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 - January 1921

The paper for 4th January publishes New Year greetings and hopes from the Mayor of Bideford, Mr J U Fulford and the Mayor of Torrington, Mr W T Luxton.

This issue of the Gazette also has a full page Almanack for the year. Amongst a wealth of useful detail, it includes the names of councillors and magistrates, and postal and transport information. Diaries for the new year are still available from Coles & Lee, The Gazette Office, Grenville Street.

As from 1st February The Western Daily Mercury, which is no longer a commercial possibility, will be amalgamated with the Western Morning News under that title. The cost will be 1½d per copy.

In Torrington the bells of St Michael’s church rang the old year out muffled and then rang the new year in without the muffles.

The Stevenstone Hounds met at Belle Vue, with a large number present both in the saddle and in motors. Page 7 of the Gazette of 25th January covers other meets in some detail.

Football - Over one hundred enthusiasts from Torrington travelled to Holsworthy for the replayed Hansen Cup Tie, which Torrington won by 3 goals to 2.

Golf - Full results of the first round of the mixed foursomes at Westward Ho! are reported in the paper for 4th January, with results of the second round the following week. The winners were Mr & Mrs P Furnival, with Miss Hewitt and Captain L Bennet coming second.

As spring cleaning season approaches, George Lang of the Complete House Furnishers, 7 Grenville Street, Bideford, suggests having your mattresses remade and your carpets beaten and re-laid. With Pancake Day falling on 8th February according to the Almanack, Farleigh's Stores advertise their own pancake mix. Costing 7½d per packet, it is stated that no eggs or sugar are required.

Property - Numbers 10 and 11 Tower Street, Northam, were auctioned by Mr A W Cock and bought by Frank Bailey. Number 4 Cross Street was sold to F C Hutchings for £157 and number 5 to Mr Heaman for £64.

Shipping:
A wooden craft has been found wrecked at Hartland. John Goaman spotted the wreckage from Elmscott, but no clue to the name of the vessel has been found.

A dismantled torpedo boat, being towed from Plymouth to Briton Ferry to be broken up, became detached from the tug Hibernia in high seas in Bideford Bay. The four men on board were rescued by lifeline before the boat drifted ashore and became lodged on the Pebble Ridge at Westward Ho!

Hartland - Mrs C J Christmas has been appointed sub-postmistress. A “wildish” cow, whose calf was in a cart, ran away down Calf Street, down the steep steps in Gifford’s garden, up through Bailey’s garden and away eastwards, knocking down Mr John Jeffery, mason.

The Calumet Private Training College in Northam – proprietor E Tracey Arthur – offers a range of postal courses including Esperanto.

A collection of valuable shells from the Andaman Islands, presented to Bideford Museum by Mr E Mouatt-Biggs, have now been identified and named thanks to Mr G F Tregellis of Barnstaple.

Missing person - A 26-year-old man called William Harris, a horseman at Coham for Mr Bickford Coham-Fleming, has been reported missing. He left his work saying he was going home for dinner but did not arrive, and has not been seen or heard of since although his bicycle has been found. Throughout the month, police continue making active enquiries.

It is reported that Devon County Council is to approach the Ministry of Transport for grants for road improvements in the Torridge and North Devon Areas. This will also help to find work for some of the 500 men currently unemployed locally. It is suggested that a new road be constructed between Pill Gate and Northam Causeway, on a portion of the old Bideford to Westward Ho! railway track from which rails were removed for war use.

Bideford Hospital needs £10,000 for repair and reconstruction and a mass public meeting has been called at the Town Hall on February 3 1921 to consider money raising schemes.

New Year sales aren't a modern phenomenon as these adverts from Stewart & Co, Hobart Braddick and Walter H Chope show:

And, later in the month, Hobart Braddick is at his best with this:

100 Years Ago - November 1920

1st – 6th November has been designated as 'National Rat Week'. It is thought to be the most suitable time for a determined onslaught on these pests as they have begun their autumn migration. They cause a heavy annual loss to the food stocks and endanger the health of the community.

In Whitehall, Central London on November 11th, the Cenotaph, which had been unveiled earlier this year, became the national focal point of Remembrance Day services. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens to commemorate the dead of the Great War it remains our national memorial on this day.

