• 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 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 2 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 3 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 4 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 5 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 6 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 7 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 8 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 9 No laughing matter

  • 10 A bird of their own!

  • 11 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 12 It really was the 'last time'

  • 13 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 14 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 15 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 16 Ten year old scrambler

  • 17 The Geneva marionettes

  • 18 Northam's almshouse

  • 19

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 20 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 21

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 22 Hartland's invitation

  • 23

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 24 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 25 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 26 So this is the mainland!

  • 27 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 28

    Bidefordians
  • 29

    Was a missionary
  • 30 Happy Days!

  • 31 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 32 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 33

    Exhibition of school work
  • 34 Northam footballers of the future

  • 35 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 36 Burnard family reunion

  • 37 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 38

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 39

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 40 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 41 Torrington's new amenity

  • 42

    Building works
  • 43 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 44 Bideford country dancers on TV

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

  • 46 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 47 The art of the thatcher

  • 48

    Relatives all over the world
  • 49

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 50 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 51 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 52

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 53 Some 240 exhibits

  • 54 Hartland postman retires

  • 55 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 56 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 57 Sight of a lifetime

  • 58

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 59 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 60 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 61 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 62 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 63 Modern living at Bideford

  • 64

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 65 Penny for the guy

  • 66 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 67 Bideford computer stars

  • 68 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 69

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 70 Cruising down the river

  • 71 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 72 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 73

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 74 All for the love of a lady!

  • 75 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 76 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 77 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 78 End of the line

  • 79 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 80 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 81 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 82 Torrington in 1967

  • 83 Devil sent packing

  • 84 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 85 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 86 First ship in 8 years

  • 87 Clovelly nightmare

  • 88 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

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

  • 90 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 91 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 92 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 93 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 94 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 95 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 96 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 97 They are parted pro-tem

  • 98 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 99 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 100 Bideford loses training ship

  • 101 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 102 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 103 New civic medallions

  • 104 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 105 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 106 Simple Item 138
  • 107 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 108 Jumble sale fever

  • 109 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 110 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 111 Pannier Market's future?

  • 112 Bridging the stream

  • 113 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 114 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 115 No sale of Springfield House

  • 116 New shipyard on schedule

  • 117 New addition to Quay front

  • 118 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 119 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 120 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 121 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 122 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 123 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 124 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 125

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 126 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 127 A roof-top view - where?

  • 128 All aboard the ark

  • 129 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 130 Variety in summer weather

  • 131 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 132

    Married in 1908
  • 133 Picking the pops

  • 134 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 135 Mobile missionary

  • 136

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 137 Warmington's garage ad

  • 138 Life begins at 80

  • 139 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 140 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 141 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 142 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 143 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 144 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 145 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 146 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 147 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 148 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 149 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 150 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 151 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 152 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 153 Twenty-one yachts

  • 154 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 155 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 156 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 157 Parkham plan realised

  • 158 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 159 Just over a year old

  • 160 Hartland Dancers
  • 161 Loads of black and white

  • 162 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 163 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 164 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 165 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 166 Torrington children build igloo
  • 167 New life for Hartland organ

  • 168 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 169 When horses score over the tractor

  • 170 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 171 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

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

  • 173 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 174 He beat the floods

  • 175 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 176 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 177 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 178 Ships at Bideford

  • 179 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 180 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 181 Last train from Torrington

  • 182 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 183 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 184 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 185 Puppet characters introduced

  • 186 New Post Office

  • 187 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 188 113 years at Instow

  • 189 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

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

  • 191 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 192 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 193 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 194 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 195 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 196 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 197 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 198 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 199 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 200 Picking the pops

  • 201 New art gallery opened

  • 202

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 203 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 204 Weare Giffard potato

  • 205 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 206 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 207 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 208 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 209 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 210 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 211 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 212 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 213 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 214 Appledore's largest

  • 215 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 216 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 217 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 218

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 219 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 220 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 221 Capers on the cobbles

  • 222 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 223 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 224 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 225

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 226 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 227 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 228 By pony and trap to market

  • 229 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 230 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 231 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 232 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 233 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 234 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 235 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 236 Bideford regatta

  • 237 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 238 School crossing patrol begins

  • 239 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 240 Riverside mystery

  • 241 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 242 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 243

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 244 School's link with cargo ship

  • 245 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 246 Circus comes to town

  • 247

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 248 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 249 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 250 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 251 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 252 Six footed lamb

  • 253 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 254 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 255 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

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

  • 257 Emergency ferry services

  • 258 New Lundy stamps

  • 259 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 260 Decontrol of meat

  • 261 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 262 Police station view of Bideford

  • 263

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 264 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 265 Clovelly custom

  • 266 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 267 Centenary of Gazette

  • 268 North Devon Driving School

  • 269 Private home for public pump

  • 270 New choral society's growing response

  • 271 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 272 For crying out loud!

  • 273 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 274 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 275 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 276 Waldon Triplets
  • 277 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 278 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 279 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 280 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 281 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 282 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 283

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 284 Artisans' Club

  • 285 What's the time?

  • 286 Out of puff!

  • 287 Photo of town's first car wins prize

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

  • 289 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 290 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 291 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 292 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 293 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 294 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 295 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 296 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 297 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 298 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 299 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 300 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 301 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 302 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 303

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 304 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 305 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 306 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 307 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 308 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 309 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 310 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 311 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 312 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 313 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 314 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 315 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 316 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 317 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 318 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 319 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 320 In their new robes and hats

  • 321 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 322 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 323 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 324 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 325 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 326 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 327 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 328 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 329 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 330 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 331 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 332 Peter poses for TV film

  • 333 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 334 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 335 Service with a smile

  • 336 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 337

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 338 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 339

    New gateway
  • 340 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 341 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 342 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 343 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 344 A story to tell!

  • 345 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 346 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 347 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 348 New look in the hayfields

  • 349 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 350 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 351 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 352

    First prize
  • 353 Off on a great adventure

  • 354 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 355 A man and his wheel

  • 356 Recognise this resort?

  • 357 Revenge in style

  • 358 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 359 Some mushroom!

  • 360 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 361 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

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

  • 363 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

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

  • 365 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 366 Appledore's new lifeboat

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

  • 368

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 369

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 370 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

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

  • 372 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 373 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 374

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 375 Traditions and skills still there

  • 376 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 377 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

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

  • 379 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 380 Can spring be far away?

  • 381 Littleham family's five generations

  • 382 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 383 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 384 Finished in 1876

  • 385 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

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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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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