• 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 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 2

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 3 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 4 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 5 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 6 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 7 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 8 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 9 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 10 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 11 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 12 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 13 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 14 Sight of a lifetime

  • 15 Second Monte Carlo Rally

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

  • 17 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 18 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 19 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 20 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 21 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 22 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 23 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 24 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 25 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 26 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 27 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 28 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 29 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 30 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 31 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 32 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 33 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 34

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 35 For crying out loud!

  • 36 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 37 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 38 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 39 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 40 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 41 Centenary of Gazette

  • 42 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 43 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 44 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 45 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 46 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 47 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 48 Recognise this resort?

  • 49

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 50 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 51 Devil sent packing

  • 52 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 53

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 54 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 55 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 56 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 57

    Relatives all over the world
  • 58

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 59 Life begins at 80

  • 60 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 61 In their new robes and hats

  • 62 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 63 Just over a year old

  • 64 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 65 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 66 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 67 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 68 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 69 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 70 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 71 Ships at Bideford

  • 72

    First prize
  • 73 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 74 New life for Hartland organ

  • 75 Appledore's largest

  • 76 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 77 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 78 New addition to Quay front

  • 79 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 80 No laughing matter

  • 81 Artisans' Club

  • 82 Police station view of Bideford

  • 83 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 84 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 85 Parkham plan realised

  • 86 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 87 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 88

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 89 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 90 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 91 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 92 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

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

  • 94 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 95 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 96 A bird of their own!

  • 97 Decontrol of meat

  • 98 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 99 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 100

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 101 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 102

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 103 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 104 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 105

    Bidefordians
  • 106 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 107 Traditions and skills still there

  • 108 What's the time?

  • 109 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 110 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 111 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 112 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 113

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 114 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 115 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

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

  • 117 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 118 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 119 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 120 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 121 New shipyard on schedule

  • 122 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 123 Hartland's invitation

  • 124 Finished in 1876

  • 125 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 126 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 127 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 128 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 129 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 130 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 131 Out of puff!

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

  • 133 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 134 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 135 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 136 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 137 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 138 Happy Days!

  • 139 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 140 Peter poses for TV film

  • 141 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 142 Last train from Torrington

  • 143 New look in the hayfields

  • 144 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 145 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 146

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 147 Northam footballers of the future

  • 148 Puppet characters introduced

  • 149

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 150 Cruising down the river

  • 151 New art gallery opened

  • 152 Private home for public pump

  • 153 Waldon Triplets
  • 154 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 155 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 156 It really was the 'last time'

  • 157 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 158 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 159 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 160 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 161 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 162 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 163 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 164 So this is the mainland!

  • 165 By pony and trap to market

  • 166 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 167

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 168 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 169

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 170

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 171 Picking the pops

  • 172 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 173 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 174 No sale of Springfield House

  • 175 113 years at Instow

  • 176 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 177

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 178 Meredith's ironmongers

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

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

  • 181

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 182 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 183 Picking the pops

  • 184 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 185 Revenge in style

  • 186 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 187 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 188 Torrington children build igloo
  • 189 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 190 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 191 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 192 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 193 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 194 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 195 Warmington's garage ad

  • 196 Riverside mystery

  • 197 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 198 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 199 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 200 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 201 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 202 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 203 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 204

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 205

    Building works
  • 206 Off on a great adventure

  • 207 Circus comes to town

  • 208 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 209 New Post Office

  • 210

    Exhibition of school work
  • 211 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 212 All for the love of a lady!

  • 213 Pannier Market's future?

  • 214 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 215 A roof-top view - where?

  • 216 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 217 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 218 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 219

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 220 Jumble sale fever

  • 221

    Married in 1908
  • 222 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 223 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 224 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 225 Burnard family reunion

  • 226 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 227 School crossing patrol begins

  • 228 All aboard the ark

  • 229 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 230 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 231 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

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

  • 233 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 234 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 235 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 236 New choral society's growing response

  • 237 Twenty-one yachts

  • 238 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 239 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 240 New Lundy stamps

  • 241 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 242 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 243 Mobile missionary

  • 244 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 245 Northam's almshouse

  • 246 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 247 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 248 The art of the thatcher

  • 249 When horses score over the tractor

  • 250 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 251 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 252 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 253 He beat the floods

  • 254 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 255 Ten year old scrambler

  • 256 Clovelly custom

  • 257 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 258 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 259 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 260 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 261 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 262 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 263

    Was a missionary
  • 264 Penny for the guy

  • 265 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 266 Littleham family's five generations

  • 267 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 268 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 269 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 270 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 271 Torrington's new amenity

  • 272 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 273

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 274 A story to tell!

  • 275

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 276 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 277 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 278 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 279 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 280 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 281

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 282 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 283 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 284 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 285 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 286 Modern living at Bideford

  • 287 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 288 A man and his wheel

  • 289 First ship in 8 years

  • 290

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 291 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 292

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 293 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 294 Capers on the cobbles

  • 295 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 296 Bideford computer stars

  • 297 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 298 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 299 Hartland postman retires

  • 300 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 301 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 302 Simple Item 138
  • 303 Bideford regatta

  • 304 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 305 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 306 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 307 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 308 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 309 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 310 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 311 The Geneva marionettes

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

  • 313 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 314 Weare Giffard potato

  • 315 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 316 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 317 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 318 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 319 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 320 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 321 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 322 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 323 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 324 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 325 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 326 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 327 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 328 New civic medallions

  • 329 Variety in summer weather

  • 330 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 331 Torrington in 1967

  • 332 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

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

  • 334 They are parted pro-tem

  • 335 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 336 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 337 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 338 Some 240 exhibits

  • 339

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 340 Emergency ferry services

  • 341 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

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

  • 343 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 344 Some mushroom!

  • 345 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 346 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 347 Bridging the stream

  • 348 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 349 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 350 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 351 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 352 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 353 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 354 Can spring be far away?

  • 355 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 356 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 357 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 358 Loads of black and white

  • 359 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

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

  • 361 Clovelly nightmare

  • 362 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 363 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 364 End of the line

  • 365 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 366 School's link with cargo ship

  • 367 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 368

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 369 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 370

    New gateway
  • 371 Six footed lamb

  • 372 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 373 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 374 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 375 Sweet success at Langtree School

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

  • 377 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 378 Bideford loses training ship

  • 379 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 380 North Devon Driving School

  • 381 Hartland Dancers
  • 382 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 383 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 384 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 385 Service with a smile

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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Mr G H (Harry) Blackmore

Veteran ex-fire officer

11.4.1963 Bideford Blackmore Fire Officer

"Harry was a really fine fireman" said Mr C Morris. An ex-serviceman of the first world war, Mr Blackmore spent his life in the building trade, being foreman for a local firm for many years. Bowling was one of his great hobbies and he spent happy hours at the Bideford Strand club even if unable to play as his declined. 

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