• 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 Circus comes to town

  • 2 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 3 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 4 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 5 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 6 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 7 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 8

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 9 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 10 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 11 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 12

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 13 Variety in summer weather

  • 14 Peter poses for TV film

  • 15 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 16 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 17 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 18 Appledore's largest

  • 19 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 20 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 21 Revenge in style

  • 22

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 23 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 24 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 25 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 26 Northam's almshouse

  • 27 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 28 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 29 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 30 113 years at Instow

  • 31 Simple Item 138
  • 32 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 33 Picking the pops

  • 34 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 35 Bideford's private wharves busier

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

  • 37 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 38 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 39 Devil sent packing

  • 40 Weare Giffard potato

  • 41 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 42 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 43 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 44 Safe door weighing two tons

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

  • 46 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 47 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 48 Bideford regatta

  • 49 Service with a smile

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

  • 51 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 52 It really was the 'last time'

  • 53 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 54

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 55 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 56 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 57 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 58 Hartland's invitation

  • 59

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 60 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 61 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 62 Cruising down the river

  • 63 Clovelly nightmare

  • 64 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 65 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 66 A man and his wheel

  • 67 Last train from Torrington

  • 68

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 69 By pony and trap to market

  • 70

    First prize
  • 71 Littleham family's five generations

  • 72 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 73 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 74 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 75 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 76 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 77 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 78 Artisans' Club

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

  • 80 Recognise this resort?

  • 81 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

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

  • 83 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 84 New Lundy stamps

  • 85 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 86 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 87 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 88 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 89 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 90 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 91 Bideford computer stars

  • 92 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 93 Some 240 exhibits

  • 94 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 95 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 96 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 97

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 98 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 99 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 100 Bridging the stream

  • 101 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 102 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 103 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 104 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 105 Twenty-one yachts

  • 106 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 107 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 108 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 109 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 110 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 111 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 112

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 113 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 114 New civic medallions

  • 115 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 116

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 117 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 118 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 119 Puppet characters introduced

  • 120 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 121 Centenary of Gazette

  • 122 Mobile missionary

  • 123

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 124 Loads of black and white

  • 125 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 126 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 127 Modern living at Bideford

  • 128 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 129 Traditions and skills still there

  • 130 Ten year old scrambler

  • 131 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 132 A story to tell!

  • 133 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 134 First ship in 8 years

  • 135 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 136 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 137 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 138 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 139

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 140 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 141 The Geneva marionettes

  • 142

    Exhibition of school work
  • 143 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 144 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 145 New shipyard on schedule

  • 146 For crying out loud!

  • 147 Ships at Bideford

  • 148 Just over a year old

  • 149 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 150 Life begins at 80

  • 151 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 152 New addition to Quay front

  • 153 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 154 Riverside mystery

  • 155 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 156 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 157 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 158

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 159 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 160 Pannier Market's future?

  • 161

    Relatives all over the world
  • 162 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 163 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 164 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 165 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 166 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 167

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 168 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 169 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 170 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 171

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 172

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 173 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 174 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 175 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 176 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 177 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 178

    Married in 1908
  • 179 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 180 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 181 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

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

  • 183 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 184 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 185 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 186 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 187 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 188 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 189 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 190 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 191 So this is the mainland!

  • 192 Emergency ferry services

  • 193 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 194 Torrington's new amenity

  • 195 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 196 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 197 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 198 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 199 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 200 North Devon Driving School

  • 201 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 202 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 203 Torrington children build igloo
  • 204 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

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

  • 206 Waldon Triplets
  • 207 No sale of Springfield House

  • 208 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 209 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 210 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 211 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 212 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 213

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 214 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 215 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 216

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 217 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

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

  • 219 Northam footballers of the future

  • 220 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 221

    Bidefordians
  • 222 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 223 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

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

  • 225 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 226 School crossing patrol begins

  • 227 Picking the pops

  • 228 When horses score over the tractor

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

  • 230 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 231 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 232 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 233 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 234 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 235 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 236 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 237 New Post Office

  • 238 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 239 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 240 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 241 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 242 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 243 End of the line

  • 244 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 245 New look in the hayfields

  • 246 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 247 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 248 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 249 In their new robes and hats

  • 250 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 251 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 252 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 253 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 254 Warmington's garage ad

  • 255 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 256 New life for Hartland organ

  • 257 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 258 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

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

  • 260 Parkham plan realised

  • 261 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 262 Out of puff!

