• 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 The cab at the corner>
  • 2 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 3 Service with a smile

  • 4 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 5 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 6 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 7 North Devon Driving School

  • 8 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 9 Bideford regatta

  • 10 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 11 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 12 Burnard family reunion

  • 13 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 14 For crying out loud!

  • 15 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 16 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 17 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 18 A roof-top view - where?

  • 19 Sight of a lifetime

  • 20 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 21 Life begins at 80

  • 22 Devil sent packing

  • 23 Picking the pops

  • 24 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 25 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 26 A bird of their own!

  • 27 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 28 New Lundy stamps

  • 29 Revenge in style

  • 30 Clovelly nightmare

  • 31 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 32 What's the time?

  • 33 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 34 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 35 Some mushroom!

  • 36 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 37 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 38 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 39 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 40 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 41 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 42 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 43 School crossing patrol begins

  • 44 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 45 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 46 Penny for the guy

  • 47 Private home for public pump

  • 48 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 49 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 50

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 51 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 52 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 53 Clovelly custom

  • 54 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 55 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 56 Recognise this resort?

  • 57 Variety in summer weather

  • 58 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 59 Sweets derationing

  • 60 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 61 No sale of Springfield House

  • 62 Emergency ferry services

  • 63 Hartland Dancers
  • 64 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

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

  • 66 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 67 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 68 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 69 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 70 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 71 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 72 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 73 By pony and trap to market

  • 74 Centenary of Gazette

  • 75 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 76 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 77 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 78 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 79 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 80

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 81 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 82 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 83 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 84 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 85

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 86 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 87 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

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

  • 89 A story to tell!

  • 90 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 91

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 92 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 93 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 94 Parkham plan realised

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

  • 96 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 97 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

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

  • 99 Ships at Bideford

  • 100 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 101 Ten year old scrambler

  • 102 Torrington's new amenity

  • 103 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 104 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

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

  • 106 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 107 Waldon Triplets
  • 108 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 109 Warmington's garage ad

  • 110 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 111 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 112 Off on a great adventure

  • 113 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 114 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 115 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 116 Happy Days!

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

  • 118 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 119 Weare Giffard potato

  • 120 Artisans' Club

  • 121 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 122 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 123 Littleham family's five generations

  • 124

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 125 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 126 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 127 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 128 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 129 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 130 Some 240 exhibits

  • 131

    Bidefordians
  • 132

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 133 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 134 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 135 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 136 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 137 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 138 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 139 New civic medallions

  • 140 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 141 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 142 A man and his wheel

  • 143 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 144 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 145 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 146 It really was the 'last time'

  • 147 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 148 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 149

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 150 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 151 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 152

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 153 In their new robes and hats

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

  • 155 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 156 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 157 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 158

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 159 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 160 Peter poses for TV film

  • 161 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 162 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 163 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

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

  • 165 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 166 Bideford loses training ship

  • 167 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 168 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 169

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 170 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 171 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 172 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 173 Hartland's invitation

  • 174 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 175

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 176 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 177 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 178 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 179 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 180 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 181 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 182 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 183 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 184

    Exhibition of school work
  • 185 Bideford computer stars

  • 186 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 187 Mobile missionary

  • 188 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 189 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 190 Northam's almshouse

  • 191 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 192 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 193 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 194 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 195 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 196 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 197 Circus comes to town

  • 198 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 199 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 200 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 201 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 202 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 203 Finished in 1876

  • 204 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 205 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 206 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 207 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 208 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 209 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 210

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 211 Success to Festival of the Arts

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

  • 213 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 214 When horses score over the tractor

  • 215 New look in the hayfields

  • 216 Torrington in 1967

  • 217 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 218 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 219 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 220 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 221 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 222 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 223 Capers on the cobbles

  • 224 Filming at Hartland

  • 225 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 226

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 227 Puppet characters introduced

  • 228 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 229 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 230

    Was a missionary
  • 231 No laughing matter

  • 232 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 233 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 234 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 235 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 236 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 237 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 238 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 239 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 240 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 241 Picking the pops

  • 242

    Building works
  • 243 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 244 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 245 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 246 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 247 New shipyard on schedule

  • 248 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 249

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 250

    New gateway
  • 251 School's link with cargo ship

  • 252 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 253 Cruising down the river

  • 254 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 255 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 256

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 257 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 258 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 259 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 260 Northam footballers of the future

  • 261 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 262 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 263 The Geneva marionettes

  • 264 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 265 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 266 Torrington children build igloo
  • 267 Bideford - as Rowlandson saw it about 1810-15

  • 268 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 269 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 270 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 271 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 272 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 273 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 274 Can spring be far away?

