Businesses

If you would like to book a talk by an Archive volunteer please get in touch

Mrs Bond

April1975

Returning home

27 March 1975

Allhalland Street

Established 1797

Mr Blackmore

28 September 1948

Available positions

1973

1891

1950

Bideford Glove Factory

1937

Westward Ho!

1947

Impracticable

21 July 1961

Mr Ricketts

5 April 1963

Smorgasbord

13 January 1978

Relaxed atmosphere

6 January 1978

Weekend entertainment

13 January 1978

Bideford Gloves - 1971

The Worshipful Company of Glovers, one of the ancient guilds of London

Wynne Olley Success - 1962

Young hairstylists from the salons of Mrs Wynne Olley, of Bideford, Barnstaple, Torrington and Winkleigh

Sudbury Glove Factory For Sale - 1937

The old established glove manufacturing business of F A Sudbury Limited.

Torrington Glass Factory -1970

On Saturday, at Dartington Glass Factory, Torrington, which has many Swedes on its staff

Mr D Garland Funeral - 1965

The funeral took place at St Mary's Church, Bideford, of Mr Desmond Harold Garland of 6 New Street

Mrs Bond
April1975

Many foreign tourists dream of finding the ‘Typical British Pub’

visualising it as old and cosy, gleaming with polished wood and brass, filled with good company and presided over by a genial landlord. But now that so many breweries are pursuing ‘modernisation’ policies that de-humanise their premises, visitors are more likely to encounter an atmosphere of clinical artificiality. But not so at one little house at East-the-Water, Bideford. Oh no! where a tradition of national hospitality rests safe in the hand of a licensee who has been in the business for 30 years.

Mrs Ella Bond took over ‘The Ship On Launch’ when her mother-in-law died, so an unusual sequence of female management had been sustained for 60 years. Mrs Bond junr became licensee when her late husband joined the RAF in World War II. When he returned home, she continued to take her full share of the work. Though ably supported by her daughter and son-in-law, who live on the premises, and by other helpers, Mrs Bond’s day...

Leaves Toy Works Ltd

Mr Bill Hobbs, who has retired after 30 years with Toy Works Ltd, of Handy Cross, Bideford, with the car radio presented to him by workmates, some of long standing and some comparatively new.

He began to work for the father of the present chairman and managing director, Mr L Holzer, in Marlow at the end of World War II and after 20 years was one of the employees who opted to ‘go West’ when the company transferred to Bideford in 1965.

But in retirement he is returning ‘home.’

Gazette article April 1975

Guaranteed Absolutely Pure

Under council news it was clear that the advert was the result of a petition to close the slaughterhouse due to bad smells.

Gazette advert dated 2 December 1913

The speaker at Bideford Rotary Club's luncheon on Sept 16 was Mr Harold Blackmore,

of the firm of Messrs M W Blackmore and Sons Ltd, who chose as his subject 'My job'.

Mr Blackmore recalled when he used to go to the Brass Foundry at Appledore out of school hours and collect fittings for the racing dinghies built by his father. Scale models of these dinghies were used for experiments at Sandy Mere, a large pond behind the pebbleridge at Westward Ho!

When he commenced his apprenticeship, at a wage of 2s 6d per week, continued Mr Blackmore, timber was collected by boat from Braunton.

In 1913 the firm received its first Admiralty contract. This was for several long-range towing targets. Twenty-seven feet whalers were built during the first World War, and pleasure craft, fishing and racing boats and passenger launches betweeen the wars.

The firm moved from Appledore in 1930 and purchased part of the present premises at New Road, Bideford, in 1933. In addition to harbour launches and...

Job Vacancies

Departmental Sisterrequired to act as Matron's deputy at Torrington Cottage Hospital, Torrington. Application forms available from Matron.
Evening Bar Help and Grill Chef required. Apply Manager, The Gannet, High Street, Bideford 3148.
Wanted Man for tractor driving and general farm work. House in village with modern conveniences, on school bus route. A R Ford, Webbery Barton, Bideford. Newton Tracey 253.
Provision Assistant required part time, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Apply Manager, Waltons, High Street, Bideford.
Women Required for various light factory jobs. Apply Anglo American Vulcanised Fibre Co., Bideford 5501.
Junior Female required for office work - filing, telephone, etc. Salary according to ability. Typing, shorthand not necessary. Reply in confidence to Bideford Carpet Service, High Street, Bideford 2951.
Domestic required for full time duties at Torridge Hospital, Bideford. Application forms available from Matron.
Ladies Hair Stylist required. Full...

Bideford to follow Torrington's lead?

Gazette dated 22 September 1891

H E Fletcher Ltd

Tea Rooms

Gazette advert 14 September 1937

Norman Cafe, Northam

4 November 1947

Business in the High Street likely to cease

If Bideford Town Council persist with the intention that when the new traffic control plan operates vehicles must travel one-way up High Street, deliveries of certain goods to two shops are likely to cease. This was made clear by Messrs Merdiths and Wickham and Co.

At their invitation, the Mayor, Mr A A Beer, watched unloading operations and agreed that difficulties would be great.

The Mayor had seen the unloading, with the lorry facing down hill, of six cwt. casks of beer. They were eased down skids and swung at the bottom so that they could be pushed into the entrance.

The driver of the lorry refused to attempt the operation facing uphill commenting “We do not want to commit suicide”. He pointed out that with the lorry facing uphill the gradient the barrels would have to travel would be more than one in four, and the danger of barrels running away downhill would be great.

