• 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 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 2 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 3 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 4 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 5 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 6 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 7

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 8 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 9 First steel ship built at Bideford

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

  • 11 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 12 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 13 Just over a year old

  • 14 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 15 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 16 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 17 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 18 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 19 First ship in 8 years

  • 20 Peter poses for TV film

  • 21 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 22 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 23 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 24 When horses score over the tractor

  • 25 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 26 End of the line

  • 27 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 28 By pony and trap to market

  • 29 Hartland postman retires

  • 30

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 31 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 32

    Married in 1908
  • 33 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 34 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 35 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 36

    New gateway
  • 37 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 38 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 39 The Geneva marionettes

  • 40 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 41 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 42 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 43 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 44 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 45 Recognise this resort?

  • 46 Loads of black and white

  • 47

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 48 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 49 School's link with cargo ship

  • 50 Picking the pops

  • 51 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 52 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 53 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 54 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 55 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 56 A bird of their own!

  • 57 Some 240 exhibits

  • 58 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 59 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 60 Last train from Torrington

  • 61 Torrington children build igloo
  • 62 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 63 Out of puff!

  • 64 Some mushroom!

  • 65 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 66 A man and his wheel

  • 67 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 68 Finished in 1876

  • 69 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 70 Can spring be far away?

  • 71 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 72 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 73 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 74 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 75 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 76 Modern living at Bideford

  • 77 All aboard the ark

  • 78 No sale of Springfield House

  • 79 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 80 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 81 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 82 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 83 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 84 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 85 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 86 New addition to Quay front

  • 87 Northam's almshouse

  • 88 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 89

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 90 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

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

  • 92 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 93 Huntshaw TV mast

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

  • 95 Parkham plan realised

  • 96 Clovelly nightmare

  • 97 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 98 Centenary of Gazette

  • 99 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 100 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 101 Bideford regatta

  • 102 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 103 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 104 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 105 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 106 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 107 Littleham family's five generations

  • 108 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 109 Circus comes to town

  • 110 Warmington's garage ad

  • 111 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 112 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 113

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 114 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 115 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 116 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 117 Life begins at 80

  • 118 Farewell to passenger trains

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

  • 120 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 121 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 122 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 123 Clovelly custom

  • 124 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 125 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 126 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 127 Ships at Bideford

  • 128 It really was the 'last time'

  • 129

    Building works
  • 130 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 131 Mobile missionary

  • 132 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 133

    Relatives all over the world
  • 134 Private home for public pump

  • 135 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 136 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 137 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 138

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 139 Waldon Triplets
  • 140 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 141 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 142 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 143 So this is the mainland!

  • 144 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 145 Police station view of Bideford

  • 146 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 147 Capers on the cobbles

  • 148 No laughing matter

  • 149 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 150 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 151 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 152 Off on a great adventure

  • 153 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

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

  • 155 Simple Item 138
  • 156 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 157 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 158 Torrington's new amenity

  • 159 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 160 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 161 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 162 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 163 Northam footballers of the future

  • 164

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 165 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 166 A story to tell!

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

  • 168 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 169 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 170 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 171 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 172 Decontrol of meat

  • 173 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 174 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 175 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 176 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 177 Appledore's largest

  • 178 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 179 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 180 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 181 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 182 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 183 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 184 What's the time?

  • 185 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 186 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 187 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 188 Emergency ferry services

  • 189 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 190 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 191 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 192

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 193 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 194 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 195 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 196 The art of the thatcher

  • 197 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 198 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 199 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 200 Riverside mystery

  • 201 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 202 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 203 Puppet characters introduced

  • 204 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 205 Sight of a lifetime

  • 206 Happy Days!

  • 207 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 208 New civic medallions

  • 209 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 210 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 211 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 212 In their new robes and hats

  • 213 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 214 He beat the floods

  • 215 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 216 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 217 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 218 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 219 Alwington School closing after 120 years

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

  • 221 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 222 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 223 Traditions and skills still there

  • 224 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 225 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 226 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 227 Ten year old scrambler

  • 228

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 229 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 230

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 231 Hartland's invitation

  • 232 They are parted pro-tem

  • 233 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 234 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 235

    Exhibition of school work
  • 236 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 237 Pannier Market's future?

