• 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 A bird of their own!

  • 2 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 3

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 4 Pannier Market's future?

  • 5 Can spring be far away?

  • 6 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 7

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 8 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 9 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 10 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 11 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 12 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 13 New art gallery opened

  • 14 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 15 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 16 The Geneva marionettes

  • 17 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 18 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 19 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 20 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 21 Warmington's garage ad

  • 22 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 23 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 24

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 25 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 26 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 27

    Was a missionary
  • 28 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 29 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 30 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 31 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 32 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 33 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 34 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 35 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

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

  • 37 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 38

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 39 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 40 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 41 New look in the hayfields

  • 42 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 43 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 44 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 45 Puppet characters introduced

  • 46 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 47 Capers on the cobbles

  • 48 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 49 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 50 Centenary of Gazette

  • 51 Quads join a Langtree happy family

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

  • 53 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 54

    Bidefordians
  • 55 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 56 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 57 Picking the pops

  • 58 New life for Hartland organ

  • 59

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 60 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 61 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 62 Police station view of Bideford

  • 63 Twenty-one yachts

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

  • 65

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 66 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 67 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 68 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 69 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 70 New civic medallions

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

  • 72 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 73 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 74

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 75 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 76 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 77 All for the love of a lady!

  • 78 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 79 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 80 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 81 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 82 Some 240 exhibits

  • 83 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 84 For crying out loud!

  • 85 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 86 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 87 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 88 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 89 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 90 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 91 Happy Days!

  • 92 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 93 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 94 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 95

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 96 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 97 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 98 A story to tell!

  • 99 Clovelly nightmare

  • 100 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 101 End of the line

  • 102 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 103 New Post Office

  • 104 New choral society's growing response

  • 105 Bideford computer stars

  • 106 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 107 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 108 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 109 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 110 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 111 New shipyard on schedule

  • 112 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 113 Weare Giffard potato

  • 114 Life begins at 80

  • 115 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 116 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 117 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

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

  • 119 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 120 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 121 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 122 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 123 Northam footballers of the future

  • 124 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 125 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 126 When horses score over the tractor

  • 127

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 128

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 129 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 130 Loads of black and white

  • 131 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 132 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 133 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 134 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 135 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 136 Torrington children build igloo
  • 137

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 138

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 139 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 140 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 141 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 142 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 143 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 144 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 145 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 146 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 147 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 148 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 149 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 150 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 151 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 152 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 153 Simple Item 138
  • 154 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 155

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 156

    Relatives all over the world
  • 157 Artisans' Club

  • 158 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 159 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 160 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 161

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 162 North Devon Driving School

  • 163 Some mushroom!

  • 164 Modern living at Bideford

  • 165 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 166 Hartland's invitation

  • 167 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 168 New Lundy stamps

  • 169 It really was the 'last time'

  • 170 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 171 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 172 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 173 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 174 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 175 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

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

  • 177 Burnard family reunion

  • 178 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 179 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 180 Littleham family's five generations

  • 181 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 182 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 183 All aboard the ark

  • 184 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 185 Waldon Triplets
  • 186 Recognise this resort?

  • 187 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 188 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 189 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 190 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 191 They set out for Bideford and became lost

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

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

  • 194 A roof-top view - where?

  • 195 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 196 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 197 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 198 Hartland postman retires

  • 199 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 200 Last train from Torrington

  • 201 First ship in 8 years

  • 202 Picking the pops

  • 203 They are parted pro-tem

  • 204 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 205 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 206 Just over a year old

  • 207 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 208 Service with a smile

  • 209

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 210 113 years at Instow

  • 211 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 212 School crossing patrol begins

  • 213

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 214 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 215 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 216 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 217 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 218 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 219 What's the time?

  • 220 Off on a great adventure

  • 221 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 222 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 223 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

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

  • 225 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 226 Devil sent packing

  • 227 From Bobby to Brian

  • 228 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 229 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 230 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 231

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 232 Hartland Dancers
  • 233 Riverside mystery

  • 234 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 235 Mobile missionary

  • 236 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 237 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 238 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 239 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 240 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 241 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 242

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 243 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 244 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 245 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 246 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 247 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 248 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 249 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 250 School's link with cargo ship

  • 251 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 252 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 253 Six footed lamb

  • 254 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 255 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 256 Parkham plan realised

  • 257 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 258 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 259

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 260 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 261 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 262

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 263 In their new robes and hats

  • 264 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 265 Torrington in 1967

  • 266

    Building works
  • 267 Northam's almshouse

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

  • 269 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 270 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 271 Filming at Hartland

  • 272 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 273 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 274

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 275 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 276 Emergency ferry services

  • 277 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 278

    New gateway
  • 279 Variety in summer weather

  • 280

    First prize
  • 281 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

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

  • 283 Ten year old scrambler

  • 284 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 285 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 286 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 287 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 288 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 289 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 290 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 291 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 292 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 293 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 294 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 295 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 296 Jumble sale fever

  • 297 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 298 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 299 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 300 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 301 Private home for public pump

  • 302 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 303 Appledore's largest

  • 304 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 305 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 306 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 307 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 308 Sweets derationing

  • 309 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 310 New addition to Quay front

  • 311 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 312 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 313 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 314

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 315

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 316 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 317 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 318 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 319 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 320 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 321 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 322 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 323 Finished in 1876

  • 324 Ships at Bideford

  • 325 Bridging the stream

  • 326 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 327 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 328 Decontrol of meat

  • 329 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 330 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 331 Revenge in style

  • 332 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 333 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 334 Out of puff!

  • 335 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 336 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 337 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 338 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 339 He beat the floods

  • 340 Peter poses for TV film

  • 341 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 342 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 343 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 344 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 345 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 346 Circus comes to town

  • 347 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 348 By pony and trap to market

  • 349 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 350 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 351 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 352 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 353

    Exhibition of school work
  • 354 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 355

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 356

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 357 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 358

    Married in 1908
  • 359 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 360 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 361 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 362 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 363 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 364 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 365 Torrington's new amenity

  • 366 Clovelly custom

  • 367 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 368 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 369 So this is the mainland!

  • 370 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 371 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 372 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 373 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 374 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 375 The art of the thatcher

  • 376 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 377 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 378 Traditions and skills still there

  • 379 No laughing matter

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

  • 381 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 382 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 383 The creative urge on Saturday morning

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

  • 385 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 386 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 387 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 388 Cruising down the river

  • 389 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 390 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 391 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 392 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 393 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 394 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 395 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 396 A man and his wheel

  • 397 Bideford loses training ship

  • 398 Penny for the guy

  • 399 Bideford regatta

  • 400 Sight of a lifetime

  • 401 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 402 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 403 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 404 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 405 The cab at the corner>
  • 406 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 407 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 408 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 409 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 410 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 411 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 412 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 413 No sale of Springfield House

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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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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