Suppliers of bottled gas have told Messrs Merediths that they will not...

25 years as manager of Bideford Woolworths

Mr Wilfred Ricketts, manager of the Bideford branch of F W Woolworth Ltd, since the branch opened in 1937, retired on Friday and is now looking forward to devoting much of his time to his favourite hobby of gardening.

He and his wife are continuing to live in Bideford; their home is ‘Wycherley’, Rectory Park.

At the branch’s annual party at the Royal Hotel, a surprise presentation greeted Mr Ricketts. He was the recipient of a set of stainless steel garden tools on behalf of the branch, the presentation being made by the staff supervisor, Mrs Hettie Cook.

Mr and Mrs Ricketts have a daughter who is married and lives in Rochester, Kent.

Succeeding Mr Ricketts as manager of the branch is Mr A V Gretton, who has come to Bideford from Woodford, Essex.

The full Gazette article is dated 5 April 1963

Durrant Lane, Northam

Enjoy CORDON BLEU CUISINE
and FINE WINES in Quiet Comfort overlooking the River
On Sunday Night help yourself to our Candlelit Smorgasbord
Also Sunday Lunches

For bookings Tel Bideford 4400

Gazette article dated 13 January 1978

Invite you to wine and dine in the

Relaxed atmosphere of

THE SAILORS REST
LICENSED RESTAURANT

THE QUAY APPLEDORE

Now open for...

Traditional Sunday lunch
And evening meals from 7.00pm

Table reservations Telephone Bideford 77574

Now taking bookings for Parties of up to 35 any lunchtime or evening

Gazette dated 6 January 1978

WESTWARD HO!

Sat, Jan 14

Freeway

Dancing from 8pm

Sun, Jan 15

Ronnie Wallis Trio

MEMBERS FREE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
Guests (Saturday) 50p, Sunday Members only

Gazette dated 13 January 1978

Bideford Gloves - 15th January 1971

Bideford Gloves for London's Lady Mayoress

The Worshipful Company of Glovers, one of the ancient guilds of London, who each year present gloves for use by the Lady Mayoress of the capital, have asked Sudbury's Gloves, of Bideford, to supply the fabric gloves this year.
Mr Ray Sawtell, a director of the company, said they were delighted to have been chosen for the work.

Wynne Olley Success - 12th September 1962

Their Crowning Glory Successes

Young hairstylists from the salons of Mrs Wynne Olley, of Bideford, Barnstaple, Torrington and Winkleigh, recorded their finest achievement yet at the women's section of the south-west area hair-styling competition at Taunton. Five girls between them took first and second places in all three classes for women's hairdressing.
They were Miss Nancy Stacey (18) of Barnstaple and formely of Torrington, Miss Rosemay Short (21) of Bideford, Mrs Bernice Weeks (25) of St Giles and who works at the Torrington salon, and apprentices Miss Ella Cox (17) of Bideford and Barbara Squires (18) of the Torrington salon and whose home is at Frithelstock.

Sudbury Glove Factory For Sale - 16th February 1937

For Sale As A Going Concern

The old established glove manufacturing business of F A Sudbury Limited.
The assets consist of Factory at Silver Street, Bideford. Also four freehold cottages - Silver Street, Bideford

Torrington Glass Factory - 18th September 1970

Festival of Light at Glass Factory

On Saturday, at Dartington Glass Factory, Torrington, which has many Swedes on its staff, the Swedish festival of St Lucia was celebrated.
Many local people joined the factory staff including the Mayor and Mayoress of Torrington (Mr and Mrs W Cockram). It was held in the factory's large blowing room.
The festival is held in honour of St. Lucia, who is to the Swees the symbol of light during the darkest time of the year. Swedish workers chose a 19-year-old Torrington girl, Mrs Jean Baglow, as their Lady of the Light.
She was dressed in a shimmering white gown and wore a crown of lighted candles. She was attended by white-robed girls carrrying more candles and tracing her path signing softly.

Mr D Garland Funeral - 19th March 1965

30 Years At Glove Factory

The funeral took place at St Mary's Church, Bideford, of Mr Desmond Harold Garland of 6 New Street, Bideford who was employed at Sudbury's glove factory for 30 years.
The Rev. P Colebrook, officiated and the organist, Mr J R Trigger accompanied the hymns.
Immediate mourners were; the widow; Mis C M Hayman; Mr and Mrs S Penney; Mr and Mrs G Tithecott; Mr and Mrs G Graham; Mr and Mrs A Beer; Mrs Welston; Mrs A G Murray; Mr Murray; Mr and Mrs N Langmead; Mr and Mrs W Thisby; Messrs G Thisby, G Elston, M Bailey, H Bedlar, D Thisby, Mesdames B Jones, H Bailey, T Shortridge, and Miss O Beer. Bearers were Messrs R Hancock, E Tanton, D Cann, R Halbert, C Skinner, D Burnett.
Others attending included: Mr and Mrs D Cox, Mr and Mrs C Sampson, Mr and Mrs A Davis, Mr and Mrs Gooding, Mr and Mrs P Longstaff, Mr and Mrs R Gooding, Mr and Mrs R Beresford, Mr and Mrs B R Curtis, Mr and Mrs Vanstone, Messrs C Hayman, P Marchant, P...

Menu

BusinessesA Selection of News Articles Related to Local Businesses