• 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 School's link with cargo ship

  • 2 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 3 Just over a year old

  • 4 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 5 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 6 North Devon Driving School

  • 7

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 8 Traditions and skills still there

  • 9 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 10 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 11 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 12 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 13 Clovelly nightmare

  • 14

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 15 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 16

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 17 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 18 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 19 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 20 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 21 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 22 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 23 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 24 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 25 Emergency ferry services

  • 26 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 27 A man and his wheel

  • 28 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 29 Cruising down the river

  • 30 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 31 Bideford loses training ship

  • 32 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 33 He beat the floods

  • 34 Bideford computer stars

  • 35 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 36 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 37 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 38 Hartland Dancers
  • 39 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 40 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 41 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 42 Variety in summer weather

  • 43 Artisans' Club

  • 44 A bird of their own!

  • 45 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 46

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 47 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 48 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 49 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 50 Pannier Market's future?

  • 51 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 52 Capers on the cobbles

  • 53 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 54 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 55 A roof-top view - where?

  • 56 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 57 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 58 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 59 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 60 Twenty-one yachts

  • 61 New Lundy stamps

  • 62 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 63 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 64 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 65 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 66 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 67 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 68 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 69 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 70 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 71 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 72 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 73 Revenge in style

  • 74

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 75 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 76 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 77 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 78 Picking the pops

  • 79

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 80 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 81 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

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

  • 83 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 84 From Bobby to Brian

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

  • 86 Waldon Triplets
  • 87 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 88 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 89 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 90 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 91 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 92 Ten year old scrambler

  • 93 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 94 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 95 Penny for the guy

  • 96 No laughing matter

  • 97

    First prize
  • 98 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 99 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 100 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 101 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 102 It really was the 'last time'

  • 103 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 104 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 105 No sale of Springfield House

  • 106 All aboard the ark

  • 107 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 108 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 109 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 110 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 111 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 112

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 113 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 114 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 115 Recognise this resort?

  • 116 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 117 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 118 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 119 Torrington in 1967

  • 120 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 121 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 122 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 123 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 124 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 125 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 126 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 127

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 128 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 129 New art gallery opened

  • 130 Littleham family's five generations

  • 131 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 132 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 133 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 134 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 135 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 136 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 137 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 138 Six footed lamb

  • 139 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 140 Torrington children build igloo
  • 141 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 142 Mobile missionary

  • 143 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 144 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 145 Sweets derationing

  • 146 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 147

    Bidefordians
  • 148 Northam's almshouse

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

  • 150 Appledore's largest

  • 151

    Exhibition of school work
  • 152 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 153 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 154 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 155

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 156 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 157 Hartland's invitation

  • 158 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 159 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 160

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 161 So this is the mainland!

  • 162 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 163 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 164 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 165

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 166 Hartland postman retires

  • 167 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 168 Bideford regatta

  • 169

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 170 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 171 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 172 End of the line

  • 173 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 174 Centenary of Gazette

  • 175 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 176 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 177 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 178 Picking the pops

  • 179 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 180 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 181 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 182 Finished in 1876

  • 183 Private home for public pump

  • 184 Out of puff!

  • 185 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 186 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 187 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 188 Ships at Bideford

  • 189 What's the time?

  • 190 Burnard family reunion

  • 191 The Geneva marionettes

  • 192 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 193 New civic medallions

  • 194 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 195 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 196 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 197 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 198 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 199 Peter poses for TV film

  • 200 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 201 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 202 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 203 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

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

  • 205 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 206 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 207 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 208 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 209 New choral society's growing response

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

  • 211 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 212 Northam footballers of the future

  • 213 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 214 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 215 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 216 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 217 A story to tell!

  • 218 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 219 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 220 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 221 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 222 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 223 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 224 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

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

  • 226 The cab at the corner>
  • 227

    Relatives all over the world
  • 228 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 229 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 230 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 231 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 232 113 years at Instow

  • 233 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 234 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 235 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 236 Riverside mystery

  • 237 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 238

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 239 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 240 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 241 Filming at Hartland

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

  • 243 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 244 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 245 Happy Days!

  • 246

    New gateway
  • 247 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 248 Service with a smile

  • 249

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 250 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 251 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 252 Off on a great adventure

  • 253 Decontrol of meat

  • 254 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 255 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 256 Life begins at 80

  • 257 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 258 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 259 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 260

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 261 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

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

  • 263 First ship in 8 years

  • 264

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 265 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 266 The art of the thatcher

  • 267 By pony and trap to market

  • 268 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 269 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 270

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 271 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 272 New look in the hayfields

  • 273 In their new robes and hats

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

  • 275 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 276 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 277 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 278 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 279 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 280

    Building works
  • 281 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 282 Warmington's garage ad

  • 283 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

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

  • 285 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

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

  • 287 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 288

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 289 New addition to Quay front

  • 290 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 291

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 292 School crossing patrol begins

  • 293 Modern living at Bideford

  • 294 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 295 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 296 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 297 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 298 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 299 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 300 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 301 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 302 Parkham plan realised

  • 303 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 304

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 305 Jumble sale fever

  • 306

    Was a missionary
  • 307 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 308 New Post Office

  • 309 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 310 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 311 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 312 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 313 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 314 Devil sent packing

  • 315 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 316 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 317

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 318 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 319 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 320 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 321 Clovelly custom

  • 322 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 323 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 324 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 325

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 326 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 327 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 328 Police station view of Bideford

  • 329 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 330 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 331 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 332 All for the love of a lady!

  • 333 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 334

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 335 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 336 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 337 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 338 When horses score over the tractor

  • 339

    Married in 1908
  • 340 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 341 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 342 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 343 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 344 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 345 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 346 Last train from Torrington

  • 347 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 348 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 349 Making way for the double-deckers

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

  • 351 Can spring be far away?

  • 352 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 353 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 354 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 355 They are parted pro-tem

  • 356 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 357 Circus comes to town

  • 358 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 359 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 360 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 361 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 362 Loads of black and white

  • 363 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 364 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 365

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 366 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 367 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 368 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 369 New shipyard on schedule

  • 370 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 371 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 372 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 373 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 374 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 375 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 376 Sight of a lifetime

  • 377 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 378 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 379 Some mushroom!

  • 380 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 381 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 382 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 383

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 384 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 385 For crying out loud!

  • 386 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 387 Puppet characters introduced

  • 388 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 389 Torrington's new amenity

  • 390 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 391 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 392 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 393 Simple Item 138
  • 394 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 395 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 396 Bridging the stream

  • 397 New life for Hartland organ

  • 398 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 399 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 400 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 401 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 402 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 403 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 404 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 405 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 406 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 407 Some 240 exhibits

  • 408 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 409 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 410 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 411 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 412 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 413 Weare Giffard potato

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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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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