• 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 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 2 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 3

    Bidefordians
  • 4 A story to tell!

  • 5 Happy Days!

  • 6 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 7 First ship in 8 years

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

  • 9 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 10

    Building works
  • 11 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 12 A roof-top view - where?

  • 13 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 14

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 15 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 16 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 17 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 18 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 19 New addition to Quay front

  • 20 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 21 For crying out loud!

  • 22 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 23 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 24 Just over a year old

  • 25 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 26 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 27 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 28 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 29 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 30 Appledore's largest

  • 31 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 32

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 33 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 34 Ships at Bideford

  • 35 Last train from Torrington

  • 36 North Devon Driving School

  • 37 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 38 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 39 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 40 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 41 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

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

  • 43 Torrington's new amenity

  • 44 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 45 So this is the mainland!

  • 46 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 47

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 48 Picking the pops

  • 49 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 50 Artisans' Club

  • 51 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 52

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 53 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 54 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 55

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 56 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 57 Revenge in style

  • 58 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 59 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

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

  • 61 Weare Giffard potato

  • 62 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 63 Bridging the stream

  • 64 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 65 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

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

  • 67 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 68 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 69 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 70 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 71

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 72 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 73 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 74 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 75 All for the love of a lady!

  • 76 No sale of Springfield House

  • 77 Warmington's garage ad

  • 78 Northam's almshouse

  • 79 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 80 New life for Hartland organ

  • 81 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 82 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 83 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 84

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 85 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 86 Penny for the guy

  • 87 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 88

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 89 In their new robes and hats

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

  • 91 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 92 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 93 Clovelly nightmare

  • 94 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 95

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 96 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 97 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 98 113 years at Instow

  • 99 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 100 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 101 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 102 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 103 Littleham family's five generations

  • 104 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 105 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 106

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 107 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 108 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 109 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 110 Simple Item 138
  • 111 It really was the 'last time'

  • 112 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 113 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 114 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 115 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 116 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 117 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 118 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 119 Jumble sale fever

  • 120 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

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

  • 122 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 123 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 124 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 125 Hartland postman retires

  • 126 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 127 New art gallery opened

  • 128 By pony and trap to market

  • 129 Cruising down the river

  • 130 New civic medallions

  • 131 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 132 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 133 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 134 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 135

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 136

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 137 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 138 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 139 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 140 Centenary of Gazette

  • 141 Riverside mystery

  • 142 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 143 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 144 New look in the hayfields

  • 145 Out of puff!

  • 146 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 147 Burnard family reunion

  • 148 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 149 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 150

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 151 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 152 Devil sent packing

  • 153 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 154 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 155 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 156 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 157 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 158 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 159 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 160 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 161

    Exhibition of school work
  • 162 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 163 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 164 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 165 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 166 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 167 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 168 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 169 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 170 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 171 Clovelly custom

  • 172 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 173 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 174 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 175 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 176 Torrington in 1967

  • 177 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 178 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 179 Sight of a lifetime

  • 180 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 181 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 182 Pannier Market's future?

  • 183 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 184 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 185

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 186 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 187 Hartland's invitation

  • 188 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 189 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 190

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 191

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 192 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 193 Bideford regatta

  • 194 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 195 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 196 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 197 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 198 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 199 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 200 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 201 New choral society's growing response

  • 202 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 203 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 204 Circus comes to town

  • 205

    Married in 1908
  • 206 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 207 Sixty-two year old Picarooner makes ready for season

  • 208 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 209 Private home for public pump

  • 210 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 211

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 212 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 213 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 214 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 215 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 216

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 217 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 218 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 219 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 220 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 221 A bird of their own!

  • 222 A man and his wheel

  • 223 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 224 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 225 Bideford loses training ship

  • 226

    Was a missionary
  • 227 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 228 Decontrol of meat

  • 229 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 230 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 231 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 232 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 233 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 234 Some 240 exhibits

  • 235 Parkham plan realised

  • 236 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 237 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 238 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 239 Can spring be far away?

  • 240 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 241 Service with a smile

  • 242 Capers on the cobbles

  • 243 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 244 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 245 Hartland Dancers
  • 246 Off on a great adventure

  • 247 New Lundy stamps

  • 248 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 249 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 250 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 251

    New gateway
  • 252 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 253 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 254 What's the time?

