• 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 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 2 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 3 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 4 Jumble sale fever

  • 5 Appledore's largest

  • 6 Parkham plan realised

  • 7 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 8 A story to tell!

  • 9 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 10 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 11 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 12 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 13 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 14 New Lundy stamps

  • 15 Finished in 1876

  • 16

    New gateway
  • 17 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 18 Decontrol of meat

  • 19 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 20

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

  • 22 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 23 Circus comes to town

  • 24 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 25 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 26 Light reading for the lighthouse

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

  • 28 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 29 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 30 He beat the floods

  • 31 From Bobby to Brian

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

  • 33 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 34 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 35 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 36

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 37 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 38 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 39 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 40 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 41 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 42

    Was a missionary
  • 43 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 44 Sight of a lifetime

  • 45 Fish nearly pulled him in

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

  • 47 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 48 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 49 Can spring be far away?

  • 50 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 51 Recognise this resort?

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

  • 53 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 54 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 55 Last train from Torrington

  • 56 Clovelly custom

  • 57 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 58 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 59

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 60 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 61 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 62 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 63 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 64 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 65 New look in the hayfields

  • 66 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 67 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 68 No sale of Springfield House

  • 69 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 70 Hartland's invitation

  • 71 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 72 Sooty is quick on the draw

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

  • 74 Private home for public pump

  • 75 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 76 The art of the thatcher

  • 77 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 78 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 79 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 80 Burnard family reunion

  • 81 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 82 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 83 Torrington children build igloo
  • 84 First ship in 8 years

  • 85 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 86 Clovelly nightmare

  • 87 Cruising down the river

  • 88 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 89 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 90 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 91

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 92 Mobile missionary

  • 93 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 94 Riverside mystery

  • 95 Emergency ferry services

  • 96 North Devon Driving School

  • 97 Police station view of Bideford

  • 98 Bridging the stream

  • 99 Simple Item 138
  • 100 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 101

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 102 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 103 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

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

  • 105 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 106 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 107 Filming at Hartland

  • 108 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 109 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 110

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 111 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 112 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 113 Off on a great adventure

  • 114 Variety in summer weather

  • 115 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 116 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 117

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 118 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 119 Ships at Bideford

  • 120 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 121

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 122 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 123 Peter poses for TV film

  • 124 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 125 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 126 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 127

    First prize
  • 128 New civic medallions

  • 129 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 130 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 131 Torrington in 1967

  • 132 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 133 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 134 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 135 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 136 New Post Office

  • 137 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 138 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 139 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 140 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

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

  • 142 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 143 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 144 What's the time?

  • 145 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 146 New art gallery opened

  • 147

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 148 Waldon Triplets
  • 149

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 150 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 151 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 152

    Married in 1908
  • 153 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 154 A bird of their own!

  • 155 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 156 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 157 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 158 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 159 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 160 Life begins at 80

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

  • 162 All for the love of a lady!

  • 163 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 164 Artisans' Club

  • 165

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 166 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 167 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 168 Sweets derationing

  • 169

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 170 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 171 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 172 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 173 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 174 Northam footballers of the future

  • 175

    Building works
  • 176 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 177 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 178 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 179 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 180 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 181 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 182 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 183 Torrington's new amenity

  • 184 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 185 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 186 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 187 Appledore schooner broadcast

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

  • 189 In their new robes and hats

  • 190 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 191

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 192 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 193 Pannier Market's future?

  • 194 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 195 They are parted pro-tem

  • 196 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 197 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 198 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 199 Northam's almshouse

  • 200 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 201 New shipyard on schedule

  • 202 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 203 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 204 By pony and trap to market

  • 205 Hartland Dancers
  • 206 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 207 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 208 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 209 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 210 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 211 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 212 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 213 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 214 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 215 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 216 Just over a year old

  • 217 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 218 113 years at Instow

  • 219 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 220 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 221 So this is the mainland!

  • 222 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 223 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 224 Loads of black and white

  • 225 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 226 New life for Hartland organ

  • 227 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 228

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 229 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 230 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 231 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 232 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 233 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 234 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 235 A roof-top view - where?

