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 - June 1920

Edgehill College is destroyed by fire. After the fire was discovered just before 3am by Mollie Thomas, the staff’s efforts were foiled by the water supply in the building drying up. The initial efforts of the Fire Brigade were nullified by the lack of water supply at a standpipe near the North Down Road entrance and by the time water and a strong enough pressure was achieved, the whole building was a roaring furnace. All got out of the building safely and thanks were given to the teaching staff who cleared the school in a few minutes under perfect discipline.

(credit to “When you were there” by Miss A Mary Shaw)

Clay workers employed at the North Devon Clay Company works at Petersmarland have been idle for some days over a dispute originating with regard to a new hand being taken on for work above ground, and are still on strike. There was also some trouble over the dismissal of Mr Mogridge. In news later that month, the strike was settled and Mr Mogridge was reinstated. Through the dispute, about £900 was lost in wages as well as considerable loss of output.

At a meeting of Northam District Council, the Medical Officer (Dr E J Toye) reported that the general health of the District continued to be satisfactory and during the month there had been four deaths and twelve births. In response to a letter from the North Devon coroner about whether the Council intended to provide a mortuary for Appledore, the Council decided to reply that there was already a mortuary in Northam and they were not in a financial position to provide another. Plans were passed for the Hansen Shipbuilding Company for a building at the New Quay Dock, Appledore, and it was decided to build up the slipway at Westward Ho! leading to the beach at a cost of £30.

In Westward Ho! Ladies Golf Club Monthly Medal play, Mrs Dering made a score of 82 which constitutes a record for the course. Bideford Swimming Club invites all swimming enthusiasts to the ‘Opening Dip’ which will be held from the pontoon by the river bank on 1 July at 7pm. Northam Artizans Club has arranged a knock-out tournament for the Bell Challenge Cup, presented by Mr C T Bell in 1914. Football enthusiasts in Bideford and District will be glad to learn that the preliminary steps for the formation of a junior league for next season have all been taken and submitted to the East Devon Football Association for their approval. A successful dinner and smoker was held at the New Inn Hotel for the Bideford Football Supporters’ Club presided over by Mr F T Upton.

A farmer of Alwington, and formerly of Appledore, pleaded not guilty to a summons for the non-attendance of his 11 year old girl, Ethel, at school. Although the child was sent to school, she had to be excluded on account of being in such a verminous condition that her presence would be a serious danger to the other children. This was the first case of the kind before the Bench and although they would not record a conviction, it was a most serious matter and must not occur again.

In district news, Dr W A Valentine chaired a public meeting in connection with the Appledore and Instow Regatta. Dr J R R Harper, Medical Officer, paid a surprise visit to the Council School at Clovelly and examined some of the scholars classified as special cases. Mrs Hamlyn’s scheme for transforming Lilltle* Field into a public park or pleasure ground as her personal memorial to the Clovelly men who gave their lives in the Great War has commenced. At Burrington, Messrs W Ford (Rose Cottage) and C Ford (Berry Cross) took first and second prize in the open sheep shearing competition. Mrs A J Saltern-Willett, of Petticombe, Monkleigh, entertained the ex-service men of the parish to tea and games in honour of Empire-day. Forty men sat down to a sumptuous tea. Eight bells have been hung in Northam Church Tower, including two new bells in memory of Mr George Brayley Brayley and Miss Stella Temple**. Siloam anniversary services were held at Langtree and at Parkham, and Peace Day will be celebrated with Major Graham Murray, of Foxdown House, consenting to unveil the brass tablet in connection with the returned soldiers and fallen heroes. Reginald Phillips, of Shebbear, was fined £1 for furiously riding a bicycle to the danger of the public. He collided with PC Lynn when turning a corner near the Council Schools.

*Is ‘Lilltle’ a typo in the newspaper?

