• 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 Jumble sale fever

  • 2 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 3 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 4 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 5 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 6

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 7 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 8 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 9 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 10

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 11 Mobile missionary

  • 12

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 13 Pannier Market's future?

  • 14 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 15 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 16 Cruising down the river

  • 17 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 18 Peter poses for TV film

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

  • 20 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 21 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 22

    Married in 1908
  • 23

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 24 All aboard the ark

  • 25 Picking the pops

  • 26 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 27 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 28 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 29 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 30 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 31

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 32

    Was a missionary
  • 33 Devil sent packing

  • 34 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 35 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 36 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 37 Happy Days!

  • 38 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 39 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 40

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 41 Waldon Triplets
  • 42 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 43 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 44 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 45 Traditions and skills still there

  • 46 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 47 Emergency ferry services

  • 48 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 49

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 50 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 51 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 52 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 53 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 54 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 55 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 56 New addition to Quay front

  • 57 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 58 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 59 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 60 New Lundy stamps

  • 61 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 62 Bridging the stream

  • 63 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 64

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 65 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 66 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 67 A roof-top view - where?

  • 68 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 69 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 70 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 71 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 72 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 73 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 74 Safe door weighing two tons

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

  • 76 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 77 Parkham plan realised

  • 78 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 79 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 80 Some 240 exhibits

  • 81 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

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

  • 83 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 84 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 85 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 86 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 87 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 88

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 89 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 90 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 91 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 92 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 93 Capers on the cobbles

  • 94 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 95 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 96 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 97 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 98 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 99 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 100 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 101 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 102 Circus comes to town

  • 103 It really was the 'last time'

  • 104

    Building works
  • 105 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 106 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 107 Ships at Bideford

  • 108 A man and his wheel

  • 109 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 110 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 111 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 112 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 113 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 114 Some mushroom!

  • 115 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 116 Bideford regatta

  • 117 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 118 Simple Item 138
  • 119 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 120 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 121 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 122 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 123 Variety in summer weather

  • 124 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 125 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 126 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

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

  • 128 Decontrol of meat

  • 129 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 130 Torrington children build igloo
  • 131

    First prize
  • 132 A bird of their own!

  • 133

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 134 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 135 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 136 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 137 Penny for the guy

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

  • 139 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 140 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 141 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 142 Can spring be far away?

  • 143 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 144 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 145 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 146 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 147 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 148 Out of puff!

  • 149 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 150 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 151 For crying out loud!

  • 152 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 153 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 154 Revenge in style

  • 155 Puppet characters introduced

  • 156 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 157 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 158 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 159 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 160 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 161 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 162 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 163 End of the line

  • 164 Artisans' Club

  • 165 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 166 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 167 New Post Office

  • 168

    Exhibition of school work
  • 169 All for the love of a lady!

  • 170 What's the time?

  • 171 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 172 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 173 New art gallery opened

  • 174 North Devon Driving School

  • 175 No laughing matter

  • 176 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 177 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 178 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 179 Passing of a Torrington landmark

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

  • 181 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 182 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 183 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 184 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 185

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 186 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 187 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 188 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 189 Last train from Torrington

  • 190 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 191 New look in the hayfields

  • 192 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 193 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 194

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 195 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 196 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 197 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

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

  • 199 New life for Hartland organ

  • 200 Hartland's invitation

  • 201 Hartland postman retires

  • 202 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 203 By pony and trap to market

  • 204 Modern living at Bideford

  • 205 Service with a smile

  • 206

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 207 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 208 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 209 Twenty-one yachts

  • 210 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 211 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 212 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 213 Clovelly nightmare

  • 214

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 215 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 216 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 217 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

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

  • 219 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 220 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 221 Finished in 1876

  • 222 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 223 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 224 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 225

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 226 Off on a great adventure

  • 227 Northam's almshouse

  • 228 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 229 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 230 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 231 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 232 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 233 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 234 A story to tell!