  • 255 All aboard the ark

  • 256 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 257 Picking the pops

  • 258 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

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

  • 260 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 261 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 262 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 263 They are parted pro-tem

  • 264 Bideford's private wharves busier

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

  • 266 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 267 School's link with cargo ship

  • 268 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 269 New shipyard on schedule

  • 270 School crossing patrol begins

  • 271 The Geneva marionettes

  • 272 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 273 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 274 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 275 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 276 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 277 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 278

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 279 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 280 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 281 He beat the floods

  • 282 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 283 Ten year old scrambler

  • 284 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 285 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 286 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 287 Emergency ferry services

  • 288 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 289 The art of the thatcher

  • 290 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 291 Torrington children build igloo
  • 292 Finished in 1876

  • 293 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 294 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 295 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 296 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 297 Twenty-one yachts

  • 298 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 299 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 300 Waldon Triplets
  • 301 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 302 Police station view of Bideford

  • 303 Traditions and skills still there

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

  • 305 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 306 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 307 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 308 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 309 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 310 Puppet characters introduced

  • 311 Some mushroom!

  • 312 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 313 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 314 Mobile missionary

  • 315 When horses score over the tractor

  • 316 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 317 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 318 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 319 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 320 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 321 Life begins at 80

  • 322 Bideford computer stars

  • 323 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 324 New Post Office

  • 325 Six footed lamb

  • 326 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 327 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 328 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 329 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 330 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 331 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 332 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 333 Peter poses for TV film

  • 334 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 335 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 336 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 337 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 338 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 339

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 340 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 341 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 342

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 343 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 344 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 345

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 346

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 347 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 348 Variety in summer weather

  • 349 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 350 End of the line

  • 351 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 352 Loads of black and white

  • 353 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 354 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 355 Recognise this resort?

  • 356 Modern living at Bideford

  • 357 Children's procession with foxgloves

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

  • 359

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 360 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 361 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 362 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 363

    Relatives all over the world
  • 364 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 365 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 366 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 367 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 368 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 369 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 370 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 371 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 372 They never miss a game at Torrington

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

  • 374 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 375 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 376 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 377 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 378 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 379 No laughing matter

  • 380 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 381

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 382 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 383 Northam footballers of the future

  • 384 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 385

    First prize
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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Queen Picks Lundy For A Few Hours Off Duty

Queen Picks Lundy For A Few Hours Off Duty - 12th August 1977

12.8.1977 Lundy Queen
 

The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and Princes Edward and Andrew enjoyed a day off on Sunday during their Westcounty tour with rare informality when they visited Lundy Island and walked over it for three hours in perfect weather.
Only a handful of people knew of the projected visit and their lips were sealed until Saturday night when the island's 30 inhabitants plus 70 visitors were called to a meeting in the Church of St Helena, the only building large enough to contain them all.
It was the first-ever visit by a reigning monarch to the island although the Queen Mother had landed there, also from the Royal Yacht Britannia in 1958. That day was recalled to Her Majesty by Mr Felix Grade, the former agent, when he met the Queen outside the Marisco Tavern. Among the people they met were Mr and Mrs John Smith of the Landmark Trust which now administers the island on behalf of the National Trust.
Among those relieved that stormy weather had not interfered with the visit was Mr Barry Chinchen of Eastleigh, the distributor of Lundy stamps.

Church Damage May Total £1,000

Church Damage May Total £1,000 - 12th October 1962

12.10.1962 Emergency repairs on Lundy
 

Emergency Repairs On Lundy

Between £700 and £1,000 worth of damage was caused to Lundy church following the exceptionally high winds of a fortnight ago.
On Saturday builders went to the island in the Lundy Gannet to carry out emergency repairs to the east end window (which, in fact, faces south), part of which has crumbled away. But the Vicar of Appledore and priese-in-charge of Lundy (Rev Royston Dixon) considers that these repairs which will cost in the region of £200-£300, will be sufficient to last for several years.

Lundy Tribute

Lundy Tribute - 2nd April 1977

22.4.1977 Lundy bell
 

The 15cwt tenor bell of St Helena's Church on Lundy has been returned to the island following repair and is to be re-hung to ring out in honour of the Royal silver jubilee in June.

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