**There’s lots more available on the hanging of Northam Church bells

Situations Vacant & Wanted – Tattersill’s - an intelligent, quick lad for office work; G W Fluck - an errand boy; a young lady assistant for the drapery at Burrows, 17 High Street; H I Meredith, High Street – a smart lad wanted as apprentice to the ironmongery; Mrs Maslen, Pebbleridge House, Westward Ho! – a girl, daily, to help with housework; and Heard Bros Ltd, Engineers – a boy for Office, to start as messenger.

Farms and smallholdings for sale – Mrs Delve is selling ‘Higher Alminstone’ in Woolfardisworthy; a house at Northway, Parkham, with 7 acres of arable and pasture land; ‘Coombe Bearhays Pit’ and ‘Pit Downs’ containing meadow, pasture and arable land, with a dwelling house and outbuildings; ‘Wedlands’ in the centre of Langtree comprising a 6-bedroomed house, outbuildings, garden, productive orchard, and over 24,000 acres of meadow, pasture and arable land; ‘Spurrels’ in Langtree with a cottage (now used as cattle shed), pump and a good supply of water.

Properties for sale – Nos 1 and 3 Back Lane in Northam; in Appledore, the delightful riverside residence Dock Cottage with yard, workshops, sheds, stores, outbuildings and foreshore rights; shop and dwelling house situated at the corner of Quay and Meeting Street, Appledore; and in Bideford, No 9 Mill Street, No 2 West View Terrace, and 74 High Street currently occupied of the London Joint City and Midland Bank Co. Ltd.

100 Years Ago - May 1920

At a conference at which the Imperial War Graves Commission explained the scope of its work, Mr Rudyard Kipling emphasised that the general desire was for equality of treatment for equal sacrifice. Therefore, uniformity and simplicity are to distinguish war cemeteries all over the world in which the British dead are buried. Every headstone will carry the man's name, his regimental badge and a short inscription.

At a meeting of the Bideford School Managers, it was reported that the ringworm cases at the Old Town School were decreasing. It was emphasised that children cannot leave school immediately on reaching the age of 14, but have to complete the school term in which they reach that age. At the Appledore Church Schools’ Prize Giving evening, the Chairman, Rev. G P Scholey, M.A., made a strong appeal for more sympathy in the matter of education and that parents appreciate the immense practical value of it. In his speech, Mr P K Harris endeavoured to show that absolute regularity of scholars was essential for the welfare of the scholars, teachers and school.

At a meeting of the Bideford Branch of the Devon Farmers’ Union, a letter from the County Secretary calling attention to the latest demand of the Labour representatives on the Agricultural Wages Board for a minimum wage of 50s per week was discussed. Mr Metherell said this continuous meddling with the wages question was going to upset the whole industry. It was necessary, he said, to put up a big fight and the National Farmers’ Union wanted the farmers at their back, Forty two shillings (the current minimum in operation for a few weeks) was the outside limit he considered they could obtain.

In district news, Appledore householders are being considerably inconvenienced by the scarcity of coal and some have no coal for cooking purposes. In Hartland, there is still a considerable quantity of corn and roots to be tilled, and extensive preparations are being made for the large number of visitors expected for the summer season. At Bideford County Sessions, Richard Sanders (18) and Wilfred Acford (16), pleaded guilty to playing football in the Square at Northam on a Sunday evening. The case was dismissed with cautions. It was agreed that various improvements to the Pannier Market at Torrington will be made by S Piper & Sons who submitted the lowest tender. At Woolsery, Wilfred Wonnacott failed to return home with his younger brother after visiting a farm after school. Although search parties set out, Mr and Mrs Jabez Johns found him trudging along between Sowden Cottages and Providence Chapel at 10.45pm. He was conveyed the 3 miles home by Messrs William Prouse and Walter Johns.

