Hartland

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.

Into New Year – and Retirement

Hartland district doctor for the past 25 years, Dr Wilfred Somerton, will go off duty for the last time at midnight on December 31st. He is retiring to Rye, Sussex, just a quarter of a century after he removed to Hartland where his practice covers 144 square miles.
Previously he was on the staff of a big military hospital in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, having trained at Charing Cross Hospital and served as a registrar.

‘No Idea There Were These Snags’

Caravan in Hartland Field

What was the use of the government spending money putting up notices warning the public to make inquiries regarding any proposed development before they purchased land, if people did not read them? asked Mr J E Knapman, for Devon County Council, the planning authority, at a local inquiry at Bideford Rural Council offices last week.
Mr R E Godwin, of The Cottage, Higher Clovelly, who was appealing against the refusal of the local planning authority to permit him to station a caravan in a field at Lighthouse Cross, Hartland, admitted he had never seen one of the warning notices. He said he had made no inquiries when he purchased the plot of one third of an acre in the spring, adding ‘I had no idea there were these snags’.
Mr Godwin told the inspector, Mr F W Foster-Turner, who conducted the inquiry, the previous owner had had plans for the construction of a piggery in the field approved by the planning authority. He said in his statement of appeal he had written that he would like to put his caravan in the field possibly with the idea later of a building a piggery.
Cross-examined by Mr J E Knapman, Mr Godwin admitted he was no longer interested in the idea of a piggery. He wanted to put the caravan in the field when he returned from a tour, or perhaps let it or have his friends to stay there or possibly occupy it himself during the summer. He had already had water laid on to the site. A piggery on the plot would be far more unsightly than a caravan, he suggested.
Mr J R Sims, the Northern Divisional Planning Officer, said the plot was at the junction of two roads which carried considerable tourist traffic and one of the roads was the bus route to Hartland. The hedge around the plot did not prevent the site being seen from the road. Mr Godwin: ‘You could only see a caravan from the top of a double-decker bus’.
Mr Sims went on to say that the area in which the site lay was shown in the County development plan as one of special landscape value. The existing caravan sites in the area of Clovelly were more than sufficient to meet the demand, which was only seasonal. To allow isolated caravans to be stationed indiscriminately in the area would spoil the special nature and charm of the rural countryside.
Mr Knapman, in conclusion, pointed out that a survey carried out in fifteen of the forty-seven districts of the county last year revealed an increase of 240 per cent, in the number of holiday units – tents, caravans, chalets, etc. – since the previous survey made in 1949-50. ‘We reckon there will be some 500 acres used for camping and caravan sites in this county by next season’ he added.
After closing the inquiry, the inspector visited the site.

Hartland Bride Made Wedding Cake

Miss Joan Mary Weaver, who was married at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Bideford, on Saturday, made her own wedding cake.

The bride is the second daughter of Mrs Anne Weaver and the late Mr Weaver, of Shamrock Cottage, Hartland, and the bridegroom Mr Sidney Jeffery, younger son of Mrs and the late Mr J Jeffery, 9 Northgate, Hartland.
The service was conducted by Rev Father Ryan. Mr H Jarman was at the organ.
Given in marriage by her brother, Mr J F Weaver, the bride wore a ballerina length dress of white witchcraft lace with nylon satin and net underskirts. Chief bridesmaid was her sister, Miss Tessa Weaver. Three smaller bridesmaids were Linda Mugford, Anita Redclift and Jean Ashton. Jeremy Mugford was page boy. Best man was Mr L Jeffery and Mr W Gifford and Mr S Smaile were ushers.
After a reception at Shamrock Cottage, the couple left for a honeymoon.