100 Years Ago - September 1917

Mr Gerrish, chemist, of 9 The Quay, continues his advertising campaign by encouraging readers to take his Tonic Liver Mixture. He states that “your liver, if neglected, will bring utter ruin and an early decay”. His mixture, costing 1/3d per bottle, claims to cure a long list of ailments including headache, sleeplessness, palpitations, constipation, spots before the eyes, flatulency and coated tongue.

Home health remedies seem popular. Doan’s Backache and Kidney Pills are promoted under the headline “Men work from Rise to Set of Sun, but Women’s work is Never Done.”

In another advert, we are informed that Black Cat cigarettes are manufactured by an independent firm which does not belong to any Trust or Combination. 10 Black Cat Medium cost threepence halfpenny, Mild are fourpence; Extra Large, which contain one-tenth more tobacco than the Control Board requires, will cost you fourpence halfpenny.

Squires & Son, leading jewellers in North Devon based at 12 High Street, Bideford, wish to buy old gold or silver and are now offering exceptional cash prices for broken jewellery.

More details are given of the forthcoming sugar rationing. Householders have to obtain an application form from the Post Office between 22 and 29 September. This must be sent to the Local Food Control Office at the Town Hall before 5 October. A Registration Card will be sent out by 26 October; this should be filled in and handed to your chosen supplier by 5 November. Rationing starts on 31 December. WH Luxton & Son, Farleigh’s Stores, Dawe & Son and Tattersill’s Stores are all vying for custom. Owners of restaurants, guest houses, schools and clubs are also reminded to register.

Bideford Art & Technical School will be starting a new term on 24 September and is offering classes in painting & decorating, modelling in clay, pottery, building construction and machine drawing. The Evening School of Commerce meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays to study commercial correspondence, office routine, book-keeping and shorthand. Classes in dressmaking, cookery and gardening will be available later.

Recent heavy rain has stopped harvesting in Parkham, but prior to the rain a large amount has been stacked in good condition. In Instow the harvest is practically finished and several heavy crops of second clover have also been brought in.

These and many more items of local interest are available to read at the Bideford Community Archive at the Council Offices, Windmill Lane, Northam. Tel: 01237 471714. Open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.