In sport, Capt. H C C Tippet secured the Kashmir Cup trophy for the Royal North Devon Golf Club; the Club also beat Northam Artisans’ Club at their annual match. In the first match of the season in connection with the Devon Shield Competition (bowls), surprisingly Bideford beat Barnstaple. Torrington Association Football Club and its supporters celebrated last season’s successes in winning the ‘Football Express’ with about 150 enjoying dinner at the local Drill Hall. Mr C S F Harding (Old Town Boys’ School) writes to the Gazette appealing to the readers and asking for the donation of any old sports material such as old cricket stumps, damaged bats, etc. for the use of the scholars.

Properties for sale are dwelling houses at 2 Westview Terrace, 30-32 Meddon Street, Kennel Court (Torrington Lane), 22 Brookfield Street, ‘North View’, ‘Northcot’, ‘Westcombe Cottage’, 7 Westcroft Terrace, 14 Alexander Terrace (Chanters Lane), all in Bideford; and in Northam, Chircombe Cottage, and a disused lime kiln and garden in Limers Lane,

There’s still a few more days to visit Mr Marshall, The Great Eye Specialist, who is at Sanders’ Temperance Hotel, in Bideford. He has 36 years’ experience and thousands of testimonials.

100 Years Ago - April 1920

Devon farm wages for the year have been announced. Payment for hay and corn harvest and corn threshing are set at 1/6d per hour, with harvest overtime being paid at 1/7d. The minimum general wage has been increased from 37/6d to 42/-, with reductions according to age.

In a linked story, the Area Building Trade Board of the Ministry of Labour has set the scale of wages for mechanics in the building trade at 1/7d per hour, with labourers receiving 1/4d per hour.

The story of a bogus marriage was related to the Divorce Court, where the plaintiff was granted a decree nisi against her husband, who was a music hall acrobat. The couple met in 1908 when she was 17 years old and the defendant persuaded her to go to Bideford, where they went through a purported marriage. They lived together and a child was born, but then he deserted her. In 1910 she threatened to go to the magistrates, but he told her that there was no legal marriage between them. He joined the army in 1915 and legally married her in the October of that year, but deserted her again after a few weeks and has not been seen since. The names of both parties are given in the paper.

An impressive service in Clovelly Church marked the unveiling and dedication of the War Memorial, which is described as a repousse brass tablet mounted on polished black slate. The central portion is occupied by a beautiful device of St George and the dragon. Placed below the North East window of the church, it was unveiled by Mrs Hamlyn. Of the 17 names on the board, only 4 were brought home for burial. Others were laid to rest in France, Belgium, Palestine, an island in the Aegean Sea, Ireland, Wales and America, while others lie beneath the waters. Subscriptions were greater than the cost, so the balance has been shared between Bideford Hospital and the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society.

Does anyone know why one of the casualties was buried in America?

Heard Brothers of Bideford have been demonstrating their new bus, a 35 seater Straker-Squire covered vehicle, which is underslung and specially sprung. This makes it admirably suited for the indifferent roads of the district, and the wide wheels ensure comfort for the passengers whilst doing little damage to the roads.

At Northam Parochial Church Council annual meeting, 31 candidates contested 26 seats. Parishioners who could not vote in person at the meeting were able to obtain ballot papers beforehand and send them to the Presiding Officer by post.

Mr F W Allday lived on Lundy for 24 years, first as coastguard and then as Lloyds agent and postmaster. Once a week he would go down to the beach to fetch the mail bags, which were meant to be carried up the steep winding path on the back of a donkey. However, the donkey soon recognised the mail boat, and when he saw her approaching the anchorage he would seek pastures somewhere out of reach. Many times he could not be found until Mr Allday had struggled up the path with the mailbags on his shoulders, when the donkey would be found waiting for him at the top of the cliff!

Finally this month, page 6 of the April 6 paper has a long article giving hints and suggestions for the annual spring cleaning, which was usually undertaken when was is no longer necessary to have fires. So, if you want some tips, come and read the full article at the Archive, we look forward to welcoming you.