Edgehill College is destroyed by fire. After the fire was discovered just before 3am by Mollie Thomas, the staff’s efforts were foiled by the water supply in the building drying up. The initial efforts of the Fire Brigade were nullified by the lack of water supply at a standpipe near the North Down Road entrance and by the time water and a strong enough pressure was achieved, the whole building was a roaring furnace. All got out of the building safely and thanks were given to the teaching staff who cleared the school in a few minutes under perfect discipline.
(credit to “When you were there” by Miss A Mary Shaw)
Clay workers employed at the North Devon Clay Company works at Petersmarland have been idle for some days over a dispute originating with regard to a new hand being taken on for work above ground, and are still on strike. There was also some trouble over the dismissal of Mr Mogridge. In news later that month, the strike was settled and Mr Mogridge was reinstated. Through the dispute, about £900 was lost in wages as well as considerable loss of output.
At a meeting of Northam District Council, the Medical Officer (Dr E J Toye) reported that the general health of the District continued to be satisfactory and during the month there had been four deaths and twelve births. In response to a letter from the North Devon coroner about whether the Council intended to provide a mortuary for Appledore, the Council decided to reply that there was already a mortuary in Northam and they were not in a financial position to provide another. Plans were passed for the Hansen Shipbuilding Company for a building at the New Quay Dock, Appledore, and it was decided to build up the slipway at Westward Ho! leading to the beach at a cost of £30.
In Westward Ho! Ladies Golf Club Monthly Medal play, Mrs Dering made a score of 82 which constitutes a record for the course. Bideford Swimming Club invites all swimming enthusiasts to the ‘Opening Dip’ which will be held from the pontoon by the river bank on 1 July at 7pm. Northam Artizans Club has arranged a knock-out tournament for the Bell Challenge Cup, presented by Mr C T Bell in 1914. Football enthusiasts in Bideford and District will be glad to learn that the preliminary steps for the formation of a junior league for next season have all been taken and submitted to the East Devon Football Association for their approval. A successful dinner and smoker was held at the New Inn Hotel for the Bideford Football Supporters’ Club presided over by Mr F T Upton.
A farmer of Alwington, and formerly of Appledore, pleaded not guilty to a summons for the non-attendance of his 11 year old girl, Ethel, at school. Although the child was sent to school, she had to be excluded on account of being in such a verminous condition that her presence would be a serious danger to the other children. This was the first case of the kind before the Bench and although they would not record a conviction, it was a most serious matter and must not occur again.
In district news, Dr W A Valentine chaired a public meeting in connection with the Appledore and Instow Regatta. Dr J R R Harper, Medical Officer, paid a surprise visit to the Council School at Clovelly and examined some of the scholars classified as special cases. Mrs Hamlyn’s scheme for transforming Lilltle* Field into a public park or pleasure ground as her personal memorial to the Clovelly men who gave their lives in the Great War has commenced. At Burrington, Messrs W Ford (Rose Cottage) and C Ford (Berry Cross) took first and second prize in the open sheep shearing competition. Mrs A J Saltern-Willett, of Petticombe, Monkleigh, entertained the ex-service men of the parish to tea and games in honour of Empire-day. Forty men sat down to a sumptuous tea. Eight bells have been hung in Northam Church Tower, including two new bells in memory of Mr George Brayley Brayley and Miss Stella Temple**. Siloam anniversary services were held at Langtree and at Parkham, and Peace Day will be celebrated with Major Graham Murray, of Foxdown House, consenting to unveil the brass tablet in connection with the returned soldiers and fallen heroes. Reginald Phillips, of Shebbear, was fined £1 for furiously riding a bicycle to the danger of the public. He collided with PC Lynn when turning a corner near the Council Schools.
*Is ‘Lilltle’ a typo in the newspaper?
**There’s lots more available on the hanging of Northam Church bells
Situations Vacant & Wanted – Tattersill’s - an intelligent, quick lad for office work; G W Fluck - an errand boy; a young lady assistant for the drapery at Burrows, 17 High Street; H I Meredith, High Street – a smart lad wanted as apprentice to the ironmongery; Mrs Maslen, Pebbleridge House, Westward Ho! – a girl, daily, to help with housework; and Heard Bros Ltd, Engineers – a boy for Office, to start as messenger.
Farms and smallholdings for sale – Mrs Delve is selling ‘Higher Alminstone’ in Woolfardisworthy; a house at Northway, Parkham, with 7 acres of arable and pasture land; ‘Coombe Bearhays Pit’ and ‘Pit Downs’ containing meadow, pasture and arable land, with a dwelling house and outbuildings; ‘Wedlands’ in the centre of Langtree comprising a 6-bedroomed house, outbuildings, garden, productive orchard, and over 24,000 acres of meadow, pasture and arable land; ‘Spurrels’ in Langtree with a cottage (now used as cattle shed), pump and a good supply of water.
Properties for sale – Nos 1 and 3 Back Lane in Northam; in Appledore, the delightful riverside residence Dock Cottage with yard, workshops, sheds, stores, outbuildings and foreshore rights; shop and dwelling house situated at the corner of Quay and Meeting Street, Appledore; and in Bideford, No 9 Mill Street, No 2 West View Terrace, and 74 High Street currently occupied of the London Joint City and Midland Bank Co. Ltd.
