• 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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    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 2 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 3 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 4 Burnard family reunion

  • 5 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 6 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 7 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 8 Devil sent packing

  • 9 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 10 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 11 Some mushroom!

  • 12 Last of Bideford factory chimney

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

  • 14 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 15 Last train from Torrington

  • 16 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 17 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 18 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 19 The art of the thatcher

  • 20 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 21 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 22 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 23 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 24 New shipyard on schedule

  • 25 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 26 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 27 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 28 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 29 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 30 Circus comes to town

  • 31 Life begins at 80

  • 32 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 33 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 34 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 35 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 36 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 37 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 38

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 39 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 40 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 41 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 42 Emergency ferry services

  • 43 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 44 A story to tell!

  • 45 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 46 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 47 New life for Hartland organ

  • 48 Clovelly custom

  • 49

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 50 Ships at Bideford

  • 51 Loads of black and white

  • 52 Jumble sale fever

  • 53 End of the line

  • 54 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 55 New Lundy stamps

  • 56 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 57 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 58 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 59

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 60 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 61 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 62 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 63 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 64 New choral society's growing response

  • 65 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 66 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 67 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 68 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 69 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 70 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 71 Riverside mystery

  • 72 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 73 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 74 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 75 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 76 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 77 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 78 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 79

    New gateway
  • 80 Ten year old scrambler

  • 81

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 82 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 83 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 84 Picking the pops

  • 85 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 86 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 87 Torrington children build igloo
  • 88 Weare Giffard potato

  • 89 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 90 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 91 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 92

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 93 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 94 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 95 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 96 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 97 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

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

  • 99 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 100 Revenge in style

  • 101

    Married in 1908
  • 102 The Geneva marionettes

  • 103 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 104 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 105 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 106 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 107 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 108 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

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

  • 110

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 111 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 112 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 113 Out of puff!

  • 114 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 115 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 116

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 117 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 118 Six footed lamb

  • 119 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 120 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 121 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 122 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 123

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 124 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 125 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 126 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 127 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 128 New addition to Quay front

  • 129 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 130 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 131 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 132 Simple Item 138
  • 133 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 134 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 135 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 136 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 137 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 138 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 139 Safe door weighing two tons

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

  • 141 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 142 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 143 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 144 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 145 A roof-top view - where?

  • 146 Parkham plan realised

  • 147 Service with a smile

  • 148

    Was a missionary
  • 149 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 150 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 151 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 152 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 153 Just over a year old

  • 154 When horses score over the tractor

  • 155

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 156 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 157

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 158 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 159 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 160

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 161 Littleham family's five generations

  • 162 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 163 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 164 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 165 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 166 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 167 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 168 Appledore's largest

  • 169 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 170 Off on a great adventure

  • 171 New look in the hayfields

  • 172 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

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

  • 174 North Devon Driving School

  • 175 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 176 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 177 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 178 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 179 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 180 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 181

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 182 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 183 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 184 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 185 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 186

    Bidefordians
  • 187

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 188 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 189 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 190 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 191 Traditions and skills still there

  • 192 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 193 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 194 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 195 Bideford loses training ship

  • 196

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 197 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 198 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 199 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 200 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 201 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 202 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 203 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 204 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 205 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 206 New civic medallions

  • 207 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 208 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 209 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 210 He beat the floods

  • 211 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 212 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 213 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 214 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 215 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 216 Twenty-one yachts

  • 217 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 218 Photo mural in Bideford bank

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

  • 220 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 221

    Exhibition of school work
  • 222 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 223 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 224 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 225 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 226 Hartland's invitation

  • 227 For crying out loud!

  • 228 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 229 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 230 A man and his wheel

  • 231 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 232 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 233 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 234 Bideford computer stars

  • 235 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 236 Centenary of Gazette

  • 237 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 238 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 239 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 240 113 years at Instow

  • 241 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 242 Northam's almshouse

  • 243

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 244 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 245 Mobile missionary

  • 246 Puppet characters introduced

  • 247 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 248 By pony and trap to market

  • 249 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 250 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 251 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 252 School's link with cargo ship

  • 253 Artisans' Club

  • 254 Modern living at Bideford

  • 255 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 256

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 257 Clovelly nightmare

  • 258 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 259 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 260 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 261 Picking the pops

  • 262 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 263 Bideford regatta

  • 264 Police station view of Bideford

  • 265 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 266 What's the time?

  • 267 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 268 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 269 Some 240 exhibits

  • 270 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 271

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 272 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 273 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 274 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 275

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 276 New art gallery opened

  • 277

    Building works
  • 278 Happy Days!

  • 279 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 280 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 281 Sight of a lifetime

  • 282 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 283 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 284

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 285 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 286 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 287 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 288 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 289 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

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

  • 291 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 292 Variety in summer weather

  • 293 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 294

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 295 Meredith's ironmongers

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

  • 297 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 298 Bridging the stream

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

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

  • 301 School crossing patrol begins

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

  • 303 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 304 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 305 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 306 Hartland Dancers
  • 307 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 308 Can spring be far away?

