• 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 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 2 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 3 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 4 Clovelly custom

  • 5 All for the love of a lady!

  • 6 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 7 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 8 Record pebble-throwing day

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

  • 10 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 11 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 12 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 13

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 14 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 15 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 16 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 17

    Exhibition of school work
  • 18 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 19 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 20 Bideford computer stars

  • 21 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 22 New choral society's growing response

  • 23 Ships at Bideford

  • 24 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 25 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 26 He beat the floods

  • 27

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 28 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 29

    Married in 1908
  • 30 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

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

  • 32 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 33 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 34 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 35 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 36 Service with a smile

  • 37 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 38 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

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

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

  • 41 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 42 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 43 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 44 Hartland's invitation

  • 45 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 46 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 47 Private home for public pump

  • 48 The art of the thatcher

  • 49 Appledore's largest

  • 50 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 51 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 52 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 53 North Devon Driving School

  • 54 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 55 No laughing matter

  • 56 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 57 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 58 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 59 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 60

    Bidefordians
  • 61 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 62 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 63 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 64 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 65 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 66 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 67 Centenary of Gazette

  • 68 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 69 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 70 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 71 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 72 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 73 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 74 For crying out loud!

  • 75

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 76 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 77 Puppet characters introduced

  • 78 Cruising down the river

  • 79 113 years at Instow

  • 80 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 81 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 82 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 83

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 84 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 85 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 86 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 87 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 88 Some mushroom!

  • 89 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 90 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 91 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 92 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 93 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 94 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 95

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 96 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 97 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 98 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 99

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 100 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 101 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 102 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 103 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 104 Bideford regatta

  • 105 Artisans' Club

  • 106 Out of puff!

  • 107 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 108 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 109 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 110 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 111

    Building works
  • 112

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 113 A roof-top view - where?

  • 114 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 115 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 116 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 117 Bridging the stream

  • 118 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 119 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 120 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 121 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 122 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 123 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 124 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 125 Penny for the guy

  • 126 Jumble sale fever

  • 127 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 128

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 129 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 130 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 131 Capers on the cobbles

  • 132 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 133 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 134 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 135 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 136 Burnard family reunion

  • 137 By pony and trap to market

  • 138 New life for Hartland organ

  • 139 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 140 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 141 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 142 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 143 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 144 Simple Item 138
  • 145

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 146

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 147 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 148 No sale of Springfield House

  • 149

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 150 Ship-in-bottle world record

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

  • 152 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 153 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 154 Devil sent packing

  • 155 It really was the 'last time'

  • 156 Twenty-one yachts

  • 157 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 158 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 159 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 160 Traditions and skills still there

  • 161 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 162 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 163 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 164 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 165 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 166 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 167 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 168 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 169 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 170 Happy Days!

  • 171 Appledore schooner broadcast

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

  • 173 Northam's almshouse

  • 174 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 175 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 176 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 177 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 178 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 179 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 180 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 181 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 182

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 183 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 184 First ship in 8 years

  • 185 Torrington in 1967

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

  • 187 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 188

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 189 Sight of a lifetime

  • 190 Six footed lamb

  • 191 New Post Office

  • 192 Northam footballers of the future

  • 193 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 194 Picking the pops

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

  • 196 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 197 They are parted pro-tem

  • 198 New art gallery opened

  • 199 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 200 New civic medallions

  • 201 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 202 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 203 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 204 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 205 A man and his wheel

  • 206 Revenge in style

  • 207 Life begins at 80

  • 208 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 209 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 210 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 211 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 212 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 213 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 214

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 215 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 216 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 217

    Relatives all over the world
  • 218 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 219 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 220 Off on a great adventure

  • 221 Pannier Market's future?

  • 222 Hartland postman retires

  • 223 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 224 Waldon Triplets
  • 225 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 226 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 227 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 228

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 229 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 230 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 231 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 232 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 233 The Geneva marionettes

  • 234 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 235 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 236 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 237 School's link with cargo ship

  • 238 School crossing patrol begins

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

  • 240 A bird of their own!

