• Welcome to the Bideford & District Community Archive

    Welcome to the Bideford & District Community Archive

    ...The Gazette Newspaper 1856 onwards.

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  • 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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    Toasted with musical honours
  • 2 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 3 Appledore's largest

  • 4 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 5 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 6 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 7 Artisans' Club

  • 8 Riverside mystery

  • 9 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 10 Revenge in style

  • 11 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 12 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 13

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 14 Off on a great adventure

  • 15 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 16 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 17 Peter poses for TV film

  • 18 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 19 North Devon Driving School

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

  • 21 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 22 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 23 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 24 All aboard the ark

  • 25 First ship in 8 years

  • 26 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 27 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 28 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 29 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 30

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 31 Variety in summer weather

  • 32 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 33 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 34 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 35 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 36

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 37 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 38 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 39 Parkham plan realised

  • 40 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 41 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 42 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 43 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 44 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 45 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 46 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 47 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 48 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 49 Weare Giffard potato

  • 50 School's link with cargo ship

  • 51 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 52 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 53 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 54 Mobile missionary

  • 55 Out of puff!

  • 56 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 57 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 58 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 59 The art of the thatcher

  • 60 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 61 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 62 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 63 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 64 Penny for the guy

  • 65 The cab at the corner>
  • 66 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 67 Six footed lamb

  • 68 Burnard family reunion

  • 69 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 70 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 71 Bideford computer stars

  • 72 Some 240 exhibits

  • 73 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 74 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 75 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 76 Ten year old scrambler

  • 77 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 78 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 79 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 80 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 81 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 82 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 83 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 84 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 85 School crossing patrol begins

  • 86 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 87 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 88 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 89 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 90

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 91 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 92 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 93 By pony and trap to market

  • 94 Can spring be far away?

  • 95 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 96 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 97 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 98 Hartland Dancers
  • 99 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 100 New look in the hayfields

  • 101 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 102 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 103 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 104 Waldon Triplets
  • 105 Capers on the cobbles

  • 106 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 107 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 108 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 109 Bideford loses training ship

  • 110 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 111 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 112

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 113

    Was a missionary
  • 114 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 115 New shipyard on schedule

  • 116 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 117 They are parted pro-tem

  • 118 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 119 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 120

    Exhibition of school work
  • 121 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 122

    First prize
  • 123 Torrington in 1967

  • 124 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 125 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 126 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 127 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 128 Cruising down the river

  • 129 'Les Girls' of Hartland

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

  • 131 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 132 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 133 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 134 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 135 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 136

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 137 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 138 Loads of black and white

  • 139 When horses score over the tractor

  • 140

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 141 A story to tell!

  • 142 In their new robes and hats

  • 143 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 144

    Bidefordians
  • 145

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 146 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 147 Twenty-one yachts

  • 148

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 149 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 150 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 151

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 152

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 153 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 154 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 155 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 156 New choral society's growing response

  • 157 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 158 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 159 A bird of their own!

  • 160 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 161 Service with a smile

  • 162 Filming at Hartland

  • 163 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 164 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 165 New art gallery opened

  • 166 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 167 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 168 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 169 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 170 Circus comes to town

  • 171 Second Monte Carlo Rally

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

  • 173 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 174 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 175

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 176 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 177 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 178 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 179 What's the time?

  • 180 Puppet characters introduced

  • 181 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 182 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 183 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 184 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 185 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 186 Sight of a lifetime

  • 187 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 188 Warmington's garage ad

  • 189 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 190 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 191 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 192 Sweets derationing

  • 193 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 194 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 195 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 196 Emergency ferry services

  • 197 Ships at Bideford

  • 198 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 199

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 200 Happy Days!

  • 201 Northam's almshouse

  • 202 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 203 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 204 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 205 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 206 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 207 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 208 Clovelly custom

  • 209 Centenary of Gazette

  • 210 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 211 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 212 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 213 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 214

    Married in 1908
  • 215 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 216 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 217 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 218 No sale of Springfield House

  • 219 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 220 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 221 He beat the floods

  • 222 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 223 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 224 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 225 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 226 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 227 Hartland postman retires

  • 228

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 229 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 230 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 231

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 232 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 233 A man and his wheel

  • 234 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 235 The Geneva marionettes

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

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

  • 238 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 239 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 240 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 241

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 242 Bideford regatta

  • 243

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 244 Some mushroom!

  • 245 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 246 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 247 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 248 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 249 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 250 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 251 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 252 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 253 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 254 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 255 Life begins at 80

  • 256 New Post Office

  • 257 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 258 New civic medallions

  • 259 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 260 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 261 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 262 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 263 So this is the mainland!

  • 264 End of the line

  • 265

    Building works
  • 266 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 267

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 268 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 269 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 270 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 271 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 272 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 273

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 274 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 275 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 276

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 277 Little 'Big Ben'

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

  • 279 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 280 Torrington children build igloo
  • 281 Modern living at Bideford

  • 282 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 283 Clovelly nightmare

  • 284 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 285

    Relatives all over the world
  • 286 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 287 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 288 Last train from Torrington

  • 289 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 290 Pannier Market's future?

