Featured Articles

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.

Torrington angler lands 34lb salmon

Believed to be the largest salmon ever caught on rod and line in the River Torridge, this 34 lb. specimen is in the arms of Mr Colin Clements of Torrington, who caught it at Beam, five miles upstream from Bideford. It was taken on water belonging to Mr John Robins, of Langtree by whom Mr Clements is engaged to look after the fishing ground.

Mr Clements hooked the salmon on a 10lb. breaking strain line, using a no 3 gold mepps. The struggle to land it took more than an hour.

Gazette article 16 March 1973

Demolished – a memorial to one man’s pique

Yeo Vale House finally demolished

Yeo Vale House in the parish of Littleham is no more. To the end this part-Jacobean,part-Georgian building on the bank of the River Yeo gave from a distance an impression of the stately home it once was. But it had become a danger and eventually Government permission to demolish it was given.

The story of its decline began 40 years ago. One day the owner, Mr Stephen Berrold, having sold all the surrounding land right up to the walls of his home, left by way of the front door, locked it behind him, and disappeared, never returning to the area. It is said that he tangled with an adjoining landowner who had felled a couple of trees. An incensed Mr Berrold claimed that his view had been ruined and vowed that never again would his house be lived in.

It became a furniture store and subsequently the owner of the adjoining farm Mr Norman Westaway, stored grain on the ground floor. In 1971 Mr Westaway asked permission to demolish it but was refused as the house was scheduled as a grade 2 listed building, and attempts to trace Mr Berrold or his successors had failed. A second application by Mr Westaway was successful and the bulldozers moved in.

Gazette article 2 March 1973

A craftsman’s ‘potted history’

Featured in leading American ceramics magazine

Featured in an issue of Ceramics Monthly, a leading American magazine devoted to the art, is the work of Torridgeside potter Harry Juniper, who lives at Monkleigh. He first came to North Devon as an evacuee in the Second World War, chance taking him to a billet at Torrington which he afterwards discovered was the home of his second cousins. From Torrington County Secondary School, he went on to Bideford School of Art. During vacations he worked at the Braunton pottery which was founded by Fishley Holland, and at the pottery of Buckfast Abbey. Five more years followed at the pottery of Michael Leach at Yelland.

The article quotes Harry’s words: “It’s the pot that matters – and if I can’t enjoy making ‘em I don’t want to make ‘em.” One of the most popular of his developments is his handling of clay in the form of traditional North Devon harvest jugs with themes adroitly tuned to the events of today usually closely associated with North Devon. His latest speciality is harvest jug commemorative pieces for the launching of the Golden Hinde replica at Appledore this spring.

Gazette article dated 9 February 1973