Years Ago - Shopping 1871
Years Ago - May 1952
Years Ago - Agriculture 2001
Years Ago - May 1952
Years Ago - Agriculture 1871
Years Ago - Agriculture 2001
Great Fire of Torrington
Years Ago - Agriculture 1951
Years Ago - Agriculture 1871
Years Ago - Utilities and Public Amenities
Years Ago - Shopping 1871
Years Ago - Agriculture 1871
Years Ago - Agriculture 2001
100 years ago
100 years Ago
October 1913
100 years AgoNovember 1913
100 years AgoDecember 1913-January 1914
100 years AgoFebruary 1914
Years Ago - Shopping 1871
Shopping - October-December 1871
Unlike today, shopping at this time was an intimate experience, probably undertaken daily in small, specialised shops with counter service. Buyers visited individual merchants for specific needs such as the greengrocer, draper, butcher and baker, and food stuffs like butter, flour and sugar were not prepackaged but sold by weight and wrapped by hand. Liquids such as milk and vinegar would have been poured from the merchant’s churn into the customer’s container or jug. Meat was frequently bought as there was no modern cooling. The customer may have settled their bills weekly or monthly when wages were paid. Everyday garments may have been bought and altered by local dressmakers and tailors rather than being bought fully finished, with older garments taken apart and repurposed.
The proprietress of Bideford Gazette, Eliza Honey, ‘begs to call attention’ to her stock of General Stationery, and the printing services.
Shopping adverts from companies that are...
Years Ago - May 1952
16 May 1952
North Devon gardens are suffering from an invasion of slugs which has wrought havoc with young plants. Slugs have spread rapidly because of the very wet weather.
A minor revolt was staged in the Commons when two Westcountry MPs, Brig C H M Peto and Mr J W W Peyton refused to support the Government in a division over purchase tax concessions for the glove industry. Despite the pleas of the Government Whips they remained in their places as the vote was taken and the Government’s majority fell to 19, one of the lowest so far in the Committee stage of the Finance Bill.
“When they travel to the Civic Hall, Exeter, on Saturday, May 24th, to compete in the Daily Herald West of England Area Brass Band Championships, the Appledore Boys’ Brigade Band and Bideford Town Band will be competing against rival bands drawn from all over the West of England.
Torridge House, Bude Street, Appledore, for sale
What was showing at the cinema in Bideford?
Purchase of what are known...
Years Ago - Agriculture 2001
Agriculture - July-September 2001
There were a number of memorable events that took place in 2001. By September the foot and mouth tragedy was more or less over although the aftermath continued. The first extract here reminds us of the dreadful consequences of the disease when Councillors in Barnstaple wanted to call a halt to the funeral pyres of diseased livestock.
In an effort to support farmers DEFRA held conferences in the South West to try to coordinate efforts to support the revival of farms.
Torridge Vale dairy cooperative helped with the revival effort with it’s “Definitely Devon” range. They produced traditional churned and hand packed butter.
The next extract looks back to efforts by Torridge District Council to reopen the Burrows juggling with the difficulty of coordinating the 11 graziers with rights to run sheep on the land. The bid to reopen the Burrows by removing the sheep temporarily would allow local people to enjoy the open space and also the golf club to function...
Years Ago - May 1952
2 May 1952
What was on at the cinema?
At Abbotsham Parish Church, the funeral took place of Mrs Sarah Hamlyn, wife of the late Mr Thomas Hamlyn, of Abbotsham.
Abbotsham WI meeting with Mrs Smith presiding.
A dance organised by Alwington Cricket Club to be held in the Parish Hall.
Mrs Jane Stapledon Pearce had maintained a life-long interest in the Congregational Church at Appledore. She worked devotedly in her young days for the Sunday School and was never happier than when thinking of the boys and girls of her class. She influenced a great number of young people, many of whom became Christian folk through her teaching and example. Latterly, when she could no longer teach, she worked unceasingly at home for her Church stall; and when she could no longer organise a stall, she continued to collect privately for the Garden Party and Gift Day of the Congregational Church, each year.