  • 236 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

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

  • 238 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 239 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 240 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 241 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 242 Picking the pops

  • 243 A man and his wheel

  • 244 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 245 New choral society's growing response

  • 246 Six footed lamb

  • 247

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 248 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 249 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 250 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 251 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 252 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 253 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 254 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 255 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 256 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 257 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 258 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 259 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 260 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 261 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 262 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 263 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 264 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 265 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 266 Capers on the cobbles

  • 267 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 268 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 269 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 270 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 271 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 272 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 273 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 274 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 275 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 276 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 277 Bideford regatta

  • 278 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 279 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 280 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 281 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 282 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 283 Bideford loses training ship

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

  • 285 The cab at the corner>
  • 286 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 287 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 288 Penny for the guy

  • 289 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 290 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 291 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 292 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 293 It really was the 'last time'

  • 294 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 295 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 296 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 297 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 298 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 299 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 300 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 301 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 302 End of the line

  • 303

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 304 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 305

    Bidefordians
  • 306 Littleham family's five generations

  • 307 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 308 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 309 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 310 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 311 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 312

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 313

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 314 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 315 For crying out loud!

  • 316 Twenty-one yachts

  • 317 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 318 Out of puff!

  • 319 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 320 Alwington School closing after 120 years

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

  • 322 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 323 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 324 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 325 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 326 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 327

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 328 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 329 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 330 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 331

    Exhibition of school work
  • 332 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 333 The Geneva marionettes

  • 334 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 335 When horses score over the tractor

  • 336 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 337 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 338 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 339 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 340 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 341 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 342 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 343 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 344 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 345 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 346 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 347 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 348 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 349 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 350 New addition to Quay front

  • 351

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 352

    Relatives all over the world
  • 353 Some 240 exhibits

  • 354 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 355 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 356 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 357 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 358 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 359 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 360 Modern living at Bideford

  • 361 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 362 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 363 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 364 Happy Days!

  • 365 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 366 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 367 Some mushroom!

  • 368 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 369 Picking the pops

  • 370 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 371 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 372

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 373 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 374 All aboard the ark

  • 375 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 376 Centenary of Gazette

  • 377 No laughing matter

  • 378 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 379 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

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

  • 381 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 382 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 383 Revenge in style

  • 384

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 385

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 386 Weare Giffard potato

  • 387 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 388 Warmington's garage ad

  • 389

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 390 Bideford computer stars

  • 391 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 392 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 393 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 394 Ten year old scrambler

  • 395 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 396 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 397 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 398 School crossing patrol begins

  • 399 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 400 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 401 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 402 Hartland postman retires

  • 403 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 404

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 405 Puppet characters introduced

  • 406 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 407 Devil sent packing

  • 408 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 409 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 410 Service with a smile

  • 411 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 412 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 413 Traditions and skills still there

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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Damaged homes left behind 17th September 1940

Damaged homes left behind

17th September 1940

damaged homes left behindFrom the bombed areas of London and the south-east coast have come in scores of people to seek haven in this part of the Westcountry.

Some have come under the official schemes - such as mothers with young children - others have come because they have relations or friends in these parts, and there are also those who have come quite unofficially.

Offers of shelter should be addressed to the Mayor of Bideford through the Chief Billeting Officer (Mr W J Langford), Town Hall, Bideford.

Mrs R I Smith, of Peckham, has come with her family of five, two of whom were already in Bideford as evacuees under the government scheme.  "Its not war-fare, its murder" declares Mrs Deverill, also of Peckham, who is staying at Chircombe, Northam.

From West Ham, Mrs I Jude, staying at 4, Church Walk, Bideford, said just at the back of her house, which had its windows blown out, there was a time bomb.  When they left it had not gone off.  They had had no real sleep for nearly a fortnight.

Thrill for Youth, Bideford Evacuees keep fit 1st July 1941

Thrill for Youth, Bideford Evacuees keep fit

1st July 1941

Bideford evacuees keep fit"Mens sana in sano corpore" (a sound mind in a sound body) is a motto taken to heart by Peckham Central School, nearly 250 pupils of which were evacuated to Bideford a year ago and have found wartime school premises at Bideford Baptist Schoolrooms.

Photograph above show a practice on the lawn outside the Baptish School buildings, and it will be seen that movement and thrill are inseparable from their exercises.

Happy Plymouth Toddlers at Instow 14th October 1941

Happy Plymouth Toddlers at Instow 14th October 1941

happy plymouth toddlers at InstowDevon 72 Detachment of the British Red Cross Society which is the Instow branch of that organisation, has been busily engaged for some months in assisting with the care of some fifty children whose ages range up to 5 years and whose homes have been bombed in Plymouth.  In the charming settings of Tapely Park, the residence of Mr John Christie, these children are receiving care and attention watched over by a matron and trained sisters.

The Instow Red Cross nurses, under the capable supervision of Miss W Dobbs, Commandant, have given valuable assistance, not only in the essentials of nursing but in the less spectacular, but none of the less important, tasks in the kitchen when staff has been depleted.

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