Bideford news:
Two maroons were fired on Bideford Quay to mark Armistice Day and all the flags of the town were flown at half-mast. The paper also contains reports of Armistice services from various churches around the area.

Afternoon and evening concerts have been held in the Bideford Music Hall on behalf of the Edgehill College Building Fund. The platform was decorated with palms and flowering plants, and the concerts raised a total of £80. (The Music Hall was in Bridgeland Street.)

A W Cock, auctioneer, is selling Lindisfarne, Abbotsham Road, as its owner Sidney Greenstead is leaving town. The walled fruit and vegetable garden at the rear of the property, currently in the tenure of W C Friendship, will also be sold.

Bideford and District Fanciers Show, which this year was combined with that of the Allotment Holders Society, was deemed a great success; the paper contains more than two columns of results. At the annual Mayor Choosing, Councillor J U Fulford was elected Mayor and chief Magistrate to much applause.

The 11.49am up train from Bideford, which was taken off during the miners’ strike, resumes on 8th November. Bideford Town Council will be reimbursed by the Railway Company for the cost of road making after removal of the rails from the Quay.

In Torrington news:
William Gent of New Street has married Eliza Passmore of Well Street. The bride wore a navy-blue tailor-made costume and the bridesmaids were in dresses of lemon crepe de chine.

Mrs D Horndon has been granted a three-year extension of her lease on the Market Hall for Girl Guide meetings. Six new council houses are to be built.

Mrs J O Clemson has sent the Mayor of Torrington 100 rabbits for distribution among the sick and aged of the town.

In Clovelly - it was an anxious time as one of the herring boats did not return to harbour with the rest. A volunteer crew quickly launched the lifeboat to search. The missing boat then returned loaded with herrings “almost to the level of the sea”. Rockets were sent up to recall the lifeboat.

Clovelly herrings hawked recently were 8 for a shilling, the cheapest price for a long time. However, before the War they could be 24 for a shilling.

It is reported that 230 feet of retaining walls on Clovelly High Street are in urgent need of repair.

In Westward Ho! Messrs R Blackmore & Sons have received instructions to sell portions of the old Pier, including timbers, joists, iron seat ends, bricks and old iron. The sale will take place at Old Kingsley College. The Pier House

The October Monthly Medal competition at the golf club was won by P Furnivall with a handicap of 8, Major Randolph came second with a handicap of 14. In the November competition both the winner, W R N Hinde and the second placed golfer, N Wood, played off handicaps of 10.

Football news - the recent match between Instow and Bideford AAC resulted in a 2-2 draw and was described as of an uninteresting character. Langtree school football team are now able to play in their lunch hour in Mr S J Furse’s field, thanks to his kindness. A friendly match between Alwington and Parkham was won by Parkham 6-1. A football team has been started on Lundy. The team, made up of mostly ex-servicemen, will be known as “The Pirates of Lundy”.

In Parkham, Mr E Braund of Downwater while out fishing hooked a seal. The seal escaped, breaking the line. Parkham Rifle Club has restarted for the winter, meeting in the Parish Room.

Guy Fawkes day celebrations in Bradworthy included a fire on the moor, fireworks and a fancy-dress procession, in the same style as was seen before the War.

Buckland Brewer whist drive and dance also included two competitions to guess the weight of a cake and a fowl.

And finally,

At a meeting of Northam UDC, Mr G W Vincent called attention to the bad state of the road between Bideford and Northam. He said it was dangerous to cyclists and pedestrians were being spattered with dirty water. Labour is readily available as is a steam roller. The whole thing is a disgrace to the council. After some discussion, the subject was dropped!