Captain Maurice Hilton Layland, whose funeral took place at St Mary’s Church, Appledore, was a member of...
Years Ago - Agriculture 1871
Agriculture - July-September 1871
In 1871, agriculture was the largest single sector in the UK, accounting for over a third of the workforce and contributing roughly a quarter of the Gross National Product (GNP). In the region of 50% of the population relied on the land for their income. Horses remained the primary source of power, but mechanisation was accelerating. In 1871, about a quarter of all British grain was harvested using machines, a number that rapidly increased as the labour force shrank.
The year marked a precarious peak for the industry before the onset of a massive agricultural depression and over the next decade, unfavourable conditions led workers to migrate to towns and cities. The era was defined by a critical transition in farming methods and global economics.
The Devonshire Agricultural Society
The Alwington Harvest Home will be celebrated. There will be a public tea at four o’clock and a thanksgiving service at half-past six. The sermon will be preached by the Rev E G...
Years Ago - Agriculture 2001
Agriculture - July-September 2001
There were a number of memorable events that took place in 2001. By September the foot and mouth tragedy was more or less over although the aftermath continued. The first extract here reminds us of the dreadful consequences of the disease when Councillors in Barnstaple wanted to call a halt to the funeral pyres of diseased livestock.
In an effort to support farmers DEFRA held conferences in the South West to try to coordinate efforts to support the revival of farms.
Torridge Vale dairy cooperative helped with the revival effort with it’s “Definitely Devon” range. They produced traditional churned and hand packed butter.
The next extract looks back to efforts by Torridge District Council to reopen the Burrows juggling with the difficulty of coordinating the 11 graziers with rights to run sheep on the land. The bid to reopen the Burrows by removing the sheep temporarily would allow local people to enjoy the open space and also the golf club to function...
Great Fire of Torrington
During the 1870s, urban firefighting underwent a massive shift as municipal public departments rapidly replaced old, private insurance-run brigades. This decade was defined by the modernization of equipment, standardized uniforms, and the professionalization of firefighters under structured public funding.
The 1870s marked a transition away from exhausting hand-pumped manual engines toward high-powered mechanics:
- Steam Fire Engines: Horse-drawn steam-pumped engines became the industry standard. They could pump roughly 300 gallons of water per minute, drastically outperforming manual labour.
- Telegraphs and Alarms: Cities began installing street fire alarm boxes. These wired directly into centraliaed "superintendent stations," allowing brigades to dispatch to emergencies much faster.
26th July 1876
At about 01:15 hrs on 26th July 1876, 2 local policemen, PC Newbury and PC Christopher while doing their rounds of the town, thought they could smell burning and went towards South Street....
Years Ago - Agriculture 1951
Agriculture July-September 1951
In 1951, UK agricultural legislation focused on post-war recovery, food security, and expanding support for livestock production. Agriculture was undergoing a significant transition, with mechanisation increasing despite horses still being common on farms - tractors and combine harvesters were replacing horses. The workforce was shrinking, comprising about 5% of workers, yet production was rising. Key issues included rising production costs, a focus on increased food output, and the implementation of state-supported, guaranteed prices for farmers. From 1951, the results of the Annual Agricultural Review were published as a White Paper which became the central tool for setting "Guaranteed Prices" for commodities like wheat, barley, and potatoes.
The Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries says we must plough more.
Beekeepers might bear in mind...
Speaking in the recent supply debate on agriculture in the House of Commons, Mr George Lambert, MP, for the...
Years Ago - Agriculture 1871
Agriculture - July-September 1871
In 1871, agriculture was the largest single sector in the UK, accounting for over a third of the workforce and contributing roughly a quarter of the Gross National Product (GNP). In the region of 50% of the population relied on the land for their income. Horses remained the primary source of power, but mechanisation was accelerating. In 1871, about a quarter of all British grain was harvested using machines, a number that rapidly increased as the labour force shrank.
The year marked a precarious peak for the industry before the onset of a massive agricultural depression and over the next decade, unfavourable conditions led workers to migrate to towns and cities. The era was defined by a critical transition in farming methods and global economics.
