100 Years Ago

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.

100 Years Ago - March 1920

Northam Council workers have returned to work, following what looks to be a very generous pay rise. During the dispute the workers were represented and supported by Mr Young, Devonshire organiser of the General Workers Union. The Council’s Finance Committee have decided to hold a special meeting later this month to put in place steps to increase the Council’s revenue, presumably to cover the cost of the pay increases!

Tattersill’s Grocers in Bideford have a weekly advert showing two gentlemen in evening dress enjoying “delicious coffee, especially ground on the premises for each purchaser”. The first time the advert appears, the prices for an unspecified quantity are from 2/- to 2/8. One week later, the prices have risen and are now from 2/4 to 3/-.

The question of the Hartland Railway still rumbles on. It was discussed this month at a meeting of the Bideford Branch of the Devon Farmers’ Union, Mr J M Metherell presiding. He announced that Mr H R Bazeley, solicitor for the railway company would attend the next meeting to explain the current position. Bideford Chamber of Trade has been urging progress and it has been suggested that the Ministry of Agriculture should be approached for help, as the railway would be a great advantage to farmers living along the proposed route. The meeting was told that this is the biggest district of England which is not served by a railway, and that the subject has now been under discussion for at least twenty years without resolution.

Westward Ho!’s gas supply is in jeopardy. The previous stoker left his job some months ago to work in Braunton, but his mother and family are still living in the works cottage and are reportedly refusing to move, despite being offered assistance to find a new home. A new stoker cannot be appointed until accommodation can be provided, as no-one can be expected to do the night-stoking unless they can live nearby. Casual labour is being used at present but this is not satisfactory. The Manager, Mr Anderson Reed, has finally resorted to legal action and has just been granted a court order for possession within one month with costs. (The Gas Works were roughly where the tennis courts are today and were served by a siding from the main railway station.)

The ship “Renown”, belonging to Captain Thomas Hutchings of The Myrtles, Appledore, recently had to be abandoned in a sinking condition off the Hangman, being bound from Appledore to Bristol loaded with gravel. The crew – Captain John Yeo, skipper, James Sanders, mate, and Percy Pow, third hand - were all picked up by a passing steamer and landed safely at Ilfracombe. In the event, the Renown did not sink but was eventually towed into Cardiff.

In Abbotsham, Mr Awdry of Langdon is selling eggs for sitting; Black or White Wyandottes will cost 10/6 per dozen, while Khaki Duck eggs are priced at 8/6. Miss Turner of Coombe Farm advertises her annual sale of “excellent grass”.

At a meeting of Bideford and District Chamber of Trade, Mr Brain called attention to complaints made to tradesmen of the town by owners of private cars, who are being charged for permitting their cars to remain stationary in the High Street and on the Quay while they do their shopping. Traders wish to attract this class of customer and are concerned that these charges could drive them away.

100 Years Ago - February 1920

In the first issue of the month, the Gazette reports that Foot and Mouth Disease had been confirmed at a farm in Buckfastleigh. Although this is outside the immediate area, local farmers would have been watching the situation with concern. All the livestock on the affected farm were destroyed and a fifteen mile exclusion zone imposed. One week later, another case was reported in Bow, but nothing more is reported for the rest of the month.

Proceeds from the next London Bidefordian Society meeting will be given to the Bideford War Memorial Fund. The meeting will take place in Fleet Street, London, and full details may be had from the Honorary Secretary, Mr R E Collacott.

At Devon Assizes, a young woman from Torrington who was employed as a glover pleaded not guilty to demanding money with menaces from the Mayor of Torrington, William Luxton, on 29 December last year. The jury found her guilty but questioned her mental condition. Sentence was delayed pending an appeal, which ultimately failed.