  • 238 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 239 Weare Giffard potato

  • 240 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 241 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 242 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 243 New Post Office

  • 244 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 245 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 246 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 247 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 248 New Lundy stamps

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

  • 250

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 251 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

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

  • 253 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 254 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 255 Devil sent packing

  • 256 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 257 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 258 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 259 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 260 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 261 Jumble sale fever

  • 262 Variety in summer weather

  • 263 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 264 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 265 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 266 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

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

  • 268 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 269 A roof-top view - where?

  • 270 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 271 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 272 Revenge in style

  • 273 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 274 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 275 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 276 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 277 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 278 For crying out loud!

  • 279 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 280 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 281 Bideford computer stars

  • 282 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 283 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 284 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 285 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 286 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 287 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 288 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 289 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 290

    First prize
  • 291 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 292 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 293 Hartland Dancers
  • 294 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 295 Bridging the stream

  • 296 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 297 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 298

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 299 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 300 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 301 Revived market off to splendid start

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

  • 303 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 304 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 305 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 306 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 307 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 308

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 309 New art gallery opened

  • 310 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 311

    Was a missionary
  • 312 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 313 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 314 Torrington in 1967

  • 315 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 316 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 317 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 318 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

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

  • 320 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 321 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 322 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 323 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 324 Service with a smile

  • 325 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 326

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 327 New life for Hartland organ

  • 328 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 329 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 330 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 331 Penny for the guy

  • 332 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 333

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 334

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 335 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 336 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 337 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 338

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 339 Bideford loses training ship

  • 340 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 341 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 342 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 343 School crossing patrol begins

  • 344 New look in the hayfields

  • 345 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 346 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 347 All for the love of a lady!

  • 348 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 349

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 350 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 351 Burnard family reunion

  • 352 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 353 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 354 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 355

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 356 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 357 113 years at Instow

  • 358 Cruising down the river

  • 359 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 360 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 361 New shipyard on schedule

  • 362 Artisans' Club

  • 363 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 364

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 365 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

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

  • 367 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 368

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 369 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 370 North Devon Driving School

  • 371 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 372 Six footed lamb

  • 373

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 374 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 375 New choral society's growing response

  • 376 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 377

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 378 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 379 Twenty-one yachts

  • 380 Picking the pops

  • 381

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 382

    Bidefordians
  • 383 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 384

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 385 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
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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Hartland Siren Awakens Town

When Hartland fire siren is sounded at dead of night it awakens everyone in the town - but not, sometimes, some of the firemen who live at a distance.

2.7.1971 Hartland siren

Now, following represenations from Mr N Westlake, secretary of Hartland Volunteer Fire Service, the Parish Council are to press for the installation of alarm bells in the homes of the 12 firemen so that the siren need not be sounded during the night.
Mr H Conibear, who is a firemen, reminded the Council that the brigade had one had a handcart and operated only in Fore Street. Now it covers the town and Clovelly, Woolsery and Bradworthy.
Gazette article dated 2 July 1971

New Engine For Torrington’s New Fire Station

Torrington now possesses one of the most modern fire engines in the county – it was recently delivered direct from the works – but although good progress has been made, it will be some weeks before its new ‘home’ will be ready to accommodate it.

25.3.1960 Torrington Fire Station

At the moment the new engine is housed in the fire station that was built by the NFS during the war. The Town Council were then promised that as soon as possible after hostilities ceased a new station would be provided. But the end of the war found the county so badly off for such accommodation that only now has Torrington’s turn arrived.
The full Gazette article is dated 25 March 1960

Local fire and ambulance workers thanked 22nd July 1966

Local fire and ambulance workers thanked 22nd July 1966

Local fire and ambulance

The Mayor of Bideford (Mrs Vivian Patt) expressed thanks to local members of the fire and ambulance services for their valued work for the community when she officially opened the new fire and ambulance stations at Old Town. To symbolise the opening, the Mayor pulled a lever which automatically flings wide the doors of the fire station to enable the applicances to make a quick get away.

Mr J Farrell, chairman of Devon County Fire Brigade Committee opened the proceedings.  The Mayor, who was accompanieed by the Mayoress (Mrs P Galliford) then inspected the parading fire and ambulance men and women.

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