The Devonshire Agricultural Society
The Alwington Harvest Home will be celebrated. There will be a public tea at four o’clock and a thanksgiving service at half-past six. The sermon will be preached by the Rev E G...
Years Ago - Utilities and Public Amenities
For this edition of Years Ago we review Utilities and Public Amenities as a topic and have looked at months April to June of the years 2001, 1951 and 1871.
What is expected today as a common basic commodity, service and facility was not always so.
2001
In the Spring of 2001 the foot and mouth outbreak, which lasted from February to September and resulted in the loss of 2 million cattle and sheep, had Britain in its grip. The paper carries an offer of help to affected farmers by the Samaritans. There is no doubt that the method of dealing with the disease in sheep and cattle by putting them down, then burning the carcasses on huge bonfires was really traumatic for the families involved.
To mitigate some of the disruption, in May the council bought 200 sheep and removed them from the burrows so that the Burrows Park and the Royal North Devon Golf Club could reopen to the public. The public had been banned from walking in the countryside for fear of spreading the disease.
Following a...
Years Ago - Shopping 1871
Shopping - October-December 1871
Unlike today, shopping at this time was an intimate experience, probably undertaken daily in small, specialised shops with counter service. Buyers visited individual merchants for specific needs such as the greengrocer, draper, butcher and baker, and food stuffs like butter, flour and sugar were not prepackaged but sold by weight and wrapped by hand. Liquids such as milk and vinegar would have been poured from the merchant’s churn into the customer’s container or jug. Meat was frequently bought as there was no modern cooling. The customer may have settled their bills weekly or monthly when wages were paid. Everyday garments may have been bought and altered by local dressmakers and tailors rather than being bought fully finished, with older garments taken apart and repurposed.
The proprietress of Bideford Gazette, Eliza Honey, ‘begs to call attention’ to her stock of General Stationery, and the printing services.
Shopping adverts from companies that are...
Years Ago - Agriculture 1871
Agriculture - July-September 1871
In 1871, agriculture was the largest single sector in the UK, accounting for over a third of the workforce and contributing roughly a quarter of the Gross National Product (GNP). In the region of 50% of the population relied on the land for their income. Horses remained the primary source of power, but mechanisation was accelerating. In 1871, about a quarter of all British grain was harvested using machines, a number that rapidly increased as the labour force shrank.
The year marked a precarious peak for the industry before the onset of a massive agricultural depression and over the next decade, unfavourable conditions led workers to migrate to towns and cities. The era was defined by a critical transition in farming methods and global economics.
The Devonshire Agricultural Society
The Alwington Harvest Home will be celebrated. There will be a public tea at four o’clock and a thanksgiving service at half-past six. The sermon will be preached by the Rev E G...
Years Ago - Agriculture 2001
Agriculture - July-September 2001
There were a number of memorable events that took place in 2001. By September the foot and mouth tragedy was more or less over although the aftermath continued. The first extract here reminds us of the dreadful consequences of the disease when Councillors in Barnstaple wanted to call a halt to the funeral pyres of diseased livestock.
In an effort to support farmers DEFRA held conferences in the South West to try to coordinate efforts to support the revival of farms.
Torridge Vale dairy cooperative helped with the revival effort with it’s “Definitely Devon” range. They produced traditional churned and hand packed butter.
The next extract looks back to efforts by Torridge District Council to reopen the Burrows juggling with the difficulty of coordinating the 11 graziers with rights to run sheep on the land. The bid to reopen the Burrows by removing the sheep temporarily would allow local people to enjoy the open space and also the golf club to function...
100 years ago
Farmers from across North Devon gathered every year end to celebrate what had become known as 'Capt W Ascott's Manure Audit' and Dinner at the New Inn, Bideford. In 1915 Capt Ascott was unable to attend the dinner as he was 'somewhere in France' and 'leave was difficult to obtain, in fact Impossible just now!' He had sent a letter which Acting President Mr C S Carnegie, JP, read to the assembled farmers. At the conclusion of an excellent and well served repast, a toast was submitted to the King and Queen and Royal Family which was heartily honoured.
