• 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 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 2 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 3 Last train from Torrington

  • 4 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 5 Hartland postman retires

  • 6 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 7 Mobile missionary

  • 8 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 9 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 10 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 11 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 12 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 13 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 14 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 15 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 16 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 17

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 18

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 19 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 20 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 21 Clovelly nightmare

  • 22

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 23 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 24 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 25 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 26

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 27 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 28 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 29 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 30 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 31 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 32 Torrington children build igloo
  • 33 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 34 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 35 North Devon Driving School

  • 36 Jumble sale fever

  • 37

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 38 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 39 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 40 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 41 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 42 Parkham plan realised

  • 43 Clovelly custom

  • 44 Warmington's garage ad

  • 45 Variety in summer weather

  • 46 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 47 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 48 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 49 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 50 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 51 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 52 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 53 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 54 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 55

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 56 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 57 Finished in 1876

  • 58 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 59 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 60

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 61 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 62 Pannier Market's future?

  • 63 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 64 Bridging the stream

  • 65 Peter poses for TV film

  • 66 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 67 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 68 Ships at Bideford

  • 69 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 70 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 71 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 72 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 73 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 74 He beat the floods

  • 75

    Building works
  • 76 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 77

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 78 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 79 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 80 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 81 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 82 Ten year old scrambler

  • 83 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 84 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 85 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 86 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 87 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 88 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 89 Bideford computer stars

  • 90 Happy Days!

  • 91 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 92 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 93 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 94

    First prize
  • 95

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 96

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 97

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 98 Simple Item 138
  • 99 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 100 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 101 New Lundy stamps

  • 102 Recognise this resort?

  • 103 No ancient Grecian temple this

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

  • 105 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 106 It really was the 'last time'

  • 107 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 108 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 109 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 110 New art gallery opened

  • 111 School crossing patrol begins

  • 112 They are parted pro-tem

  • 113 Can spring be far away?

  • 114 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 115 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 116 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 117

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 118 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 119 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 120 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 121

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 122 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 123 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

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

  • 125 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 126 No sale of Springfield House

  • 127 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 128 Burnard family reunion

  • 129 Picking the pops

  • 130 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 131 First ship in 8 years

  • 132 Waldon Triplets
  • 133 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 134 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 135 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 136 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 137 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

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

  • 139 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 140

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 141

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 142 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 143 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 144 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 145 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 146 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 147 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 148 All for the love of a lady!

  • 149 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 150 The art of the thatcher

  • 151 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 152 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 153 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 154 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 155 Out of puff!

  • 156

    Bidefordians
  • 157 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 158 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 159 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 160 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 161 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 162 Puppet characters introduced

  • 163 Centenary of Gazette

  • 164 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 165 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 166 Riverside mystery

  • 167

    Was a missionary
  • 168 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 169 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 170 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 171 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 172 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 173 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 174 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 175

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 176 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 177 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 178 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 179 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 180 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 181 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 182 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 183

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 184 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 185 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 186 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 187 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 188 Private home for public pump

  • 189 Weare Giffard potato

  • 190 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 191 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 192 Bideford regatta

  • 193 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 194 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 195 Northam footballers of the future

  • 196 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 197 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 198 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 199 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 200 Just over a year old

  • 201 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 202 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 203 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 204 A man and his wheel

  • 205 Northam's almshouse

  • 206 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 207 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 208

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 209 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 210 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 211 Torrington's new amenity

  • 212 New life for Hartland organ

  • 213 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 214 By pony and trap to market

  • 215 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 216 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 217 Modern living at Bideford

  • 218 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 219 For crying out loud!

  • 220 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 221 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 222 Decontrol of meat

  • 223 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 224 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 225

    Married in 1908
  • 226 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 227 Capers on the cobbles

  • 228 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 229 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 230 Artisans' Club

  • 231 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 232 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 233 Circus comes to town

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

  • 235 End of the line

  • 236 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 237 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

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

  • 239 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 240 Twenty-one yachts

  • 241 Torrington in 1967

  • 242 New look in the hayfields

  • 243 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 244 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 245 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 246 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 247

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 248 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 249 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 250 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 251 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 252

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 253 Some 240 exhibits

  • 254 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 255 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 256 New Post Office

  • 257 Penny for the guy

  • 258 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 259 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 260 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 261 Service with a smile

  • 262 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 263 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 264 Six footed lamb

  • 265 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 266 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 267 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 268 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 269 What's the time?

