• 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 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 2 Bicycle now does donkey work

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

  • 4 Emergency ferry services

  • 5

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 6 It really was the 'last time'

  • 7 Off on a great adventure

  • 8 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 9 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 10 The Geneva marionettes

  • 11 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 12

    Building works
  • 13 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 14 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 15 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 16 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 17 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 18

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 19 End of the line

  • 20 Decontrol of meat

  • 21 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 22 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 23 In their new robes and hats

  • 24 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 25 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 26 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 27 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 28 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 29 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 30 Simple Item 138
  • 31 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 32 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 33 Jumble sale fever

  • 34

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 35 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 36 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 37 Variety in summer weather

  • 38 Service with a smile

  • 39 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

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

  • 41 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 42 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 43 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 44 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 45 Police station view of Bideford

  • 46 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 47 He beat the floods

  • 48 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 49

    Relatives all over the world
  • 50

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 51 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 52 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 53 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 54 Hartland postman retires

  • 55 Peter poses for TV film

  • 56

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 57 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 58 Torrington in 1967

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

  • 60 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 61 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 62 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 63 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 64

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 65 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 66 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 67 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 68 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 69 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 70 New Lundy stamps

  • 71 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 72 North Devon Driving School

  • 73 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 74 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 75 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 76 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 77

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 78 New addition to Quay front

  • 79 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 80 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 81 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 82 What's the time?

  • 83 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 84 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 85 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 86 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 87

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 88 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 89 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 90 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 91 New civic medallions

  • 92 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 93 New look in the hayfields

  • 94 Northam footballers of the future

  • 95 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 96 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 97 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 98

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 99 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 100 From Bobby to Brian

  • 101 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 102 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 103 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 104 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 105 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 106 Recognise this resort?

  • 107 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 108 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 109 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 110 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 111 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 112 A roof-top view - where?

  • 113 Last of Bideford factory chimney

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

  • 115 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 116

    First prize
  • 117 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 118 Loads of black and white

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

  • 120 Bideford loses training ship

  • 121 The cab at the corner>
  • 122 113 years at Instow

  • 123 Weare Giffard potato

  • 124 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 125 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 126 Waldon Triplets
  • 127 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 128 Out of puff!

  • 129

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 130

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 131 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 132 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 133 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 134 Bideford computer stars

  • 135 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 136 New shipyard on schedule

  • 137 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 138 Torrington children build igloo
  • 139 Parkham plan realised

  • 140 Picking the pops

  • 141

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 142 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 143 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 144 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 145 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 146 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 147 Torrington's new amenity

  • 148 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 149 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 150 Bideford regatta

  • 151 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 152 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 153

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 154 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 155 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 156 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 157 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 158 A bird of their own!

  • 159 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 160 A story to tell!

  • 161 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 162 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 163 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 164 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 165 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 166

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 167 Littleham family's five generations

  • 168 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 169 Cruising down the river

  • 170 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 171 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 172 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 173

    Bidefordians
  • 174

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 175

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 176 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 177 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 178 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 179 Northam's almshouse

  • 180 Capers on the cobbles

  • 181 Puppet characters introduced

  • 182 Clovelly nightmare

  • 183 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 184 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 185 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 186 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 187 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 188 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 189 By pony and trap to market

  • 190 Twenty-one yachts

  • 191 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 192 Ships at Bideford

  • 193

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 194 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 195 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 196 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 197 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 198 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 199 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 200 Hartland Dancers
  • 201 Traditions and skills still there

  • 202

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 203 Riverside mystery

  • 204 Can spring be far away?

  • 205

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 206 Mobile missionary

  • 207 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 208 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 209 New Lundy air-mail stamps

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

  • 211 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 212 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 213 School's link with cargo ship

  • 214 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 215

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

  • 217 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 218 Artisans' Club

  • 219 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 220 Filming at Hartland

  • 221 New art gallery opened

  • 222 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 223 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 224 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 225 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 226 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 227 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 228 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 229 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 230 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 231 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 232 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 233 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 234 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

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

  • 236 No laughing matter

  • 237 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 238 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 239 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 240

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 241 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 242 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 243 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 244 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 245 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 246 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 247 Hartland's invitation

  • 248 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 249 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 250 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 251 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 252 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 253 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 254 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 255 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 256 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 257 Devil sent packing

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

  • 259 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 260 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 261 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 262 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 263 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

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

  • 265 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 266 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 267 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 268 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 269 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 270 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 271 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 272 New choral society's growing response

  • 273 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 274 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 275 Success to Festival of the Arts

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

  • 277 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 278 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 279 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 280 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 281 Centenary of Gazette

  • 282 Bridging the stream

  • 283 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 284 School crossing patrol begins

  • 285

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 286 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 287 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 288 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 289 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 290 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 291 Appledore's largest

  • 292 Revenge in style

  • 293 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 294 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 295 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 296 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 297 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 298 First ship in 8 years

  • 299 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 300 A man and his wheel

  • 301 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 302 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 303 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 304 Ten year old scrambler

  • 305 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 306 The art of the thatcher

  • 307 All aboard the ark

  • 308 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 309 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 310 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 311 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 312 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 313 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 314 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 315 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 316 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 317 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 318

    Married in 1908
  • 319 Sweets derationing

  • 320

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 321 Modern living at Bideford

  • 322 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 323 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 324 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 325 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 326

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 327 They are parted pro-tem

  • 328 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

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

  • 330 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 331 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 332 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 333 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 334 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 335 Happy Days!

  • 336 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 337 Picking the pops

  • 338 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 339 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 340 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 341 Warmington's garage ad

  • 342 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 343 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 344 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 345 So this is the mainland!

  • 346 Pannier Market's future?

  • 347 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 348 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 349

    New gateway
  • 350 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 351 Sight of a lifetime

  • 352 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 353 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 354 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 355 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 356 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 357

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 358 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 359 New life for Hartland organ

  • 360 Circus comes to town

  • 361 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 362

    Exhibition of school work
  • 363 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

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

  • 365 All for the love of a lady!

  • 366 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 367 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 368 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 369 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 370 New Post Office

  • 371 When horses score over the tractor

  • 372 Just over a year old

  • 373 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 374 Some 240 exhibits

  • 375 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 376 Some mushroom!

  • 377 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 378 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 379 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 380 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 381 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 382 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 383 Life begins at 80

  • 384 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 385 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 386 Last train from Torrington

  • 387 No sale of Springfield House

  • 388 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 389 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 390 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 391 Clovelly custom

  • 392 Burnard family reunion

  • 393 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 394 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 395 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 396 Penny for the guy

  • 397 For crying out loud!

  • 398 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 399 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 400 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 401 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 402 Finished in 1876

  • 403 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 404 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 405 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 406 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 407 Private home for public pump

  • 408 Six footed lamb

  • 409

    Was a missionary
  • 410 Holiday scene near Sandymere

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

  • 412 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 413 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

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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