  • 241

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 242 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 243 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 244 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 245 Loads of black and white

  • 246 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 247 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 248 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 249 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 250 Variety in summer weather

  • 251 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 252

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 253 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 254 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 255 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 256 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 257 Torrington's new amenity

  • 258 New addition to Quay front

  • 259 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 260 Picking the pops

  • 261 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 262 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 263 Modern living at Bideford

  • 264 Parkham plan realised

  • 265 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 266 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 267 When horses score over the tractor

  • 268 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 269 Just over a year old

  • 270 New look in the hayfields

  • 271 End of the line

  • 272 Clovelly nightmare

  • 273 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 274 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 275 New shipyard on schedule

  • 276 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 277 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 278 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 279 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 280 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 281 Warmington's garage ad

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

  • 283 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 284 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 285 What's the time?

  • 286 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 287 Torrington children build igloo
  • 288

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 289 Weare Giffard potato

  • 290

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 291 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 292 All aboard the ark

  • 293 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 294 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 295 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

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

  • 297 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 298 In their new robes and hats

  • 299 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 300 Bideford loses training ship

  • 301

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 302 Decontrol of meat

  • 303 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 304 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 305 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 306 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 307 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 308 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 309 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 310 So this is the mainland!

  • 311 New Lundy stamps

  • 312 Emergency ferry services

  • 313 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 314 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 315 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 316 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 317 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 318 Can spring be far away?

  • 319 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 320 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 321

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 322 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 323 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 324 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 325 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 326 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 327 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 328 A story to tell!

  • 329 Peter poses for TV film

  • 330 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 331 Last train from Torrington

  • 332 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 333 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 334 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 335 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 336 Finished in 1876

  • 337

    New gateway
  • 338 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 339 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 340 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 341

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 342 Recognise this resort?

  • 343 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 344 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 345 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 346

    First prize
  • 347 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 348 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 349 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 350 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 351

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 352 Ten year old scrambler

  • 353 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 354 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 355 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 356

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 357 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 358 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 359 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 360 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 361 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 362 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 363 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 364 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 365 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 366 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 367

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 368 Hartland Dancers
  • 369 Police station view of Bideford

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

  • 371 Some 240 exhibits

  • 372 Riverside mystery

  • 373 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 374 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 375 Mobile missionary

  • 376 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 377 Circus comes to town

  • 378 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 379 Littleham family's five generations

  • 380 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 381

    Was a missionary
  • 382 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 383 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 384 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 385 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

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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  • 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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  • 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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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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Pioneering Motoring in North Devon

Bideford’s First Car

Interesting reminiscences by the late Dr E.J. Toye

Dr Toye car  February1938

Only a few weeks before his most lamented death Dr E.J. Toye was good enough to grant an interview to a Representative of the “Bideford Gazette,” and for the benefit of our readers recall some of his interesting experiences during his pioneer motoring days in North Devon.

In these days of learners’ licences, Belisha beacons, automatic traffic signals and a hundred and one other precautions to control traffic it hardly seems possible that only thirty-six years ago the people of our district were vastly impressed with “one of those new motor cars” when it took to the streets in 1902. It does not look very imposing according to modern standards but it had some adventures and deserves a place in Bideford’s history.

It belonged to Dr E J Toye, former Mayor of Bideford and founder-President of Bideford Rotary Club to mention but two of his many spheres of public interest. As far as he knew it is looked upon as the first motor car in Bideford, and he claimed to be certainly the first medical practitioner in North Devon to use a motor car.

When in 1902 his first car made its appearance on the roads of the town he believed there were only three or four other people in the neighbourhood who possessed cars. He believed there was one in the Stucley family, and Misses Houldsworth and Capt. Prideaux-Brune also had cars. First he had what was called a 3½ h.p. Benz but its stay was brief for it was not good enough for our hills and a 4½ h.p. model of the same make was substituted. It was a temperamental affair. If he wanted to go ahead it would stop; if he wanted it to sop it would go ahead. It was concerned in several escapades that threatened to terminate the good doctor’s interest in motoring, medicine or anything else. Those who take up motoring today can have little idea of what those early pioneers went through. Motoring in those days appeared to be only a subtle way of getting walking exercise for often the driver did more walking than motoring.