  • 270 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 271 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 272 Appledore's largest

  • 273 A roof-top view - where?

  • 274 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 275 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 276 Cruising down the river

  • 277 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 278 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 279 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 280 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 281 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 282

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 283 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 284 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 285 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 286 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 287

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 288 Life begins at 80

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

  • 290 Devil sent packing

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

  • 292

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 293 No laughing matter

  • 294 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 295 X-ray shoe fitting

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

  • 297 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 298 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 299

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 300 The Geneva marionettes

  • 301 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 302 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 303 New civic medallions

  • 304 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 305 In their new robes and hats

  • 306 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 307 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 308 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 309

    Relatives all over the world
  • 310 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 311 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 312 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 313

    New gateway
  • 314 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 315 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 316 School's link with cargo ship

  • 317 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 318 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 319 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 320 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 321 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

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

  • 323

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 324 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 325 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 326 New shipyard on schedule

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

  • 328 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 329 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 330 Sight of a lifetime

  • 331 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 332 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 333 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 334 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 335 Traditions and skills still there

  • 336 New choral society's growing response

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

  • 338 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 339 Hartland Dancers
  • 340 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 341 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 342 Revenge in style

  • 343 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 344 Loads of black and white

  • 345 When horses score over the tractor

  • 346 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 347 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 348 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 349 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 350 A story to tell!

  • 351 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 352 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 353 So this is the mainland!

  • 354

    Exhibition of school work
  • 355 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 356 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 357 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 358 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 359 Hartland's invitation

  • 360 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 361 New addition to Quay front

  • 362 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 363 Picking the pops

  • 364 Emergency ferry services

  • 365 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 366 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 367 Some mushroom!

  • 368 113 years at Instow

  • 369 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 370 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 371 Off on a great adventure

  • 372 A bird of their own!

  • 373 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 374 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 375 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 376 Bideford loses training ship

  • 377 All aboard the ark

  • 378 Littleham family's five generations

  • 379 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 380 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 381 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 382 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 383 Police station view of Bideford

  • 384 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 385 Calf thinks of mare as mum

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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Another Lundy Giant

Mr Arthur Strick, Lundy fisherman, discovered another Lundy giant at the weekend – in his lobster pots.

23.6.1961 Lundy lobster

Lundy is renowned for its lobsters, but this one, weighing 10lb, was described by Mr Trevor Davey (skipper of the ‘Lundy Gannet’) who brought it to the mainland, as ‘the biggest I ever saw’. It was consigned to the New Inn Hotel, Bideford.
The full Gazette article is dated 23 June 1961

New Book On Lundy Tells Its Fascinating History

When Anthony and Myrtle Langham embarked on ‘attempt to collect together all available information about Lundy and to present as complete a picture of the island – past and present – as is yet possible’ they set themselves a monumental task.

3.3.1961 Lundy book

But it is apparent when reading ‘Lundy Bristol Channel’ that here was no task; only a labour of love – a privately printed edition limited to 250 copies – are crammed facts in profusion, but they have been woven into so interesting a tapestry that even those to whom Lundy is little more than a name, or perhaps a smudge on the horizon, cannot, as readers, fail to absorb to a large degree something of the fascination that the island holds for the writers.
It has been the home of people of high degree and the haunt of pirates; the notorious Captain Kidd was taken to the island after his capture in New England; a skeleton discovered in a stone coffin is thought to have been that of Hubba the Dane who was slain at Bloody Corner in 878.
After the Norman conquest Lundy as a centre of political intrigue was a thorn in the flesh of successive monarchs and one owner, William de Marisco, came to a particularly sticky end in 1242.
With Sark, Lundy shares the distinction of being free of Income Tax, and the islanders pay no rates. In fact the only tax they pay is National Health Insurance. No Customs and Excise duties are levied.
The full Gazette article is dated 3 March 1961

Policeman Who Became Lundy Authority 1962

Policeman Who Became Lundy Authority 1962

Mr Blackwell Lundy 1962 Policeman

Mr Alfred Blackwell of Instow, a former London police officer who retired and came to North Devon in 1936 celebrates his golden wedding anniversary. He wrote about Lundy extensively and has broadcast about it on many occasions.

 

 

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