150 years ago - September 23 1871

* A Wiveliscombe lad named Adams disturbed a hornets’ nest and was badly stung. He was taken to the surgery of Messrs Edwards and Pratt where carbolic acid was applied to the inflamed parts.

* Smallpox was prevalent in Milverton and scarletina in the neighbourhood.

* Harvest Home was celebrated at Torweston Farm, Sampford Brett. Mr Richard Corner entertained the workpeople to dinner and tea, and games were played. Rowing on the lake was popular.

* In the spring Mr A Cotterell, of West Bagborough, had planted a Bovenia potato which he cut into 16 pieces. They had produced the enormous weight of 50lbs.

100 years ago - September 24 1921

* A cargo of wood pulp discharged at Watchet harbour needed 118 railway trucks – equivalent to five good trains – to take it away.

* Dulverton’s medical officer of health recommended the Board of Guardians to give the workhouse inmates butter instead of margarine. They were having bread and margarine for breakfast and no jam. The guardians agreed to provide jam.

* A Nether Stowey woman was fined £1 for being drunk while in charge of a child under seven.

* Minehead UDC discussed complaints that local tradesmen were profiteering in butter and eggs. Butter was being sold at 2s 10d per lb when it could be bought in Taunton for 2s 4d.

50 years ago - September 15 1971

* About 700 people were evacuated from Butlin’s Playhouse Theatre just minutes before it was engulfed by flames. The fire, which started in a dressing room, caused an estimated £30,000 damage and took five fire crews to control.

* A 70-year-old visitor to Watchet fell from a cliff near Helwell Bay. She was taken to hospital with a suspected leg fracture.

* Although there was a perfectly good bus service from Taunton, British Rail’s advice to a traveller to Minehead from Reading was: ‘Go by train to Taunton and on to Exeter, then by train to Barnstaple to catch a bus to Lynton and Lynmouth then another bus to Porlock...’.