One celebrated Market Day, recalled the doctor, he started to descend High Street slowly and quietly because in those days they could never rely on the brakes. His man whispered to him that the brakes were not acting and they discussed whether they should go on or into the houses at the side. By the time they had thoroughly discussed the problem, however the motor had decided the choice for them, having attained such impetus there was no alternative but to go down the hill without a brake acting. They shared the heat the burden; his man steering and the doctor blowing the horn which he did vigorously and continuously. They missed the foot of a ladder upon which a painter was at work by inches, and by good fortune there was not a vehicle in the road. At the bottom with a speed of 30 or 40 miles an hour, they had every prospect of going into the river, but, fortunately they turned the corner on two wheels, ran along the Quay and sopped almost up Bridgeland Street. A man who had watched the descent of High Street came to the doctor next day with a nervous break-down! The doctor also heard that a lady said he ought to have been stopped by the police and he need hardly say how grateful he would have been to have been stopped by them or anybody.

The perils of going down hill have been described; now to deal with the trials of going uphill. The engine was a single cylinder model with three forward gears and reverse. If the hill was so steep or the engine rather off-form the doctor and his man would get out, still leaving the engine running, and walk alongside the slowly moving vehicle, still managing to steer it and probably giving it a helpful shove too. Another method was to turn the car around and proceed up the hill in reverse. “On a steep hill a trotting horse would pass us easily, much to our disgust of course” added the doctor.

In those days the roads were very rough and you knew it too when the car was fitted with solid tyres. Stones were put on the road and it was left to traffic to grind them in. Especially in the summer clouds of dust would result from the progress of cars and carriages. One ingenious person living at Northam Lodge or nearby overcame this by putting a chemical composition on the road which absorbed moisture from the air; thus there was no dust in that particular section.

He paid £400 for that car, it cost him 7s. 6d. a mile to run, he kept it for two years, and then sold it for £20, giving the people who sold it ten per cent commission and paid £5 for sending it to London for sale. So motoring was not exactly cheap and the depreciation value worse than it is today!

Gazette article dated 8 February 1938

To Fly Without Machines

French aviators and inventors

continue to devote time and thought to the construction of a machine which will permit man to fly entirely by their own exertion. No motor or other outside power enters into the making of these small machines, called ‘aviettes’, the fundamental idea being to propel them by human force alone.

1913 to fly without machines aviette

Results so far have not been strikingly successful, but high hopes are entertained of several new ‘aviettes’ now under course of construction. The formula followed by these inventors was obtained by M Magnan, director of a French technical school, who, after years of study, declares he has succeeded in translating the principle of bird flight into machines. By applying his formula to the measurements of a bird, M Magnan obtained the following dimensions for an ‘aviette’ of the monoplane variety, whose maximum weight, including the pilot, should not be more than 440 pounds: Wing surface, 32.67 square feet; weight of wings, 34.45 pounds; spread of wings, 16 feet; width of wings, 3.63 feet; length of tail, 4.38 feet; length over all, 10 feet.

View 1923 footage of an aviette HERE

Gazette article 1913

Junction work should cut accident rate

Devon County Council are spending thousands of pounds

to reduce the width of the Raleigh Hill junction on the main road between Bideford and Northam.

13.2.1976 junction Northam Glen Gardens

This is one of the widest junctions in the Torridgeside area - but its very width has contributed to accidents, say traffic experts.

Future traffic conditions are also being helped by the provision of a bus lay-by on the Glen Gardens side of Kingsley Road. Cost of the improvements now being carried out is about £17,000.

Mr Garman said a roundabout at the junction would not be justified at the moment.

The full Gazette article is dated 13 February 1976

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