  • 275 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 276 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 277 Loads of black and white

  • 278 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 279 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 280 New life for Hartland organ

  • 281 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 282 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 283 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 284 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 285 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 286 From Bobby to Brian

  • 287 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 288 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 289 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 290

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 291 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 292 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 293 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 294 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 295 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 296 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 297 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 298 End of the line

  • 299 Decontrol of meat

  • 300 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 301 Traditions and skills still there

  • 302 First ship in 8 years

  • 303

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 304 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 305 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 306 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 307 Jumble sale fever

  • 308 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 309 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 310 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 311 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 312

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 313 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 314 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 315

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 316 Panto time at Westward Ho!

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

  • 318 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 319 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 320 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 321 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 322 Simple Item 138
  • 323 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 324 New choral society's growing response

  • 325 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 326 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 327 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 328

    Married in 1908
  • 329 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 330 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 331 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 332 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 333 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 334 Bridging the stream

  • 335 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 336 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 337 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 338 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 339

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 340 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 341 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 342 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 343 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 344 Last train from Torrington

  • 345 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 346 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 347

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 348 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 349 All aboard the ark

  • 350 Pannier Market's future?

  • 351 Riverside mystery

  • 352 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 353 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 354 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 355 New art gallery opened

  • 356 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 357 So this is the mainland!

  • 358 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 359 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 360 Twenty-one yachts

  • 361 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 362

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 363 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 364 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 365 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 366 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 367 Appledore's largest

  • 368 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 369

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 370 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 371 Modern living at Bideford

  • 372 New Post Office

  • 373 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 374 Hartland postman retires

  • 375

    First prize
  • 376 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 377 Just over a year old

  • 378 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 379 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 380 113 years at Instow

  • 381 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 382 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 383 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 384 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 385 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 386 He beat the floods

  • 387 They are parted pro-tem

  • 388 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 389 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 390 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 391 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 392 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 393 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 394 Police station view of Bideford

  • 395

    Relatives all over the world
  • 396 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 397 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 398 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 399 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 400 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 401 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 402 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 403 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 404 Six footed lamb

  • 405 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 406 The art of the thatcher

  • 407 Out of puff!

  • 408

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 409 New addition to Quay front

  • 410 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 411 All for the love of a lady!

  • 412

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 413 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

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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Lake Chapel Re-Opens Following £13,000 Improvements

Shebbear Rejoicing and Generosity

4.7.1958 Lake Chapel Shebbear4

Completion of an improvement scheme estimated to cost nearly £14,000 at Lake Methodist Chapel, Shebbear, was marked on Tuesday with a full day of celebrations, commencing with re-opening and dedication.
Proceeds of the day's celebrations, together with previous gifts, grants and promised gifts, amounted to £12,423 6s. 8d.
Work on the scheme, which was required to meet present day demands, began last October. While it has been in progress Sunday morning services have been held in Shebbear Parish Church and evening meetings in the Village Hall.

The full Gazette article is dated 4 July 1958

Sehbbear?

Known as Sceaft Beara in 1050 and Sepesberia in the Domesday Book, Shebbear has had its name spelt in at least seven different ways over the centuries.

8.2.1974 Shebbear

Devon County Council have found yet another variation for 1974!
Article published in the Gazette 8 February 1974

Shebbear Village’s ‘Ample’ Land For Housing

There would seem to be ample land for housing available within the village of Shebbear to meet general needs, say Department of the Environment inspector Mr W R Arnold. 

4.5.1973 Shebbear

And he has dismissed an appeal by Mr M J Moast against the refusal of the local planning authority to permit the erection of four houses at Bottledown Cross there. Their provision, he adds, would constitute an undesirable and unacceptable intensification of sporadic development in the countryside outside the reasonable limits of the village. The appeal site, the inspector points out, is about three quarters of a mile from the village and 400ft north of a small group of buildings around Bottledown Cross, west of the site on the other side of the class III road are the grounds of Shebbear College. But says the inspector, he cannot agree with the contention that the college and the appeal site should properly be regarded as within the reasonable limits of the village. 

Gazette article dated 4 May 1973

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