  • 309 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 310 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 311 Northam footballers of the future

  • 312

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 313 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 314 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 315 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 316 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 317 Capers on the cobbles

  • 318 No sale of Springfield House

  • 319 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 320 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 321 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 322 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 323

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 324 So this is the mainland!

  • 325 Torrington in 1967

  • 326 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 327 Private home for public pump

  • 328 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 329 It really was the 'last time'

  • 330 Torrington's new amenity

  • 331 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 332 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 333 All aboard the ark

  • 334 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 335 New Post Office

  • 336

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 337 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 338 Penny for the guy

  • 339 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 340 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 341 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 342 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

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

  • 344 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 345 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 346 Warmington's garage ad

  • 347

    First prize
  • 348 In their new robes and hats

  • 349 Finished in 1876

  • 350 Decontrol of meat

  • 351 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 352 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 353 A bird of their own!

  • 354 Waldon Triplets
  • 355

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 356 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 357 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 358 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 359 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 360 All for the love of a lady!

  • 361 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 362 No laughing matter

  • 363 Peter poses for TV film

  • 364 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 365 Pannier Market's future?

  • 366 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 367 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 368 Recognise this resort?

  • 369 Hartland postman retires

  • 370 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 371 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 372 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 373 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 374 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 375 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 376 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 377 Cruising down the river

  • 378

    Relatives all over the world
  • 379 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 380 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 381 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 382 They are parted pro-tem

  • 383 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 384 First ship in 8 years

  • 385 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

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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  • 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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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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World War 1

Frithelstock

25.6.1918 Frithelstock


At the Appeals Tribunal at Barnstaple on Thursday, George Henry Hunkin, of Frithelstock, passed Class A eighteen months ago, and Grade 1 on a recent examination, asked to have another examination on account of defective vision. Captain Stirling said curiously enough the Bideford doctor, whose certificate the man put in, credited him with better sight than the Medical Board did.
The Medical Board knew all the facts and entered them in the medical history sheet. He could be corrected by glasses, and it would be a waste of time to send him for another examination. The application was refused.
Gazette article dated 25 June 1918.

Ready for the judges at Frithelstock Frolic fancy dress competition

For the sixth year running Frithelstock were lucky and had a sunny afternoon for their Frolic.

August 1978 Frithelstock Frolic

About £150 was raised for village hall funds and Mrs C Hoare, a former teacher at the village primary school – now the village hall – performed the opening ceremony. A ‘cottager’s garden’ competition was held for the first time and the overall winner with the best entries of flowers and vegetables with Mr M Short of Church Lane, Frithelstock.
Prize winners were – vegetable section: Messrs M Short, D Cox, E Lawrence, A Poole, A G Hearn, F Pickard, M Glover, M Partner, J Bewes, Mrs B Poole and Mrs R Bond; collection of vegetables, Mr M Short. Flower section: Mrs L M Poole, Mrs M Toogood, Mrs J Short, Mr M Glover, Miss A Hunkin, Mrs F Pickard, Mrs J Lawrence; domestic class: Mrs L Hearn, Mrs A Lindsay, Mrs M Toogood, Mrs F Pickard, Mrs J Hunkin, Mrs B Poole, Mrs Jean Hearn. Children’s flowers: under 10, Katherine Short and Christopher; 10-16, Linda Short and Jacqueline Allin; children’s cookery: under 11, Jennifer Allin and Jacqueline Hunkin; over 11, Jacqueline Allin.
Pet show winners were: Charlotte Beresford, Jennifer Allin, Michael Harris, Helen Toogood, Amanda Dawe, Susan Adams, Steven Hunkin, Penelope Partners.
Children’s sports winners were: Anthony Slade, Christopher Poole, Alison Conner, Jacqueline Hunkin, Steven Hunkin, Charlotte Beresford, Shaun Ward, Claire Poole, Jennifer Allin, Graham Hood.
Children’s fancy dress: over 9, Charlotte Beresford, Alan Poole, Jacqueline Allin. Under 9, Trevor Law, Adrian Mills, Michelle Hood. Baby show: Patrick Poole and Peter Chapman.
Clay pigeon shoot: W Marshall, W Chammings, P Harris, D Walter and P Millman.
Petersmarland retained the inter-village tug-of-war cup and skittles winners were Mr J Hearn and Mrs B Poole.

Frithelstock opens its village hall 19th May 1961

Frithelstock opens its village hall 19th May 1961

FRITHSTOCK OPENS ITS VILLAGE HALLWhat was formerly Frithelstock School began a new lease of useful life to the community when it was officially opened as a Village Hall.  Mr Percy Browne MP for Torrington division performed the opening ceremony.  The entrance gates were made and given by the local blacksmith, Mr Charles Lawrence and his son.  Mr John Allin, chairman of the Hall Committee, presided at the opening ceremony.  Mr W E Philip, Chief Education Officer, said he came as a representative of the County Education Committee.

Donald Harris presented Mr Browne with a buttonhole and Mr T Friend, of Messrs Friend, Kelly and Friend, the architects, handed the silver key to Mr Browne with which to open the hall.  Mr E May, chairman of the Parish Council, who was first chairman of the Village Hall Committee, proposed a comprehensive vote of thanks.

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