• 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 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 2 Artisans' Club

  • 3 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 4 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 5 Simple Item 138
  • 6 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 7 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 8 Finished in 1876

  • 9 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 10 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 11 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 12 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 13 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 14 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 15 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 16 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 17 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 18 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 19 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 20 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 21 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

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

  • 23 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 24 A story to tell!

  • 25 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 26 Clovelly custom

  • 27 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 28 New art gallery opened

  • 29 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 30 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 31 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 32 Ships at Bideford

  • 33 Centenary of Gazette

  • 34 Parkham plan realised

  • 35 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 36 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 37 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 38 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 39 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 40 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 41 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 42 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 43 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 44 End of the line

  • 45 Bideford computer stars

  • 46 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 47 Bideford loses training ship

  • 48 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 49

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 50 Northam footballers of the future

  • 51 113 years at Instow

  • 52 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 53 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 54 Waldon Triplets
  • 55 Puppet characters introduced

  • 56 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 57 Off on a great adventure

  • 58 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 59 Hartland postman retires

  • 60 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 61

    Bidefordians
  • 62

    First prize
  • 63

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 64 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 65 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 66 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 67

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 68

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 69 Emergency ferry services

  • 70 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 71 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 72 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 73 Picking the pops

  • 74 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 75 So this is the mainland!

  • 76 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 77 Devil sent packing

  • 78 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 79 Ten year old scrambler

  • 80 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 81 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 82 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 83 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 84 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 85 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 86 New shipyard on schedule

  • 87 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 88 No sale of Springfield House

  • 89 Mobile missionary

  • 90 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 91 Picking the pops

  • 92 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 93 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 94 For crying out loud!

  • 95

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 96 A man and his wheel

  • 97 All aboard the ark

  • 98 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 99 New Lundy stamps

  • 100 Twenty-one yachts

  • 101 Police station view of Bideford

  • 102 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 103 North Devon Driving School

  • 104 Riverside mystery

  • 105 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 106 Bridging the stream

  • 107 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 108 Variety in summer weather

  • 109 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 110 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 111

    Relatives all over the world
  • 112 Northam's almshouse

  • 113 Loads of black and white

  • 114 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 115

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 116 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 117 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 118 Modern living at Bideford

  • 119 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 120 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 121 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 122 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 123 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 124 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 125 Weare Giffard potato

  • 126 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 127 He beat the floods

  • 128 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 129 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 130 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 131 When horses score over the tractor

  • 132 Six footed lamb

  • 133 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 134 New addition to Quay front

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

  • 136 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 137 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 138 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 139 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 140 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 141 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 142 Traditions and skills still there

  • 143 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 144 Out of puff!

  • 145 Circus comes to town

  • 146 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 147 A bird of their own!

  • 148 Happy Days!

  • 149

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 150 Torrington in 1967

  • 151 Photo mural in Bideford bank

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

  • 153 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 154 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 155 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 156 What's the time?

  • 157 Warmington's garage ad

  • 158 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

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

  • 160 Can spring be far away?

  • 161 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 162 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 163 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 164 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 165 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 166 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 167 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 168 The Geneva marionettes

  • 169

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 170 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 171 Torrington children build igloo
  • 172 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

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

  • 174 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 175 Hartland's invitation

  • 176 Life begins at 80

  • 177

    Married in 1908
  • 178 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 179

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 180 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 181 Clovelly nightmare

  • 182 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 183 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 184

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 185 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 186 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 187 First ship in 8 years

  • 188 School's link with cargo ship

  • 189 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

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

  • 191

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 192 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 193 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 194 All for the love of a lady!

  • 195 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 196 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 197 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 198 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 199 Penny for the guy

  • 200 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 201 Peter poses for TV film

  • 202

    New gateway
  • 203 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 204 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 205 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 206 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 207 Some 240 exhibits

  • 208 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 209 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 210 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 211 Jumble sale fever

  • 212

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 213

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 214 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 215 Bideford regatta

  • 216 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 217 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 218 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 219 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 220 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 221 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 222 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 223 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 224 It really was the 'last time'

  • 225

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

  • 227 New civic medallions

  • 228 No laughing matter

  • 229 Capers on the cobbles

  • 230

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 231 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 232 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 233 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 234 Sight of a lifetime

  • 235 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 236

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 237 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 238 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 239 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 240

    Building works
  • 241 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 242 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 243 New choral society's growing response

  • 244 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 245 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 246 Just over a year old

  • 247 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 248 Littleham family's five generations

  • 249 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 250 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 251 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 252 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 253 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 254 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 255

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 256 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 257 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 258 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 259 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 260 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 261 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

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

  • 263 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 264 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 265 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 266

    Was a missionary
  • 267 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 268 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 269 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 270 By pony and trap to market

  • 271 Revenge in style

  • 272 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 273 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 274 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 275 In their new robes and hats

  • 276 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 277 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 278 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 279 Pannier Market's future?

  • 280 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 281 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 282 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 283 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 284 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 285 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 286 Last train from Torrington

  • 287 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 288 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 289 The art of the thatcher

  • 290 'Les Girls' of Hartland

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

  • 292 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 293 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 294 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 295 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 296 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 297 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 298 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 299

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 300 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 301 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 302 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 303 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 304 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 305 Burnard family reunion

  • 306

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 307 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 308 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 309 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 310 Private home for public pump

  • 311 Service with a smile

  • 312 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 313 Mural in the whimsical fashion

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

  • 315 Cruising down the river

  • 316 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 317 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 318 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 319 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 320 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 321 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 322

    Exhibition of school work
  • 323 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 324 New life for Hartland organ

  • 325 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 326 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 327 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 328 New Post Office

  • 329 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 330 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 331 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 332 Decontrol of meat

  • 333 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 334 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 335 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 336 Getting up steam for tomorrow

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

  • 338 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 339 They are parted pro-tem

  • 340 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 341 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 342 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 343 Torrington's new amenity

  • 344 Recognise this resort?

  • 345 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 346 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 347 New look in the hayfields

  • 348

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 349 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 350 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 351 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 352 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 353 A roof-top view - where?

  • 354 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 355 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 356 Appledore's largest

  • 357 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 358

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 359 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 360

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 361 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 362 School crossing patrol begins

  • 363 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 364 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 365 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 366 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 367 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 368 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 369 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 370

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 371 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 372 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 373 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 374 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 375 Hartland Dancers
  • 376

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 377 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 378 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 379 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 380 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 381 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 382 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 383

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 384 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 385 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

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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