100 Years Ago
The front page of the first Bideford Gazette in December carries a reminder to keep buying War Savings Certificates. It is a patriotic duty, we are told – your country still needs money. Seven million soldiers remain under arms and funds are needed for hospitals for the wounded and pensions for the bereaved.
In response to a joint appeal by the Mayor of Bideford and the Chairman of Northam Urban Council, the two communities raised £44,000 in War Bonds and Savings Certificates during Thanksgiving Week. In today’s money this is the equivalent of nearly three million pounds.
On the rationing front, the sugar ration will be increased to ¾lb per person for the week ended 21st December. The citrus price order has been removed due to large numbers of oranges and lemons now entering the country. The provision that “no bread under twelve hours old may be exposed for sale” has been suspended for Christmas week only. In early December, edible offal became coupon free, also suet and stripped bones. Lard will be coupon free later in the month to registered customers. Tattersill’s announce that currants and raisins are coming to hand very slowly but there will not be enough for the ½lb per customer as had been previously hoped. No sultanas are available as yet.
Perkins and Son, on the Quay, require rhubarb and Lily of the Valley roots, for which prompt cash will be paid.
Six people have been summonsed in court cases arising from the milk price dispute. The price of a quart of delivered milk was to rise from 7d to 8d with effect from 31st December but some traders had already started imposing the increase on customers. Edward Lott, Gertrude and Rose Pickard, T E M Coull, William H Martin and Herbert W Fulford were all found guilty and fined one guinea each.
This Christmas is billed as “Victory Christmas” and there are plenty of suggestions for presents. Goodenough’s of Meddon Street go with the old favourite – a pair of slippers for the fireside. Meredith’s of 18 High Street suggest English Violet Toilet Soap, Ingersoll watches or electric pocket lamps. W.Woods, trading at 10-11 Meddon Street, state that their Christmas Showroom is now open, featuring Japanese money boxes, work boxes, glove and handkerchief boxes. They also stock antimony goods. On a more practical note, Heywood and Heywood of Grenville Street have a good stock of War Time Standard Hosiery, also Standard Blankets at Government Controlled prices and Civilian Standard flannel, white or blued, at 2/6d per yard.
Getting away from food and rationing, Miss A Littlejohns, typist, will revise and type manuscripts; circulars and programmes can be duplicated and lessons given in the new “touch” method. She also hires out typewriters. Miss Littlejohns lived at York Cottage on Northam Road, Bideford, which used to be the doctors’ surgery.
The boarding house 'The Chalet' is offered for sale. This was a sizeable property on the corner of Bath Hotel Road, Westward Ho!
In early December 1918, one of the first cartoons appeared in the Gazette:
Drawn by Gilbert Morris 'Bertie' Payne who was born in Cardiff in 1897. He was the older brother of A B Payne who created the comic strip 'Pip, Squeak and Wilfred' in the Daily Mirror. His work was extensive between 1900 and the 1920s and he died in Bristol in 1947. It is amusing to compare the notion contained in this cartoon and 100 years later with Amazon experimenting with an online parcel delivery using similar aerial methods.
The volunteers at the Bideford Commnunity Archive wish all our readers a very happy and peaceful Christmas.
Come and see us in the New Year to start your journey into the past.