100 Years Ago – October 1920

Royal North Devon Hussars.
“On the grounds of sentiment there will be many hearts burning in North Devon at the passing of the Royal North Devon Hussars as a separate unit. Founded in 1803 it has had a most successful history, and during the Great War rendered useful service overseas. At the first muster on March 13th 1803, Lord Rolle was the colonel-in-command, and the troops assembled were drawn from South Molton, Torrington, Sheepwash, Hatherleigh, Fremington and Holsworthy; while there was a troop under Major Dave Bassett which did not report to Lord Rolle, and another troop ready to be called if required. The regiment was originally known as the Royal North Devon Mounted Rifles of Yeoman Cavalry but in 1868, by the direction of Queen Victoria, the name of the regiment was altered to that of the Royal North Devon Hussars. The R.N.D.H. will now be incorporated into the 11th Devon Brigade of Yeomanry Artillery and many officers, N.C.O.s and men have intimated their intention of joining the new organisation” Copied from an Editorial Comment.
River Frontage Sale.

At the New Inn Hotel this month, Mr John Smale, Auctioneer from Barnstaple offered for sale, by auction, the freehold business premises, store and quay in Barnstaple Street, East the Water with 46ft of frontage on to the river Torridge. Started at £700, the property was knocked down to Mr R Boase, Solicitor from Torrington, for the North Devon Agricultural Co-operative Society, at £2,100.

Farm Sale at Bideford - Mr Walter J. Slee of Slee & Sons Torrington, held an important clearance sale at Warmington Farm, Bideford, for Mr J. A. Glasse, who is leaving the country. The auctioneer disposed of every lot in quick time before a large company of dealers, farmers, and others. Breeders made up to £7 16s apiece ; lambs up to 91s ; fat steers and heifers, £47 apiece ; fat cows, £44 to £50 ; cows in milk up to £53 5s ; yearlings up to £21 ; colts rising 4 years, £41 10s ; fat pigs £17 to £18 ; fowls 14s per couple, The roots, implements and furniture of the farm also sold at high prices.

The Launch of S.S. “Hubbastone - A red letter day for the industrial history of Bideford. Some 60 years ago wooden vessels were built at Bideford and one of the largest yards was Cox’s at Cleavehouses. The site of the new yard, known as “The Donkey” at the Northam end of the river bank, saw the launching of an all steel ship constructed by the Hansen Shipbuilding and Ship Repairing Co Ltd. This company now employs nearly 500 hands and this has added considerably to the prosperity of the district. It was expected that a large crowd would witness the launch of the first vessel from this yard, however many hundreds were disappointed for the launch timed to take place at 8.15am was brought forward and took place at twelve minutes to eight.

Bideford Amateur Athletic Club - The club held a Smoking Concert on a recent Wednesday evening which proved to be a very popular event. Capt.W H Merefield presided over a large gathering of members and friends. Messrs C.Hill and S.Davey arranged an excellent programme in which Messrs. Routley, Allin, Laycock, Oke, Kivell, Shortridge, Barry, Walker, Radford, Backway, Heal, Grant, Parsons, Madge took part. During the evening Mr W Puddicombe distributed the prizes to the club’s rowing men.

Torrington Workhouse Affairs - At a recent meeting of the Torrington Board of Guardians, Col R.A. Moore Stevens, presiding as Vice Chairman, remarked that as bread had advanced in price, Mr Wightman had written to state that he was willing to supply bread for the remainder of his period of contract to December 31st at 1s 3½d per 4lb loaf-against 1s 4d paid in the town. The previous price was 11¾d.This was agreed to.

The Chairman called attention to the fact that for several weeks there had been no visitors report and he asked the members appointed to endeavour to attend in future. It was a good plan because, by visiting, members were able to make reports or suggestions whenever necessary. Next week Dolton and Dowland members are down to attend and he did not anticipate they would make a special journey for the purpose. The Chairman observed that as regarded public work, he had to make many strong endeavours to get to his duties for he found he would lose the thread of it if he did not. If a person undertook public work it was his duty to do it.

Clovelly High Street climbed by Motorcycles. In pre-war days, W.H.Carson was well-known on account of his successful attacks on freak hills. He has now recommenced his hobby by climbing Clovelly High Street on an Excelsior sidecar on Friday of last week. This street, as most readers are aware, is practically a series of terraces or steps, which are paved with kidney shaped stones. The steps number 46, and vary in height from 3in. to 7in. Both the approach and the end portion are steep in gradient and difficult to negotiate. R.E.Walker also climbed the street non-stop on a 2½ h.p. two-stroke model of the same make. As reported in the Motor Cycle October 21st.

Did your family have one of these?