In a tradition dating back to the 1900s the Town Alderman entertained a number of the aged poor in Bideford to a tea and social evening at the Baptist Schoolroom. In 1901 the Revd H Trotman addressed a few cheery and comforting words to the old folk. The Revd J B Heard, having recently returned to this Borough, expressed as most encouraging the fact that, despite a larger population, there were fewer public houses and licences issued....
100 years AgoOctober 1913
Two Bideford miners had a miraculous escape on the morning of October 14th. The Sluman brothers from Honestone Street were working at the Universal Senghenydd Colliery near CaerphjlJy Glamorgan and had just come up from the night shift. Exploding Firedamp and Methane gas killed everybody underground. In total 439 miners lost their lives and such was the damage underground that some bodies were never recovered. The mine was to close just over thirty years later with the dubious honour of being the site of the largest mining disaster in the history of the British coalfields.
Bideford Mayor, Hugh N G Stuciey, opened a fund for the relief of widows and orphans who had suffered greatly from this disaster. He donated three guineas to start the fund. Collections were made at Gales Bijou Picture Palace, the band of the Devonshire TA gave a concert in the Pannier Market and Bideford Boy Scouts collected E15-8s- 2d. Our postcard photograph shows one of the coffins being removed.
On a lighter note...
100 years AgoNovember 1913
The water supply problems mentioned last month continue to give considerable concern. Abbotsham Road, High Street and all of Old Town are without water whilst "They scrape the pipes" The supply to the workhouse in Meddon Street has been interrupted frequently and the Guardians are considering opening a well on the premises but are hesitant due to the proximity of the old cemetery.
Two shipping stories make the headlines this month. Firstly a fire virtually destroys the trawler Busy Bee moored off Williams's boatyard at Appledore. At 4 am the vessel was alight from stem to stern and to extinguish the fire it was sunk. It is not expected to be salvaged. On a lighter note Coxswain Cann from Appledore was on the beach near the lifeboat station and found a bottle containing a paper stating t*on being found and forwarded to an address given 9C Edwin Hall The Docks Swansea) the finder would be given a box of cigars. The letter and the paper were sent and Mr Cann duly received the cigars...
100 years AgoDecember 1913-January 1914
As Christmas approached the Gazette newspaper was full of adverts by local shops and traders extolling their finest merchandise. On Tuesday 9th December a Prime Christmas Fat Stock show was held when 30 famous fat steers and heifers were sold together with 50 sheep. By early December butchers had already bought, killed and hung their Christmas meat. Messrs S Dennis trading at 51 Mill Street advertised ox & heifer beef, Exmoor Down Wether Mutton and dairy fed pork. Farleigh's Stores in the High Street were offering choice Canadian Hams from 7d to 10d per pound.
To help wash down the traditional Christmas dinner William C Talbot, trading from 1 High Street, advertised bottles of London Gin at 2 shillings a pint bottle, 10 year old Scotch Whisky at 3s 3d pint and Martell Brandy at 4s 4d per pint bottle.
At 74 High Street Mr Arthur Clements had just transferred the business to his brother Wilfred and to celebrate had clothing bargains for all of the family. On offer were men's overcoats at...
100 years AgoFebruary 1914
In the Bideford Gazette during February there is a report of the second annual dinner of the Farmers Union which was held in the New Inn Hotel.
The town water supply is still causing problems and Bideford Urban District Council are discussing whether to turn off the water between 10 pm and 6 am in an effort to save a depleted supply reservoir.
On 17thFebruary Charles Williams announced that he had sold his Cycle and Motor business at 1 Allhalland Street to Mr George Boyle, both the name and premises will still be familiar to many of you.
We are all aware of what is about to happen to Britain in the second half of 1914 but the events that led to World War 1 are far from widely understood. In the forthcoming months we will look at local events, places and people who became casualties of the conflict but for now we will try to set out the events which caused the Great War.
Europe and the countries it contained was a seething mass of discontent, each country had struck treaty after...