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

  • 236 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 237 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 238 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 239 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 240

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 241 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 242 They are parted pro-tem

  • 243 Private home for public pump

  • 244

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 245 In their new robes and hats

  • 246 Torrington's new amenity

  • 247 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 248 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 249 He beat the floods

  • 250 Just over a year old

  • 251 Torrington in 1967

  • 252

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 253 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 254

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 255 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 256 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 257 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 258 First ship in 8 years

  • 259 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 260 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 261 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 262

    New gateway
  • 263 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 264 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 265 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 266 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 267 Ten year old scrambler

  • 268 Six footed lamb

  • 269 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 270 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 271 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 272 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 273 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 274 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 275 Littleham family's five generations

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

  • 277 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 278 Loads of black and white

  • 279 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 280 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 281 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 282 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 283 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 284 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 285 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 286 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 287 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 288 Hartland Dancers
  • 289 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 290 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 291 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 292 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 293 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 294 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 295 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 296 New civic medallions

  • 297 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 298 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 299 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 300 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 301 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 302 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 303 Sight of a lifetime

  • 304

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 305

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 306 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 307 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 308 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 309 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 310 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 311

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 312 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 313

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 314 Recognise this resort?

  • 315 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 316 So this is the mainland!

  • 317

    Relatives all over the world
  • 318 113 years at Instow

  • 319 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 320 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 321 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 322 The Geneva marionettes

  • 323 Burnard family reunion

  • 324 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 325 Northam footballers of the future

  • 326 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 327 Police station view of Bideford

  • 328 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 329 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 330 School crossing patrol begins

  • 331 No sale of Springfield House

  • 332 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 333 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 334 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 335 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 336 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 337 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 338 New shipyard on schedule

  • 339 Bideford computer stars

  • 340 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 341 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 342 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 343 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 344 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 345 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 346 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 347 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 348 Riverside mystery

  • 349 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 350 School's link with cargo ship

  • 351 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 352

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 353 Centenary of Gazette

  • 354 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 355 Picking the pops

  • 356 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 357 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 358 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 359 Clovelly custom

  • 360

    Bidefordians
  • 361 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 362 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 363 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 364 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 365

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 366 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 367 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 368 The art of the thatcher

  • 369 New choral society's growing response

  • 370 Life begins at 80

  • 371 When horses score over the tractor

  • 372 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 373 Warmington's garage ad

  • 374 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 375 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 376 Appledore's largest

  • 377 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 378 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 379 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 380 Weare Giffard potato

  • 381 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 382 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 383 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 384 Bideford loses training ship

  • 385 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
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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  • 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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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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New light on old topic at Northam 30.09.1961

New light on old topic at Northam 30.09.1961

New light on old topicLight is thrown on the troubled story of Northam Burrows by documents found by Mr Arthur Griffey, of Northam, who have been people's warden at the Parish Church since 1929.  He discovered the papers in the parish room at the old Vicarage to which they had probably been transferred from the old Vestry.

It is just 100 years since a major attempt to save the Burrows from the ravages of the sea created ill-feeling and suspicion among a section of the people - largely those jealous of their grazing rights.  Man behind the move was Rev. Isaac Henry Gosset, which accounts for the presence of the documents among Church papers.

His research did bring to light "a true copy of the Charter of Northam" - "Charter of Henry I granted to St Stephen, of Caen" - and a copy of an award that ended a 1716 lawsuit between Roger Melhuish as Lord of the Manor and Richard Vernam.

Footnote: The Manor of Northam, granted by William I in 1067 eventually became vested in the Melhuish family, but in 1745 a lease was granted for 200 years to run from the death of William Melhuish who died in 1770.  Since 1895 the lease has been held by the Royal North Devon Golf Club.  In 1970, when the lease terminates, Melhuish descendants are expected to enter a claim.

Melhuish Estate

Coming soon!

 Coming soon!

coming soon topic

Please come back soon there will be lots to see here !!

 

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