• 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 Hartland postman retires

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

  • 3 Down at the 'Donkey House'

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

  • 5 Loads of black and white

  • 6 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 7 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 8 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 9 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 10

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 11 New choral society's growing response

  • 12 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 13 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 14 Happy Days!

  • 15 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 16 All aboard the ark

  • 17 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 18 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 19 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 20 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 21 In their new robes and hats

  • 22 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 23 Waldon Triplets
  • 24

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 25 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 26 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 27 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 28 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 29 New addition to Quay front

  • 30 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 31 Littleham family's five generations

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

  • 33 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 34 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 35 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 36 Sight of a lifetime

  • 37 Puppet characters introduced

  • 38 By pony and trap to market

  • 39 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 40 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 41 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 42 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 43 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 44 113 years at Instow

  • 45

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 46 First ship in 8 years

  • 47 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 48 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 49 Off on a great adventure

  • 50

    First prize
  • 51 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 52 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 53 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 54

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 55 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 56 Northam footballers of the future

  • 57 No laughing matter

  • 58 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 59 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 60 Hartland Dancers
  • 61 Cruising down the river

  • 62 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 63 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 64 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 65

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 66 Twenty-one yachts

  • 67 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 68 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 69 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 70 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 71 Warmington's garage ad

  • 72 Weare Giffard potato

  • 73 When horses score over the tractor

  • 74 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 75 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 76 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 77 Jumble sale fever

  • 78 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 79

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 80 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 81 Devil sent packing

  • 82 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 83 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 84 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 85 Penny for the guy

  • 86 Picking the pops

  • 87 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 88 Decontrol of meat

  • 89 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 90 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 91 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 92 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 93 New look in the hayfields

  • 94 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 95 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 96 Simple Item 138
  • 97 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 98 Pannier Market's future?

  • 99 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 100 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 101 The Geneva marionettes

  • 102 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 103 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 104 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 105 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 106 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 107 Capers on the cobbles

  • 108 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 109

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 110 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 111 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 112 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 113 Shoes certainly not made for walking

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

  • 115 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 116

    Relatives all over the world
  • 117 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 118 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 119 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 120 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 121

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 122 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 123

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 124 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 125 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 126 Finished in 1876

  • 127 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 128 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 129 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 130 Bideford loses training ship

  • 131 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 132 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 133 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 134 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 135 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 136 New Lundy stamps

  • 137 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 138 Artisans' Club

  • 139 Appledore's largest

  • 140

    Exhibition of school work
  • 141 New shipyard on schedule

  • 142 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 143 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 144 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 145 Parkham plan realised

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

  • 147 Riverside mystery

  • 148 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 149 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 150

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 151 Burnard family reunion

  • 152 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 153 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 154 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 155

    Was a missionary
  • 156 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 157 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 158 Some 240 exhibits

  • 159 Picking the pops

  • 160 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

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

  • 162 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 163 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 164 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 165 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 166

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 167 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 168 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 169

    Bidefordians
  • 170 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 171

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 172 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 173 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 174 He beat the floods

  • 175 North Devon Driving School

  • 176

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 177 Service with a smile

  • 178 New life for Hartland organ

  • 179 New art gallery opened

  • 180 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 181 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 182

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 183 Revenge in style

  • 184 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 185 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 186 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 187 A bird of their own!

  • 188 Traditions and skills still there

  • 189 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 190 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 191 Bicycle now does donkey work

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

  • 193 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 194 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 195 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 196 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 197 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 198 For crying out loud!

  • 199 Can spring be far away?

  • 200 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 201 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 202 Circus comes to town

  • 203 So this is the mainland!

  • 204 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 205 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 206 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 207 End of the line

  • 208 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 209 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 210 All for the love of a lady!

  • 211 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 212 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 213 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 214 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 215 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 216 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 217 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 218 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 219 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 220 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 221

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 222 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 223 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 224 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 225 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 226 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 227 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 228 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 229 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 230 It really was the 'last time'

  • 231 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 232 No sale of Springfield House

  • 233 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

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

  • 236 Torrington children build igloo
  • 237 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 238 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 239 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 240 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 241 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 242

    Building works
  • 243 Mobile missionary

  • 244 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 245 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 246 Clovelly nightmare

  • 247 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 248 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 249 Emergency ferry services

  • 250 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 251 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 252 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 253 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 254 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 255 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 256 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 257 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 258 Recognise this resort?

