• 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 Just over a year old

  • 2 Last train from Torrington

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

  • 4 Out of puff!

  • 5 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 6 Centuries old but today busier than ever

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

  • 8 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 9

    Married in 1908
  • 10

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 11 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 12 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 13 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 14 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 15 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 16 Recognise this resort?

  • 17 Torrington in 1967

  • 18 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 19 Police station view of Bideford

  • 20 Life begins at 80

  • 21 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 22 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 23 Picking the pops

  • 24 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 25 Appledore's largest

  • 26 Torrington children build igloo
  • 27 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 28 Mobile missionary

  • 29 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 30 Jumble sale fever

  • 31 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 32 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 33

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 34 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 35 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 36 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 37 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 38 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 39

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 40 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 41 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 42 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 43

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 44 Happy Days!

  • 45 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 46 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 47 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 48 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 49 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 50 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 51 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 52 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 53 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 54 Bideford computer stars

  • 55

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 56 Puppet characters introduced

  • 57 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 58 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 59 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 60 Peter poses for TV film

  • 61 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 62 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 63 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 64 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 65 Sight of a lifetime

  • 66 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 67 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 68 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 69 Weare Giffard potato

  • 70 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 71 New shipyard on schedule

  • 72 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 73 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 74 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 75 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 76 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 77 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 78 Chess - their bridge over the years

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

  • 80 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 81 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 82 Simple Item 138
  • 83 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 84 A roof-top view - where?

  • 85 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 86 Devil sent packing

  • 87 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 88 Waldon Triplets
  • 89 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 90 Bideford regatta

  • 91 Parkham plan realised

  • 92 Bideford loses training ship

  • 93 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 94 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 95 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 96 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 97 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 98 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 99 School crossing patrol begins

  • 100 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 101 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 102 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 103 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 104 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 105 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 106

    Exhibition of school work
  • 107 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 108 Hartland postman retires

  • 109 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 110 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 111 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 112 A man and his wheel

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

  • 114 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 115 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 116 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 117 He beat the floods

  • 118 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 119

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 120 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 121 New Lundy stamps

  • 122 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 123

    First prize
  • 124 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 125 Littleham family's five generations

  • 126 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 127 For crying out loud!

  • 128 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 129 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 130 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 131 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 132 A story to tell!

  • 133 North Devon Driving School

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

  • 135 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 136 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 137 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

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

  • 139 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 140

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 141 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 142 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 143 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 144 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 145

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 146 Loads of black and white

  • 147 New addition to Quay front

  • 148 They are parted pro-tem

  • 149

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 150 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

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

  • 152 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 153 Decontrol of meat

  • 154 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 155 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 156 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 157 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 158 Six footed lamb

  • 159 New Post Office

  • 160 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 161 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 162 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 163 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 164 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 165 Second Monte Carlo Rally

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

  • 167 Picking the pops

  • 168 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 169

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 170 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 171 New look in the hayfields

  • 172 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 173

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 174 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 175 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 176 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 177 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 178 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 179 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 180 Warmington's garage ad

  • 181 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

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

  • 183 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 184

    Building works
  • 185 All for the love of a lady!

  • 186 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 187 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 188 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 189 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 190 End of the line

  • 191 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 192 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 193

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 194 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 195 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 196 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 197 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 198 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 199 No sale of Springfield House

  • 200 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 201 The Geneva marionettes

  • 202 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 203 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 204 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 205 Circus comes to town

  • 206 Finished in 1876

  • 207 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 208 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 209 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 210

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 211 Bridging the stream

  • 212 Pannier Market's future?

  • 213 Can spring be far away?

  • 214 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 215 All aboard the ark

  • 216 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 217 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 218 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 219

    New gateway
  • 220 Modern living at Bideford

  • 221 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 222 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 223 Capers on the cobbles

  • 224 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 225

    Was a missionary
  • 226

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 227

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

  • 229 Penny for the guy

  • 230 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 231 First ship in 8 years

  • 232 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 233 Emergency ferry services

  • 234 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 235 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 236 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 237 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 238 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 239 What's the time?

