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 - July 1915

At East-the-Water school during a recent health test it was found that 7 out of 10 children need to wear glasses. The School managers cannot supply them and if the parents cannot afford to buy them there is serious concern that either the Guardians (from the Workhouse) or the County Council will have to pay. It is also reported that there is an acute shortage of teachers.

Schools have been told not to allow any time off for harvest. 14 days extra had been suggested but farmers' sons may stay at home to help if necessary. Complaint has been made by Mr Cook, Headmaster of Gunstone School, of a woman coming there and making a disturbance because her son had been punished. It has happened several times and she has been warned that if this continues she will be prosecuted.

Properties for sale in Bideford include the following:
1 Bull Hill, formerly known as The Cornish Arms, comprising of a 60 foot frontage, large garden and considered suitable for a builder or painter;
2 Bull Hill, which has recently been re-drained
22 Meddon Street, a ground floor shop and bakery complete with ovens and with 4 bedroom accommodation upstairs.
Following the auction, 22 Meddon Street was withdrawn at £300. The reserve had been set at £320 and the property was subsequently sold privately at an enhanced figure. The Cornish Arms was withdrawn at E145 and 2 Bull Hill at £50.

According to the Taw & Torridge Fisheries, substantial catches of salmon have been made during May and June. Some boats had 12 fish at a cast and often 5 or 6 were netted, the largest recorded being 321bs. Little rod and line ¯ishing was being done.

A severe storm swept across North Devon causing serious damage. Hailstones "as big as champagne corks" were collected and glass in conservatories was smashed. 84 chickens were killed and 3 cottages near Crediton were burned out by lightning. Locally the damage was less severe but crops, potatoes and soft fruit were destroyed.

100 Years Ago - June 1915

The Gazette was proud to announce that 2nd class Air Mechanic J E Prance of the Royal Flying Corps has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallant conduct and valuable service. He assisted in repairing an airplane, which had been forced to descend near the firing line whilst being heavily shelled. The repair was successful and the plane flew again the following morning. Newly promoted 1st class Air Mechanic Prance is the eldest of the four sons of Mr S Prance, the Bideford Harbourmaster.

Following the death of Henry Ascott JP, the licensee of the New Inn, his executors have instructed J J Braddick to sell at auction a unique and extensive collection of carriages and stable paraphernalia from the New Inn stables. Among the vehicles advertised are 6 varnished Brakes, two of them with detachable hoods, and the two largest able to carry over 20 passengers each. There are also 2 Landaus, 2 Victorias, a waggonette, 2 dog-carts, a colt-brake and various luggage carts, as well as an extensive range of harness and tack. Mr Ascott had been the licensee from 1878 until 1914 when it was transferred to Richard G Court. The manageress in 1915 was Miss Light. Including the New Inn there are 5 Bideford hotels which continue to advertise in the Gazette each week:

The Royal Hotel is under new management. The manageress is Miss Constable and the telephone number is Bideford 5. A charge of 6d per person is made to visitors wishing to view the famous Kingsley Suite with its panelled rooms and unique ceilings. The charge does not apply to hotel residents and those taking meals in the hotel. The Hillgarden Hotel was situated in Mill Street. The proprietor, Mr W G Pearce, advertises a photographic dark-room for the use of guests and boasts that it is the only hotel in Bideford with a Bowling Green attached.
The Proprietor of the Kingsley Hotel on the Quay was Mr George Radford, but no proprietor is given for Tanton's Hotel.

100 Years Ago - May 1915

At the Annual meeting of the Bideford Workhouse Guardians it was announced that 26 meetings were held during the year and only 4 of the elected Guardians had attended all meetings. Some had only been present at 10 meetings and one person had only made one attendance. The War has had an effect on the number of tramps calling overnight, falling from 80 the previous year to 37 and the numbers of men fully employed or going off to fight has caused the casual numbers to fall from 2220 to 1548.

Over the Whitsun holidays, May 22/23rd, traffic has fallen by a half. No railway excursions were run and with over 3000 men from North Devon off to war families stayed at home.

George Boyle, Motor Cycle and Bicycle agent of Allhalland Street and Queen Street, warns of a "dearth of bicycles" due to the scarcity of raw materials and shortages of manpower.