  • 259 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 260 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 261

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 262 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 263 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 264

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 265 Ten year old scrambler

  • 266 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 267 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 268 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 269 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 270 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 271 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 272 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 273 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 274 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 275 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 276 New civic medallions

  • 277 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

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

  • 279 A story to tell!

  • 280 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 281 Six footed lamb

  • 282 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 283 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 284 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 285 School crossing patrol begins

  • 286 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 287 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 288 Private home for public pump

  • 289 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 290 Police station view of Bideford

  • 291 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 292 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 293 Ships at Bideford

  • 294

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 295 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 296 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 297

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 298 Record player of 80 years ago

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

  • 300 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 301 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 302 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 303 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 304 Life begins at 80

  • 305 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 306 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 307 The art of the thatcher

  • 308 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 309 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 310 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 311 What's the time?

  • 312 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 313

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 314 Sweet success at Langtree School

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

  • 316 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 317 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 318 Peter poses for TV film

  • 319 Torrington in 1967

  • 320 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 321 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 322 Bideford regatta

  • 323 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 324 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 325 School's link with cargo ship

  • 326

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 327 Bideford Bridge re-opens

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

  • 329 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 330

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 331 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 332

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 333 Variety in summer weather

  • 334 Some mushroom!

  • 335 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 336 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 337 Clovelly custom

  • 338 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 339 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 340

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 341

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 342 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 343 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 344 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 345 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 346 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 347 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 348 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 349 Television comes to Torridge District

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

  • 351

    New gateway
  • 352 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 353 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 354 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 355 They are parted pro-tem

  • 356 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 357 Centenary of Gazette

  • 358 Hartland's invitation

  • 359 A man and his wheel

  • 360 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 361 Bridging the stream

  • 362 Northam's almshouse

  • 363 A roof-top view - where?

  • 364 Torrington's new amenity

  • 365 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 366 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 367 Out of puff!

  • 368 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 369 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 370 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 371 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 372 Bideford computer stars

  • 373 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 374 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 375 New Post Office

  • 376

    Married in 1908
  • 377 Safe door weighing two tons

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

  • 379 Modern living at Bideford

  • 380 Just over a year old

  • 381 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 382 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 383 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 384 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 385 Last train from Torrington

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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One of the Youngest Police Sergeants in British Isles

 Old Boy of Bideford GS

19.11.1954 Gutsell

His many friends in the Bideford and Northam districts will be pleased to learn of the recent promotion to Sergeant in the Metropolitan Police of Mr Cecil Gutsell, only sone of Lieut. W F Gutsell RN (retd) and Mrs Gutsell, of Inglenook, Northam.

Sergeant Gutsell, who is 25, joined the Poice, after completing his National Service in a Royal Marine commando, in November 1949, and his promotion after a minimum of five years makes him one of the youngest Police Sergeants in the British Isles. He passed an open competitive promotion examination in February of this year.

He is an Old Boy of Bideford Grammar School where he was captain of the School rugby XV.

Gazette article dated 19 November 1954

Fair Cop

Police Constables Len Clarke and Ron Fayter made an unusual arrest at the bottom of Bideford High Street at 1am on Wednesday.

7.6.1963 pony

The offender was a pony that was about to take off up the street. It was caught and put into a field. Yesterday morning it had not been claimed.
Gazette article dated 7 June 1963

PC Retires – To New Job

After nearly 27 years’ service in Devon Constabulary, PC Leonard Clarke, of Bideford, is to retire to take up the position of rent and rate collector to Bideford Rural Council.

3.7.1964 Leonard Clarke Bideford

During the nearly four years that he has been stationed in Bideford, in which he was born, PC Clarke has shown a keen interest in road safety and has been road safety organiser and instructor for local schools.
Another important responsibility was that for the administration of the Special Constabulary in the town.
He began his career in the Force at headquarters and his first station was Teignmouth. Subsequently he served in other parts of South Devon as well as at Woolacombe and Torrington. He now lives at 30 Moreton Park, Bideford.
The Rural Council on Tuesday agreed to offer him the post of rate and rent collector at a salary commencing at £755-£780 a year from August 1st, 1964. He will be paid a travelling allowance of 9d a mile and the appointment is subject to the Local Government Superannuation Acts.
Gazette article dated 3 July 1964

 

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