Northam

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.

Bank official's retirement

Mr Howard W Ellis, of 'Mill Lodge', Windmill Lane, Northam, for many years a member of the staff of Bideford branch of Lloyds Bank, and whose banking career included some year at the Helston branch, has recently retired.

In addition to golf his social interests have included horticulture, and he is a past president of Bideford and District Horticultural Society and a vice-presidnet of that society and of Northam Horticultural Society. He is also a past president of Bideford Grammar School Old Boys' Association and a former captain of Bideford Amateur Athletic Club of which he has been a member since boyhood. He has also served the club as honorary treasurer and is now a vice-president.

His father, the late Mr Walter J Ellis, was a well known Bideford builder. His mother, lives at South Court, Glenburnie Road, Bideford.

Lenwood goes ahead

Lenwood goes ahead - 1976

EMBARGO REPORT SOUGHT

£400,000 LENWOOD PLAN GOES AHEAD

Yesterday work started on connecting a £4000,000 holiday bungalow development at Lenwood Country Club, Northam, with the mains drainage system. Mr Harry Capper, site agent for the developers, J and R Rooff Ltd, of West Ham, who are replacing 17 former Service huts with 59 fully furnished bungalows told the Gazette "Obviously we have got the necessary permissions otherwise we would not be able to do the work." At Torridge District Council's Planning Sub-committee this week, Cllr Lieut Cdr Michael Sumner siad that to allow Lenwood to connect to the main sewer would make the sewerage embargo look ridiculous, but the planning officer, Mr Tony Hodder, said that the developers had told the South West Water Authority that they intended to exercise their statutory rights under the Public Health Act to do so. Mr Hodder said it was no surprise to him or the Water Authority as the provisions of the Act were known. But the committee decided to ask for a full report on the whole question in view of the embargo and Cllr Sumner later told the Gazette that he had asked the chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee to look into the principles involved. Meanwhile news of progress in the long awaited Bideford and Northam sewerage schemem, programmed to start 1977-78, came at Wednesday's meeting of Torridge Council's Environmental Committee when it was announced that arrangements were being made for a joint design team set up by the Council and the South West Water Authority.

Council buy farm for £25,750

26.3.1965 Burrough Farm

Burrough Farm, Northam, was acquired yesterday by Northam Urban Council for £25,750. The farm comprising a five-bedroomed house, farm buildings and 64 acres stretching down to the river Torridge, was sold at a public auction at Tanton's Hotel, Bideford. Before it was put up for auction, the farm had been offered to the Council by one of its members, the owner, Mr C C Diwell, for a figure believed to be around the £20,000 mark. The auction was conducted by John Lewington and Company. Bidding began at £15,000. The final figure was £150 more than a bid by Northam farmer, Mr Reg Mills. Over the £20,000 mark, the Council, who were represented by their Clerk (Mr Alan Gardner), were advised by the District Valuer who accompanied him. Afterwards Mr Gardner said that allowing for any income from the property, the farm purchase would mean nearly a 2d rate. Burrough House (since re-built) was the home of Amyas Leigh, hero of Charles Kingsley's 'Westward Ho!'