• 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 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 2 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 3 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 4 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 5 A bird of their own!

  • 6 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 7 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 8 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 9 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 10

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 11 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 12

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 13 New civic medallions

  • 14 Filming at Hartland

  • 15 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 16 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 17 No sale of Springfield House

  • 18 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 19 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 20 No laughing matter

  • 21

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 22 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 23 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 24 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 25 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 26 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 27 Modern living at Bideford

  • 28 Hartland postman retires

  • 29 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 30 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 31 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 32 They are parted pro-tem

  • 33 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 34 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 35 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 36 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 37 The Geneva marionettes

  • 38 New art gallery opened

  • 39 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 40 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 41 So this is the mainland!

  • 42 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 43 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 44 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 45 Pannier Market's future?

  • 46 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

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

  • 48 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 49 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 50 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 51 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 52 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 53 Revenge in style

  • 54 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 55 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 56 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 57 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 58

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 59 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

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

  • 61 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 62 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 63 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 64 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 65 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 66 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 67 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 68 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 69 Panto time at Westward Ho!

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

  • 71

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 72 New Lundy stamps

  • 73 New choral society's growing response

  • 74 North Devon Driving School

  • 75 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 76 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 77 Penny for the guy

  • 78 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 79 Last train from Torrington

  • 80

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 81 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 82 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 83

    First prize
  • 84 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 85 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 86 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 87 Bideford loses training ship

  • 88 By pony and trap to market

  • 89

    Bidefordians
  • 90

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 91 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 92

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 93 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 94 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 95 Happy Days!

  • 96 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 97 School crossing patrol begins

  • 98 New addition to Quay front

  • 99 Ten year old scrambler

  • 100 When horses score over the tractor

  • 101 Puppet characters introduced

  • 102 Ships at Bideford

  • 103 Circus comes to town

  • 104 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 105 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 106 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 107 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 108 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 109 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 110 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 111 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 112 Warmington's garage ad

  • 113 Private home for public pump

  • 114 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 115 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 116 Appledore's largest

  • 117 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 118 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 119 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 120 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 121 Traditions and skills still there

  • 122 Six footed lamb

  • 123 For crying out loud!

  • 124 New look in the hayfields

  • 125 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 126 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 127 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 128

    Married in 1908
  • 129 Out of puff!

  • 130

    Building works
  • 131 Life begins at 80

  • 132 Picking the pops

  • 133 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 134 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 135 Loads of black and white

  • 136 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 137 Centenary of Gazette

  • 138

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 139 Picking the pops

  • 140 School's link with cargo ship

  • 141 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 142 Twenty-one yachts

  • 143 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 144 Police station view of Bideford

  • 145 113 years at Instow

  • 146 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 147 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 148 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 149

    Relatives all over the world
  • 150 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 151 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 152 Emergency ferry services

  • 153 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 154 Northam footballers of the future

  • 155 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 156 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 157 Bideford regatta

  • 158 Torrington children build igloo
  • 159 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 160

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 161 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 162 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 163 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 164 Littleham family's five generations

  • 165 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 166 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 167 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 168

    Was a missionary
  • 169 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 170 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 171

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 172 All aboard the ark

  • 173 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 174 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 175 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 176 New Post Office

  • 177 Clovelly custom

  • 178 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 179 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 180 Mobile missionary

  • 181 Recognise this resort?

  • 182 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 183 It really was the 'last time'

  • 184 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 185 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 186 A roof-top view - where?

  • 187 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 188

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 189 The cab at the corner>
  • 190 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 191 Salmon netting at Bideford

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

  • 193 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 194 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 195

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 196

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 197 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 198 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 199 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 200 In their new robes and hats

  • 201 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 202 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 203 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 204 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 205 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 206 Burnard family reunion

  • 207 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 208 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 209 First ship in 8 years

  • 210

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 211 Artisans' Club

  • 212 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 213 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 214 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 215 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 216 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 217 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 218 New shipyard on schedule

  • 219 Simple Item 138
  • 220 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 221 End of the line

  • 222 The art of the thatcher

  • 223 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 224 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 225 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 226 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 227 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 228 Devil sent packing

  • 229 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 230 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 231 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 232 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 233 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 234 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 235 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 236 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 237 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 238 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 239 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 240 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 241 Record player of 80 years ago

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

  • 243 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 244 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 245 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 246 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 247 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 248 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 249 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 250 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 251 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 252 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 253 A man and his wheel

  • 254 Parkham plan realised

  • 255

    New gateway
  • 256 He beat the floods

  • 257 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 258

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 259 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 260 Torrington's new amenity

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

  • 262 Sweets derationing

  • 263 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 264

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 265 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 266 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 267 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 268 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 269 Off on a great adventure

