• 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 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 2 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 3 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 4 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 5 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 6 Life begins at 80

  • 7

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 8 Clovelly nightmare

  • 9 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 10 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 11 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 12 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 13 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 14 Mobile missionary

  • 15 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 16 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 17 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 18 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 19 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 20 New civic medallions

  • 21 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 22 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 23 From Bobby to Brian

  • 24 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 25 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 26 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 27 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 28 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 29 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 30 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 31 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 32 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 33

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 34 Finished in 1876

  • 35

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 36 Sixty-two year old Picarooner makes ready for season

  • 37 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 38 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 39 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 40 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 41 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 42 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 43 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 44 School's link with cargo ship

  • 45 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 46 They are parted pro-tem

  • 47 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 48 Bideford computer stars

  • 49 Torrington in 1967

  • 50 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 51

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 52 School crossing patrol begins

  • 53 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 54 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 55 Hartland postman retires

  • 56 Some 240 exhibits

  • 57 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 58 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 59 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 60 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 61 Bideford loses training ship

  • 62

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 63 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 64 In their new robes and hats

  • 65 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

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

  • 67 By pony and trap to market

  • 68 Artisans' Club

  • 69 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 70 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 71 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 72 Burnard family reunion

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

  • 74 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

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

  • 76 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 77 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 78 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 79 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 80 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 81 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 82 A story to tell!

  • 83

    Relatives all over the world
  • 84 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 85 Twenty-one yachts

  • 86 Peter poses for TV film

  • 87 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 88 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 89

    Bidefordians
  • 90

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 91 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 92 Last train from Torrington

  • 93 Devil sent packing

  • 94 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 95 Second Monte Carlo Rally

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

  • 97 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 98 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 99 For crying out loud!

  • 100 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 101 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 102 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 103

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 104 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 105 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

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

  • 107 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 108 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 109 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 110 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 111 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 112 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 113 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 114 No sale of Springfield House

  • 115 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 116

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 117 Picking the pops

  • 118 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 119

    First prize
  • 120 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 121 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 122

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 123 Bridging the stream

  • 124 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 125 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 126 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 127 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 128 So this is the mainland!

  • 129 Hartland Dancers
  • 130 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 131 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 132 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 133 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 134 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 135 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 136 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 137 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 138 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 139 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 140 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 141 What's the time?

  • 142 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 143 New shipyard on schedule

  • 144 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 145

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 146 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 147 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 148 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 149 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 150 Circus comes to town

  • 151 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 152 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 153 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 154 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 155 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 156 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 157 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 158 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 159 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 160

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 161 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 162 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 163 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 164 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 165 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 166 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 167 Waldon Triplets
  • 168 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

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

  • 170 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 171 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 172 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 173

    Married in 1908
  • 174 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 175 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 176 New look in the hayfields

  • 177 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 178 Out of puff!

  • 179 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 180 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 181 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 182 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 183 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 184

    Building works
  • 185 Parkham plan realised

  • 186 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 187

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 188

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 189 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 190 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 191 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 192 Penny for the guy

  • 193

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 194

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 195 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 196 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 197 New Lundy stamps

  • 198 Pannier Market's future?

  • 199 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 200 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

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

  • 202 New addition to Quay front

  • 203 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 204 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 205 Revenge in style

  • 206 Sight of a lifetime

  • 207 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 208

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 209 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 210 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 211 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 212 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 213 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 214 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 215 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 216 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 217 Littleham family's five generations

  • 218 Modern living at Bideford

  • 219 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 220 Variety in summer weather

  • 221 Some mushroom!

  • 222 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 223 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 224 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 225 Capers on the cobbles

  • 226 All aboard the ark

  • 227 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 228 Hartland's invitation

  • 229 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 230 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 231 Happy Days!

  • 232 Weare Giffard potato

  • 233 Sweets derationing

  • 234 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 235 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 236 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 237

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 238 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 239 New choral society's growing response

  • 240 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 241 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 242 Loads of black and white

  • 243 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 244 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 245 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 246 Bideford regatta

  • 247 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 248 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 249 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 250 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 251 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 252 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 253 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 254 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 255 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 256 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 257

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 258 Jumble sale fever

  • 259 End of the line

  • 260 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 261 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 262 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 263 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 264 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 265 Northam footballers of the future

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

  • 267 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 268 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 269 113 years at Instow

  • 270 Puppet characters introduced

  • 271 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 272 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 273 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 274 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 275 No laughing matter

  • 276

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 277 Warmington's garage ad

  • 278 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 279 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 280 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 281 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 282 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 283 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 284 North Devon Driving School

  • 285 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 286 Decontrol of meat

  • 287 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 288 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 289 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 290 The art of the thatcher

  • 291 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 292 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 293 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 294 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 295 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 296 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 297 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 298 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 299 Private home for public pump

  • 300 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 301 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 302 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 303 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 304 Cruising down the river

  • 305 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 306 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 307 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 308 Northam's almshouse

  • 309 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 310 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 311 Ships at Bideford

  • 312 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 313 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 314 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 315 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 316 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 317 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 318 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 319 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 320 Police station view of Bideford

  • 321 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 322 Just over a year old

  • 323 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 324 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 325 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 326 Can spring be far away?

