• 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 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 2 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 3 Loads of black and white

  • 4 Bideford loses training ship

  • 5 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 6 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 7 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 8 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 9 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 10 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 11 Life begins at 80

  • 12

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 13 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 14 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 15 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 16

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 17 Bridging the stream

  • 18 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 19 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 20 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 21 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 22 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 23 Picking the pops

  • 24 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 25 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 26 Picking the pops

  • 27 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 28 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 29 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 30 Traditions and skills still there

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

  • 32 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 33 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 34 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 35 Riverside mystery

  • 36 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 37 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 38 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 39 New addition to Quay front

  • 40 Centenary of Gazette

  • 41 Pannier Market's future?

  • 42

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 43 New art gallery opened

  • 44 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 45 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 46 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 47 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 48 Warmington's garage ad

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

  • 50 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 51 Emergency ferry services

  • 52 Out of puff!

  • 53 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 54 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 55 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 56 New Post Office

  • 57 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

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

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

  • 60 Service with a smile

  • 61 Decontrol of meat

  • 62 From Bobby to Brian

  • 63 Torrington's new amenity

  • 64 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 65 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 66 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 67 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 68 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 69 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 70 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 71

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 72 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 73 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 74 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 75 Some 240 exhibits

  • 76 Happy Days!

  • 77 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 78

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 79 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 80

    New gateway
  • 81 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 82 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 83 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 84 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 85 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 86 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 87 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 88 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 89 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 90

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 91 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 92 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 93 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 94 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 95 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 96 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 97 Clovelly nightmare

  • 98 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 99 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 100 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 101 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 102 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 103 Private home for public pump

  • 104

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 105 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 106 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 107 Some mushroom!

  • 108 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 109 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 110 Appledore's largest

  • 111 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 112 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 113 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 114 Last train from Torrington

  • 115 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 116

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 117 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 118 The cab at the corner>
  • 119 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 120 Police station view of Bideford

  • 121

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 122 Filming at Hartland

  • 123 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 124 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 125 He beat the floods

  • 126 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 127 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 128 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 129 Burnard family reunion

  • 130

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 131 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 132 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 133

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 134 All for the love of a lady!

  • 135 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 136 Variety in summer weather

  • 137 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 138

    Bidefordians
  • 139 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 140 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 141 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 142

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 143 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 144 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 145 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 146 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 147 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 148 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 149 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 150 Torrington in 1967

  • 151 New life for Hartland organ

  • 152 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 153 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 154 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 155 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 156

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 157

    Building works
  • 158 Northam's almshouse

  • 159 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 160 New look in the hayfields

  • 161 Sight of a lifetime

  • 162 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 163

    Was a missionary
  • 164 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 165 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 166 The art of the thatcher

  • 167 Modern living at Bideford

  • 168 They are parted pro-tem

  • 169 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 170 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 171 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 172 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 173 No laughing matter

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

  • 175 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 176 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 177 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 178 So this is the mainland!

  • 179 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 180 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 181 What's the time?

  • 182 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

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

  • 184 Hartland postman retires

  • 185 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 186 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 187 A story to tell!

  • 188 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 189 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 190

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 191 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 192 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 193 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 194 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 195 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 196 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 197 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 198 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 199 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 200 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 201 Hartland Dancers
  • 202 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 203 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 204 Ships at Bideford

  • 205 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 206 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 207 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 208 Colour TV salesman at eight

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

  • 210 Dismantling of wireless mast

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

  • 212 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 213 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 214 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 215 Peter poses for TV film

  • 216 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 217 New civic medallions

  • 218 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 219 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 220 Torrington children build igloo
  • 221 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 222 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 223 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 224 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 225 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 226 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 227

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 228 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 229 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 230 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 231 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 232

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 233 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 234 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 235 Mobile missionary

  • 236 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 237 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 238 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 239 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 240 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 241 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 242 Sweets derationing

  • 243 113 years at Instow

  • 244 Six footed lamb

  • 245 Clovelly custom

  • 246 School crossing patrol begins

  • 247 Recognise this resort?

  • 248 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 249 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 250 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 251 A roof-top view - where?

  • 252 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 253

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 254 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 255 End of the line

  • 256 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 257 Just over a year old

  • 258 A craftsman's 'potted' history

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

  • 260 A bird of their own!

  • 261 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 262 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 263 Artisans' Club

  • 264 Twenty-one yachts

  • 265 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 266 Bideford regatta

  • 267

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 268 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 269 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 270 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 271 New Lundy stamps

  • 272

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 273 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 274 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 275 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 276 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 277 By pony and trap to market

  • 278 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 279 North Devon Driving School

  • 280 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 281 Revenge in style

  • 282 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 283 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 284 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 285 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 286 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 287 Weare Giffard potato

  • 288 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 289 Cruising down the river

  • 290 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 291 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 292

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 293 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 294 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 295 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 296 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 297 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 298 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 299 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 300 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 301 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 302 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 303 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 304 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 305 Simple Item 138
  • 306

    Relatives all over the world
  • 307 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 308 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 309 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 310 A man and his wheel

  • 311 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 312 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 313 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 314 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 315 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 316 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 317 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 318 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 319 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 320 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 321 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 322 The Geneva marionettes

  • 323 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 324 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 325 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 326 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 327 Finished in 1876

  • 328 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 329 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 330 First ship in 8 years

  • 331

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 332 Capers on the cobbles

  • 333 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 334 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 335 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 336 Devil sent packing

  • 337 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 338

    Exhibition of school work
  • 339 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 340 Littleham family's five generations

  • 341 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 342 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 343 Circus comes to town

  • 344 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 345 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 346 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 347 School's link with cargo ship

  • 348

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 349 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 350 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 351 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 352 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 353 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 354 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 355

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 356

    Married in 1908
  • 357 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 358 Puppet characters introduced

  • 359 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 360 Off on a great adventure

  • 361 Can spring be far away?

  • 362 Down at the 'Donkey House'

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

  • 364 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 365 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 366 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 367

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 368 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 369 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 370 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 371 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 372 Waldon Triplets
  • 373 For crying out loud!

  • 374 New shipyard on schedule

  • 375 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 376 Ten year old scrambler

  • 377

    First prize
  • 378 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 379 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 380 In their new robes and hats

  • 381 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 382 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 383 No sale of Springfield House

  • 384 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 385 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 386 Penny for the guy

  • 387 New choral society's growing response

  • 388 Parkham plan realised

  • 389 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 390 It really was the 'last time'

  • 391 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 392 Northam footballers of the future

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

  • 394 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 395 When horses score over the tractor

  • 396 Jumble sale fever

  • 397 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 398 Bideford computer stars

  • 399 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 400 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 401 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 402 All aboard the ark

  • 403 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 404 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 405 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 406 Hartland's invitation

  • 407 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 408 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 409 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 410 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 411 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 412

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 413 Entente cordiale in Bideford

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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  • 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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  • 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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