomas, Devon). Wear House, Countess Wear, Devon (left to widow Cora Irene Downing)

 
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