Not much seems to have changed with the weather over the past 100 years. On Sunday 15th March 1914 a heavy gale passed over the region. Vessels in both Appledore and Bideford, although double moored, were swamped and one barge had a mast carried away. The Burrows were under water and the river Torridge was a mass of waves and seething foam. The slipway at the Royal George in Appledore was washed away as well as a large portion of the roadway.

The Blacksmith's Arms at East-the-Water was sold for E800 at an auction to Messrs S W Arnold & Sons. Ivydean in Abbotsham Road was for sale and also Roborough House (formerly 1 Westcroft Terrace) — both from Bazeley Barnes and Bazeley.

On the front page of the Gazette were adverts for J Sanguine & Sons in Grenville Street who were holding their annual sale of boots and shoes — strictly cash only. William C Talbot in the High Street recommended Oatmeal stout for invalids and persons of a weak digestion - price 2/6d for twelve one pint bottles. Walter H Chope proudly advertised Warner's Rust proof corsets!

Nothing much seems to have changed in other areas as well — the reservoirs were overflowing due to increased rainfall and Bideford Council had received several complaints about the state of Alverdiscott Road due to lorries hauling timber away from Webbery. A manhole collapsed outside Queens Anne's Buildings in the High Street precipitating a young lady into the coal cellar below. Fortunately she was unhurt.

Bideford Hospital (privately run — no NHS) held its Annual General Meeting where it was reported that 639 cases were treated during the year, of these 269 were operations requiring overnight admission. The daily cost of food to these patients was 6.44d per head — about 2%p in today's values.