  • 270 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 271 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 272 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 273 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 274 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 275 Northam's almshouse

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

  • 277 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 278 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 279 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 280 Hartland Dancers
  • 281 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 282 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 283 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 284 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 285 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 286 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 287 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 288 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 289 Finished in 1876

  • 290 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 291 Hartland's invitation

  • 292 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 293 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 294 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 295 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 296 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 297 Weare Giffard potato

  • 298 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 299 Clovelly nightmare

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

  • 301 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 302 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 303 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 304 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 305 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 306 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 307 Some 240 exhibits

  • 308 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 309 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 310 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 311 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 312 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 313 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 314 Torrington in 1967

  • 315 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 316 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 317 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 318 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 319

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 320 Just over a year old

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

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

  • 323 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 324 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 325 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 326 Bideford computer stars

  • 327 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 328 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 329

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 330 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 331

    Exhibition of school work
  • 332 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

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

  • 334 Cruising down the river

  • 335

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 336 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 337 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 338 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 339 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 340 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 341

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 342 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 343 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 344 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 345 Can spring be far away?

  • 346 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 347 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 348 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 349 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 350

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 351 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 352 Jumble sale fever

  • 353 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

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

  • 355 What's the time?

  • 356 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 357

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 358 Variety in summer weather

  • 359

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 360 From Bobby to Brian

  • 361 Waldon Triplets
  • 362 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 363 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 364 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 365 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 366 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 367 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 368 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 369 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 370 Sight of a lifetime

  • 371 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 372 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 373 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 374 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

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

  • 376 Bridging the stream

  • 377 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 378 A story to tell!

  • 379 Peter poses for TV film

  • 380 Service with a smile

  • 381 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 382 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

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

  • 384 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 385 All for the love of a lady!

  • 386 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 387 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 388 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 389 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 390 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 391 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 392 Riverside mystery

  • 393 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 394 Some mushroom!

  • 395 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 396 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 397 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 398 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 399 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 400 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 401 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 402 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 403

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 404 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 405 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 406 Capers on the cobbles

  • 407 Decontrol of meat

  • 408 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 409 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 410 New life for Hartland organ

  • 411 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 412 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 413 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

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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Traffic Thrills

Clovelly Road 'Hold-Up'

Passengers leaving Bideford by bus on Saturday morning for Clovelly, Hartland and Bude little dreamt the Army had an assault course all prepared for them en route!

On Fairy Cross hill a Matador 10-ton Army truck completely blocked the road and passengers had to alight from one bus, climb through the truck, and board a second bus waiting on the Hartland side.

15.8.1952 Traffic thrills

It appears the truck, towing a 3.7 A.A gun, had left Cleave Camp, Morwenstowe, with a party of six men of the 37th Regt. R.A. returning from a practice camp to their unit at Tonfanau, North Wales. As the truck was proceeding down the hill at about 10am traffic lights controlling single-line traffic past cable-laying works changed to ‘Stop.’ The driver applied his brakes, but those on the gun did not respond and the lorry was swung across the road.

Prompt action by police and A.A and R.A.C motor patrols quickly had traffic diverted on to the main Bradworthy road, sealing off the blocked section of the trunk road. The proprietor of Fowlers Piece petrol filling station reported ‘a very busy day!’

15 August 1952

Ready for the 'open road'

A typical group of cyclists

28 June 1938 Ready for the open road bicycles

Left to right – C Jewell, Mr J D Grant (vice-president, Bideford Wheelers), G Short, Miss E Viersee, H Tithecott, Mr H C Lay (president, Bideford Wheelers), Miss E Johns, Miss D Slee, J Heywood, Miss E Beer, A Sherborne, Mrs A Sherborne, M Jenkins, W Cox, T Thompson, G Vanstone, C C Prust, A Lay, R Halbert, G Hill (hon. secretary, Bideford Wheelers), Miss D Sluman, G Popham, G Bray, P Squire, J Bray, A Lillicrap (Minehead), L Page, S Moor, W T Lloyd (hon. secretary, NCU, Devon and Cornwall).

Gazette article dated 28 June 1938

Long-serving busmen are honoured

Among 75 employees of the Western National Bus Co honoured

for more than 40 years with the firm, at a dinner at Exeter, were a number from Bideford district.

2 April 1971 Busmen honoured

The dinner was the first of its kind organised by the company, and the long-serving staff members were presented with inscribed watches by a director and general manager, Mr Henry Ellis.

Award winners included: R A Parker, A M Beer, A E Cole, G E Kelly, S Lamey, W H Braund, E Daniel, R M England, W H Parkhouse.

Mr Ellis said the award earned by Mr S Lugg, who died last October, would be presented to his widow.

Gazette article dated 2 April 1971

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