  • 327 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 328 Torrington children build igloo
  • 329 Future of Torrington almshouses

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

  • 331

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 332 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 333 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 334 It really was the 'last time'

  • 335 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 336 All for the love of a lady!

  • 337

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 338 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 339 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 340 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 341 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 342 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 343 When horses score over the tractor

  • 344 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 345 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 346 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 347 Centenary of Gazette

  • 348 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 349 Traditions and skills still there

  • 350 The cab at the corner>
  • 351 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 352 Appledore's largest

  • 353 Recognise this resort?

  • 354 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 355 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 356 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 357 Picking the pops

  • 358 Off on a great adventure

  • 359 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 360 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 361 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 362

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 363 New Post Office

  • 364 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 365 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 366 Filming at Hartland

  • 367 Riverside mystery

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

  • 369 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 370 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 371 Torrington's new amenity

  • 372 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 373 First ship in 8 years

  • 374 Buckland goes to County Show

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

  • 376 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 377 Service with a smile

  • 378 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 379 New art gallery opened

  • 380 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 381

    Exhibition of school work
  • 382 A bird of their own!

  • 383 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 384

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 385

    New gateway
  • 386 Ten year old scrambler

  • 387 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 388 Simple Item 138
  • 389

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 390 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 391 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 392 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 393 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 394 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 395 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 396 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 397 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 398

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 399 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 400 A roof-top view - where?

  • 401 He beat the floods

  • 402 Clovelly custom

  • 403 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 404 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 405 Six footed lamb

  • 406 A man and his wheel

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

  • 408 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 409 New life for Hartland organ

  • 410 The Geneva marionettes

  • 411 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 412 Emergency ferry services

  • 413

    Was a missionary
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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  • 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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  • 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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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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Leaving North Devon

Brig C H M Peto has sold Kenwith Castle, his Abbotsham home, and has left for Marlborough, Wiltshire.

1954 C H M Peto

The new property, says Brig Peto, has about 22 acres, but he is hoping to obtain an adjoining farm to continue his agricultural pursuits. Brig Peto, who is not seeking re-election to Parliament at the next election – he has been Member of Parliament for the former North West Devon Division and, following constituency boundary reviews, for the North Devon Division since 1945 – took up residence at Kenwith Castle at the end of the last war. His late father, Sir Basil Peto, who was also MP for North West Devon for 12 years, was an honorary Freeman of Bideford in appreciation of his services to the community and in particular towards securing the restoration of the title of Port to the borough. ‘I shall, indeed, be sad to go, because my roots seem to have grown down in this neighbourhood and constituency’ Brig Peto said. ‘But Marlborough is within easy distance by road, or rail to London, which is a considerable factor when one has children going out into the world. We want to be able to have them home occasionally for weekends, and this would be practically impossible if we remained here’.

This is a 1954 Gazette article.

Abbotsham - Northam Wedding

Abbotsham - Northam Wedding - 16th January 1970

Wedding Ridd Rucki
 

The wedding has taken place at Bideford Register Office of Mr Kelvin John Charles Ridd, only son of Mr and Mrs John Ridd of 1 Seaview, Abbotsham, and Miss Sheila Mary Rucki, younger daughter of Mr and Mrs John Rucki of 37 Morwenna Park Road, Northam.
Best man was the bride's brother-in-law, Mr John Dyer. The reception was held at Durrant House Hotel.

Silver Jubilee of Abbotsham WI

Silver Jubilee of Abbotsham WI - 10th December 1971

Abbotsham WI 10 Dec 1971
 

A very successful silver jubilee dinner and dance was held in the New Inn Hotel, Bideford, by members of Abbotsham W.I.
The president (Mrs K Vanstone) welcomed a party of 70 members with their husbands and other guests.
A celebration cake, made by Mrs H Graham and iced by Mrs E Violet, was ceremonially cut by Miss Annie James, the oldest member.
Three past presidents were at the party.
Mrs R Beer proposed the toast to the guests, to which Mrs E Hemmel replied.
During the evening a boquet was presented to the president in appreciation of her efforts in arranging the function.

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