  • 240 No laughing matter

  • 241

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 242 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 243 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 244 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 245 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 246

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 247 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 248 New civic medallions

  • 249 When horses score over the tractor

  • 250 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 251 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 252 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 253 A bird of their own!

  • 254 Northam's almshouse

  • 255 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 256 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 257 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 258 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 259 Ten year old scrambler

  • 260 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 261 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 262 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 263 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 264 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 265 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 266 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 267 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 268 Hartland Dancers
  • 269 Riverside mystery

  • 270 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 271 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 272 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 273

    Bidefordians
  • 274 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 275 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 276

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 277 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 278 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 279 Revenge in style

  • 280 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 281 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 282 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 283 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

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

  • 285 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 286 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 287 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

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

  • 289 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 290 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 291

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 292 Traditions and skills still there

  • 293 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 294 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 295 Twenty-one yachts

  • 296

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 297 Clovelly custom

  • 298

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 299 Private home for public pump

  • 300 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 301 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 302 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 303 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 304 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 305 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 306 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 307 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 308 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 309 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 310 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 311 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 312 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 313 It really was the 'last time'

  • 314 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 315 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 316 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 317 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 318 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 319 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 320

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 321

    Relatives all over the world
  • 322 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 323 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 324 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 325 New art gallery opened

  • 326 Hartland's invitation

  • 327 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 328 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 329 Northam footballers of the future

  • 330 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 331 113 years at Instow

  • 332 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 333 Clovelly nightmare

  • 334 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 335 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 336 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 337 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 338 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 339 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 340 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 341 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 342 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 343

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 344 Cruising down the river

  • 345 By pony and trap to market

  • 346 Some mushroom!

  • 347 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 348 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 349 New life for Hartland organ

  • 350 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 351 So this is the mainland!

  • 352 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 353 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 354

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

  • 356 The art of the thatcher

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

  • 358 Variety in summer weather

  • 359 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 360 New choral society's growing response

  • 361 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

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

  • 363 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 364 Some 240 exhibits

  • 365 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 366 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 367 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 368

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 369 Torrington's new amenity

  • 370 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 371 Burnard family reunion

  • 372 In their new robes and hats

  • 373 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 374 Ships at Bideford

  • 375 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 376 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 377 School's link with cargo ship

  • 378 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 379 Centenary of Gazette

  • 380 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 381 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 382 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 383 Off on a great adventure

  • 384 Artisans' Club

  • 385 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

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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  • 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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  • 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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Policemen’s Heroism Recognised

Two local police officers who risked their lives last November to rescue a 15 year old Bideford teenager from drowning have been awarded the Royal Humane Society’e testimonial on vellum.

4.5.1973 police heroes

They are PC Peter Murphy, who lives in Clifton Street, Bideford, and Motor Patrol Constable John Truelove who lives at Westward Ho!
The boy they rescued, Paul Reeve, of the Stores Café, Barnstaple Street, Bideford, had gone into the River Torridge to swim to his parents’ boat when he got into difficulties in the ice cold water.
A 999 call brought the two officers to the scene and between them they brought the boy to shore safely.
Paul’s father, Mr Roy Reeve, said afterward: “We would have lost our son if it had not been for their action which was beyond the call of duty.”
Gazette article dated 5 May 1973

And WPC Christine Joins The Bideford Scene

The Sex Discrimination Act may have brought its fair share of controversy and problems, but at Bideford at least it has one compensation – the town now has its first woman police officer.

6.2.1976 Christine Short

But any locals who feel they might ‘get away’ with anything when faced with a slim 23 year old brunette instead of a burly six-fott ‘bobby’ are likely to be sadly disappointed.
For WPC Christine Short of Westward Ho! is an experienced officer, having served with the Bristol force for two and a half years and then at Barnstaple before moving to Bideford. “I arrested several while at Bristol” was her cool reply when asked what she would do if confronted, for instance, with a drunk.
Her posting to Bideford was something of a homecoming for Christine, for her parents, Mr and Mrs William Pickett, live at Burrough Road, Northam.
She lives with her husband Tony – also a police officer – in a Westward Ho! police house.
The full Gazette article is dated 6 February 1976

Coming soon!

 

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