• 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 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 2 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 3 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 4 No laughing matter

  • 5 Torrington children build igloo
  • 6 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 7 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 8 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 9 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 10 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 11 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 12 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 13 Hartland Dancers
  • 14 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 15 Bideford loses training ship

  • 16 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 17 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 18 Police station view of Bideford

  • 19 New look in the hayfields

  • 20 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 21 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 22 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 23 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 24 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 25 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

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

  • 27 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 28 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 29 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 30 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 31 Burnard family reunion

  • 32 Northam footballers of the future

  • 33 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 34

    Building works
  • 35 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 36 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 37 Sweets derationing

  • 38 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 39 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 40 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 41 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 42 Circus comes to town

  • 43 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 44 Bridging the stream

  • 45 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 46 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 47

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 48 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 49 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 50 First ship in 8 years

  • 51 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 52 Emergency ferry services

  • 53 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 54 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 55 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 56 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 57

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 58 Penny for the guy

  • 59 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 60 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 61 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 62 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 63 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 64 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 65 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 66 In their new robes and hats

  • 67 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 68 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 69 Modern living at Bideford

  • 70 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 71 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

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

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

  • 74 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 75 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 76 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 77 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 78 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 79 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 80 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 81 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 82 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

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

  • 84 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 85 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 86 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 87 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 88 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 89 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 90 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 91 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 92 Hartland's invitation

  • 93 Clovelly nightmare

  • 94 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 95 Service with a smile

  • 96

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 97

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 98 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 99

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 100 They are parted pro-tem

  • 101

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 102

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 103 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 104 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 105 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 106 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 107 North Devon Driving School

  • 108 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 109 Can spring be far away?

  • 110

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 111 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 112 Parkham plan realised

  • 113 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 114 Just over a year old

  • 115 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 116 A roof-top view - where?

  • 117 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 118 Puppet characters introduced

  • 119 For crying out loud!

  • 120 Artisans' Club

  • 121 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 122 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

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

  • 124 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 125 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 126 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 127 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 128 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 129 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 130 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 131 Bideford regatta

  • 132 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 133 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 134 Peter poses for TV film

  • 135

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 136 Traditions and skills still there

  • 137 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 138 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 139 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 140 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 141 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 142

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 143 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 144 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 145 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 146 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 147 By pony and trap to market

  • 148 A sense of humour in advertising

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

  • 150 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 151 Picking the pops

  • 152 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 153 New life for Hartland organ

  • 154 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 155 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 156 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 157 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 158

    Exhibition of school work
  • 159 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 160 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 161 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 162 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 163 Bideford computer stars

  • 164 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 165 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 166 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 167 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 168 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 169 Ten year old scrambler

  • 170 Sight of a lifetime

  • 171 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 172 Mobile missionary

  • 173 Children's procession with foxgloves

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

  • 175 When horses score over the tractor

  • 176 Riverside mystery

  • 177 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 178 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 179 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 180 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 181 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 182 Recognise this resort?

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

  • 184 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 185 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 186 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 187 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 188 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 189

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 190 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 191 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 192 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 193 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 194 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 195 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 196 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 197 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 198 The Geneva marionettes

  • 199

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 200 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 201 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 202 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 203 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 204 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 205 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 206 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 207 Devil sent packing

  • 208

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 209 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 210 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 211 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 212 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 213 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 214 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 215 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 216 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 217 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 218 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 219 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 220 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 221 Revenge in style

  • 222 New Lundy stamps

  • 223 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 224 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 225 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 226 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 227 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 228

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 229 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

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

  • 231 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 232 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 233 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 234 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 235 Ships at Bideford

  • 236 So this is the mainland!

  • 237

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 238 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 239 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 240 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 241 New addition to Quay front

  • 242 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 243 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 244 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 245 A man and his wheel

  • 246 Filming at Hartland

  • 247

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 248 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 249 Weare Giffard potato

  • 250

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 251 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 252 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 253 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 254 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 255 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 256 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 257 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 258 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 259 No sale of Springfield House

  • 260 Out of puff!

  • 261 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 262

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 263 113 years at Instow

  • 264 Finished in 1876

  • 265 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 266 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 267 School crossing patrol begins

  • 268 The art of the thatcher

  • 269

    New gateway
  • 270 Centenary of Gazette

  • 271 Off on a great adventure

  • 272 Capers on the cobbles

  • 273 A story to tell!