  • 263 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 264 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 265 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 266 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 267 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 268 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 269 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 270 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 271 Sight of a lifetime

  • 272 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 273 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 274 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 275

    New gateway
  • 276 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 277 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 278 Happy Days!

  • 279

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 280 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 281 Up-to-date Bideford!

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

  • 283 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 284 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 285 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 286

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 287 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 288

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 289 Penny for the guy

  • 290 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 291 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 292 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 293 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 294 Private home for public pump

  • 295 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 296 Off on a great adventure

  • 297 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 298 No laughing matter

  • 299 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 300 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 301 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 302

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 303 Bideford loses training ship

  • 304 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 305 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 306

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 307 New choral society's growing response

  • 308 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 309 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 310 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 311 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 312 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 313 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 314 Finished in 1876

  • 315 Decontrol of meat

  • 316 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 317 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 318 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 319 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 320 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 321 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 322 Can spring be far away?

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

  • 324 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 325 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 326 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 327 Capers on the cobbles

  • 328 Some mushroom!

  • 329 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 330 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 331 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 332 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 333 Jumble sale fever

  • 334 A bird of their own!

  • 335 Burnard family reunion

  • 336

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 337 Hartland postman retires

  • 338

    Was a missionary
  • 339 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 340 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 341 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 342 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 343 Police station view of Bideford

  • 344 What's the time?

  • 345

    Building works
  • 346 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 347 All for the love of a lady!

  • 348 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 349 The art of the thatcher

  • 350 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 351 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 352 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 353 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 354 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 355 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 356 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 357 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 358 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 359 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 360 Six footed lamb

  • 361 They are parted pro-tem

  • 362 All aboard the ark

  • 363 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 364 School's link with cargo ship

  • 365 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 366 Clovelly custom

  • 367 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 368 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 369 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 370

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 371 New art gallery opened

  • 372 A roof-top view - where?

  • 373 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 374 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 375 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 376

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 377 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 378 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 379 He beat the floods

  • 380 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 381 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 382 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 383 Hartland Dancers
  • 384 Torrington in 1967

  • 385 Championship Trophy for Hartland
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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Introducing The Newcombe Special

Ten weeks’ spare time work went into the making of this primrose coloured hill climb and trials special, pictured here a few days after coming off its solo assembly line.

5.8.1960 Newcombe transport

Builder and owner of the care is 23 years old Mr Peter Newcombe, 9 Coldharbour, Bideford, who is employed at Raleigh Garage, Bideford. 

Using equipment borrowed from the garage, Mr Newcombe has been working on it in the evenings and other spare time. Most of the components of the car are new, but a few have come from a variety of other cars, so that it is a hybrid. Motive power behind the special is a Ford engine of about 800cc. There is also a Ford gear box and back axle.
The body work is all hand made – “I just bent and hoped” Mr Newcombe told a Gazette reporter. Here welding equipment from the garage was used.
The special has had trials on the roads, but Mr Newcombe is not sure when he will start using it for trials, as several modifications have yet to be made. “ Mostly curing of rattles” he explained with a smile.
Extra weight is also needed. Although the car is not built for high speeds – the low gears necessary for hill climbs limit speed – when she does get going she is inclined to jump about a bit at present. Grass track racing without more weight is also out of the question. “If I had her on a grass track at the moment she would just spin”, said Mr Newcombe.
But he is satisfied with the progress of his machine so far, and hopes it will not be long before it is ready for its intended purpose.

Gazette article dated 5 August 1960

Two Way Traffic

Whether you travel by Penny Farthing, Steam Roller, Rolls, Mini, or Shank’s Pony

3.3.1972 Meddon Street

Meddon Street Is Open To Two-Way Traffic.
Customers welcome as usual at: Bideford Motors, access bottom of Torridge Hill: Comer’s Fish Bar; I Glover, Meddon Street Bakeries; Hopkins Garage, ND SAAB Dealers; Meddon Galleries, Pictures and Framing; Mitchells Pain Shop, Signwriting, etc; E Northwood and Co, Antiques and Property Sales; Miss F Taylor, Draper and Milliner; Reubery’s Fruit and Vegetable Shop.
Article dated 3 March 1972

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