At the Bideford Annual Licensing Sessions, Police Superintendent Shutler reported that Licensed Houses in the borough now numbered thirty three. This means that there is one pub for every two hundred and seventy five people. No house had been proceeded against in the past year. There had been ten prosecutions for drunkenness and seven licence transfers. All cinematographic and dancing licences had been renewed, covering the period from 12 noon to 1am.

Bideford Architects Messrs Orphoot and Whiting have been appointed to design two War Memorials, one in North London at Mill Hill and another in Peebles, Lancashire. Both commissions were won in open competition, the assessor being Gilbert Scott. (An obituary for Mr Whiting can be seen on the Archive website)

Peggy Murray of Kingsley College, Westward Ho was summoned by PC Uglow for riding her bicycle without lights one hour and five minutes after lighting up time in Buckleigh. When he asked her why she was riding without lights, the court was told that she replied “I’m sure I don’t know, what are you going to do about it? I have been to Bideford and I have never met a policeman at this place before.” This occasioned much laughter in the court. She was fined six shillings. Eric R Gunner of the Bungalow, Westward Ho! was summoned by PC Ley for riding a motor cycle without lights in Northam Square at 10.30pm on 31 January. In his defence Mr Gunner said that he had a piece of lighted candle in the headlamp but it blew out. PC Ley stated that there was no rear light either, and Mr Gunner was fined one guinea.

Cooper’s Collar Works in the Strand, Bideford, are advertising for young women for Patent Turning. Good wages will be paid whilst learning. Experienced turners are also needed to work at home. Research has shown that “turning” was one of the most important stages in collar making.

Finally this month, we hear that Northam Council workmen have gone on strike, claiming that their wage of thirty two shillings a week is insufficient. There are nine workers in total, including some elderly men who have been many years in the Council’s employ. A committee meeting is to be held to discuss the matter, and arrangements have been made to exercise the horses.

100 Years Ago - January 1920

Adverts for De Witts Kidney & Bladder Pills now contain real photographs of Mrs Mellish and Mrs Perkins who have “benefitted”. This is the first occasion that the newspapers have printed photographs that have been reduced to a series of dots known as halftoning, this was how pictures were printed in newspapers for many years until the digital screen process took over.

Appledore Lifeboat with Capt E Cole rescued four men from Bideford & Appledore who were on board the ketch Emma Louise which had been driven on shore at Braunton Burrows.

A special meeting of the Bideford Town Council dicussed the water supply problem and reached the decision to apply for powers to provide a reservoir at Jennetts stream. The Council gave up attempting any further extensions in the Gammaton direction. A full report of the discussions is given on Page 3 of the paper for 6th January 1920. The story continues over several subsequent weeks.

At an auction held at the New Inn Hotel the property known as 12 Westcroft Terrace, formerly occupied by Mr J Baker dec’d was sold for £940 to Mr A Dunn. Over East –the –Water 11 Brookfield Street sold to Mr S Trevail for £300.

Anybody who might be interested in fishing should read page 5 of the 13th January edition where the Taw & Torridge Fishery licence fees are set out for the year. This includes several methods of catching which have since been banned. The Notice makes interesting reading.

Cargoes of coal were dicharged at Bideford Quay last week, relieving the shortage for the Gas Works and other customers. Two Bideford boats had been stuck in the River Mersey for 7 weeks unable to get away because of the weather. The town street lighting has been affected, 108 lamps are now lit and 86 remain unlit until supplies are increased. Other shortages are still having an inpact. Sugar rations have been reduced again, down from 8 oz to 6oz per person per week.

Mr Robert Gibson of Westward Ho! has been appointed professional to the Royal Calcutta Golf Club. He is the 2nd son of Charles Gibson, professional at RNDGC, and has just been demobilised after sevice in India and Mesopotamia.

Yeo Vale Estate has been put up for sale. Properties include Nethercleave, Edge Mills, Boundstone, Gregory, Langdon Cottages, and some highly desirable farms and holdings. We have attached the report listing the prices paid at auction which appeared in the next edition.

Yeo Vale