  • 291 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 292 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 293 Northam footballers of the future

  • 294 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 295 A roof-top view - where?

  • 296 New addition to Quay front

  • 297 All for the love of a lady!

  • 298 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 299 Hartland's invitation

  • 300 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 301 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 302 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 303 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 304 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 305 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 306 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 307 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 308 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 309 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 310 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 311 New life for Hartland organ

  • 312 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 313 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 314 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 315 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 316 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 317 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 318 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 319 Devil sent packing

  • 320 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 321 New Lundy stamps

  • 322 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 323 Littleham family's five generations

  • 324 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 325 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 326 Picking the pops

  • 327 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 328 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 329 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 330

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 331 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 332 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 333 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 334 Bridging the stream

  • 335 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 336 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 337 Just over a year old

  • 338 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 339 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 340 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 341 Jumble sale fever

  • 342 From Bobby to Brian

  • 343 Clovelly donkey film star

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

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

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

  • 347 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 348 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 349 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 350 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 351 113 years at Instow

  • 352 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 353 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 354 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 355 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 356 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 357 No laughing matter

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

  • 359 Decontrol of meat

  • 360 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 361 Recognise this resort?

  • 362 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 363 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 364 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 365 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 366 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 367 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 368 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 369

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 370

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 371 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 372 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

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

  • 374 Picking the pops

  • 375 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 376 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 377 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 378 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 379 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 380 Finished in 1876

  • 381 For crying out loud!

  • 382 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 383 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 384 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 385

    New gateway
  • 386 Private home for public pump

  • 387 It really was the 'last time'

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

  • 389 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 390

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 391 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 392 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 393 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 394 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 395 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 396 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 397 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 398 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 399 Simple Item 138
  • 400 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 401 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 402 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 403 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 404 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 405 Traditions and skills still there

  • 406 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 407 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 408 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 409 Torrington's new amenity

  • 410 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 411 Police station view of Bideford

  • 412 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

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

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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  • 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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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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And Pretty Maids All In A Row

"Pretty Maids all in a row" runs the nursery rhyme

6.5.1977 Entertainment Torrington Carnival

and judges at this year's Torrington carnival queen choosing had their work cut out to pick the winner from the various village representatives.

Their choice was 19 year old Miss Diane Baker, secretary to a Bideford chartered accountant and competing as Miss Frithelstock. Her attendants in tomorrow's carnival procession will be Miss Charlotte Goodleigh, an 18 years old student who was Miss Roborough, and Miss Diane Barrow, a 22 year old dental receptionist, who was Miss Huntshaw.

Gazette article dated 6 May 1977

30 Prizes at Parkham Whist Drive

26 Tables in play

A bumper whist drive with 30 prizes was held at the Allardice Hall, Parkham, in aid of the hall’s funds.

29.12.1972 Parkham whist drive

Prize winners were Mrs I Ashton; Mrs C Powell; Mrs M Walter; Mrs P Taylor; Mrs B Burrow; Mrs E Stoneman; Mrs P Nicholls; Miss H Dunn; Mrs P M Daniel. Miss H Richards. Mr R Taylor; Mr Hockin; Mr R Hill. Mr D Hocking; Mrs S Prance; Mr Spry; Mr S Clinch; Mr A Harris; Mr G Parr; M Stevens.

At the lucky table were Messrs R Hill and D Honey and Mesdames Rawle and J Harris.

Draw winners were: Mrs Rickard, Mrs Heard, Mrs Cornish, Mrs Passmore, Miss J Cornish, Mrs Blighty.

Gazette article dated 29 December 1972

Over 100 at Clovelly Whist Drive

Clovelly Liberals’ Christmas whist drive held in the Parish Hall attracted 104 players.

29.12.1972 Clovelly whist drive

Mr G Smith was MC and Miss D Gove was door steward.

Miss Gove presented prizes to Mrs I Ford; Miss J Cornish; Mrs M Cummings; Miss S Hobbs; Mrs L Short; Mrs I Robertson; Miss P Robins; Mrs B Bradford and Mr R Grigg; Mrs Howell; Mrs A Thomas; Mrs Nicholls; Mrs J Shackson; and Mrs Peel. Mr K Pennington; Mr T Nichol; Mr Theo Beer; Mrs M Hobbs; Mr J Burrow; Mrs G Jeffery; Mr R Handcock; Rev R O H Eppingstone and Mrs M Braddick; Mrs W Upton; Mrs J Goaman; Mr V Stoneman; Mr S Nicholls, Mrs L Rowe and Mr D Braund.

Draw winners were Mesdames George and Jennings, Miss S Hobbs and Mr B Perham,

Article dated 29 December 1972

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