  • 274 Life begins at 80

  • 275 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 276

    Relatives all over the world
  • 277 Hartland postman retires

  • 278 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 279

    Bidefordians
  • 280 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 281 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 282 Warmington's garage ad

  • 283 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

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

  • 285 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 286 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 287 Appledore's largest

  • 288

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 289 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 290 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 291 Torrington's new amenity

  • 292 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 293 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 294 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 295 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 296 All aboard the ark

  • 297 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 298 Happy Days!

  • 299 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 300

    Was a missionary
  • 301 It really was the 'last time'

  • 302 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 303 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 304 Loads of black and white

  • 305 New civic medallions

  • 306 Private home for public pump

  • 307 Littleham family's five generations

  • 308 New choral society's growing response

  • 309 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 310 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 311 What's the time?

  • 312 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 313 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 314 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 315 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 316 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 317 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 318 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 319 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 320 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 321 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 322

    Married in 1908
  • 323 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 324 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 325 A lost Bideford 'island'

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

  • 327 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 328 Clovelly custom

  • 329 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 330 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 331 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 332 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 333 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 334 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 335 Last train from Torrington

  • 336 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 337 Six footed lamb

  • 338

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 339 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 340 A bird of their own!

  • 341 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 342 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 343 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 344 New art gallery opened

  • 345 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 346

    First prize
  • 347 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 348 Some 240 exhibits

  • 349 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 350 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 351 Cruising down the river

  • 352 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 353

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 354 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 355 Northam's almshouse

  • 356 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 357 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 358 New Post Office

  • 359 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 360 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 361 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 362 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 363 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 364 He beat the floods

  • 365 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 366 All for the love of a lady!

  • 367 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 368 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 369 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 370 School's link with cargo ship

  • 371 Picking the pops

  • 372

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 373 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 374 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 375 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 376 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 377 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 378 Pannier Market's future?

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

  • 380 Simple Item 138
  • 381 Variety in summer weather

  • 382 End of the line

  • 383 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 384 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 385 New shipyard on schedule

  • 386 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 387 The cab at the corner>
  • 388 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 389 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 390 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 391 Waldon Triplets
  • 392 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 393 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 394 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 395 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 396 Decontrol of meat

  • 397 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 398 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 399 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 400 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 401 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 402 From Bobby to Brian

  • 403 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 404

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 405 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 406

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 407 Some mushroom!

  • 408 Jumble sale fever

  • 409 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 410 Twenty-one yachts

  • 411 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 412 Torrington in 1967

  • 413

    Holidaying in north Devon
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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  • 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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  • 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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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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Remembered ...

Pebble ridge potwalloping

Potwalloping1

Littlejohns, Keats, Larner, Yeoman, George Glover

North Devon harbours some odd customs and this was one of them - potwalloping. It was the day locals and holidaymakers turned out in force to throw back pebbles on to the famour pebbleridge at Westward Ho! after storms and high tides had scattered them on to the Burrows. Potwallopers were not paid for their labour but free beer and cider were provided to quench thirsts and turn the occasion into something of a celebration.

Our two pictorial oldies, discovered by chance in a Bideford bric-a-brac shop, takes us back to between the wars when potwalloping on August Bank Holiday was at its heyday. The custom died out in the early 1960s. Readers may recognise parents or grandparents and, hopefully, come up with a few names. One thing is certain - the ladies and kids were definitely not dress for toil.

Potwalloping2

Littlejohns, Wilkey

Boulder Scheme Moves into Second Phase 28.01.1983

Boulder Scheme Moves into Second Phase 28.01.1983

Boulder Scheme Moves into Second Phase 28.01.1983

Coastal Defence.  Huge granite boulders were tipped in front of Westward Ho! sea wall this week as part of the second phase of a £45,000 coast protection scheme. Mr Richard Brasington

Sea Breaches Wall at Appledore 19.03.1982

Sea Breaches Wall at Appledore 19.03.1982

Sea Breaches Wall at Appledore 19.03.1982

Coastal Defence.  Heavy seas whipped up by fierce winds breached the sea wall at Appledore on Saturday morning. Irsha Street. Mrs Lilian Wood, Sydney Wood

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