150 years ago – April 30th 1870

* The village of Broadclyst was destroyed by fire. Out of 77 cottages, only 18 remained. The property belonged to Sir Thomas Acland, whose son, Mr Acland MP, made arrangements for supplying the sufferers with food and shelter. The fire was caused by sparks from the chimney of an inn.

* There was also a very serious fire at Old Way, Stogumber, involving the cottages of James Gore, Thomas Williams,James Quartley and Daniel Williams. Two of the cottages were completely destroyed, there were injuries to the occupants, and the local sweep, Clement Coles, lost the sight of an eye.

* The famous Belgian organist Lemmens opened the new organ installed in Dulverton parish church as the gift of Bayly Moore Collyns. The harmonium previously in use had “buzzed like a bee in a bottle”, declared a parishioner.

* Miss Eliza Govett was presented at Leighland with a piece of plate in recognition of her services in training the church choir and playing the organ.

100 years ago – May 1st 1920

* Luccombe’s new parish hall, a former Army hut, was opened. It was the gift of Mr and Mrs J P Lawrence, of Wychanger, and would accommodate 200 people. Among the speakers was the new rector, Dr Purvis. The Allerford Glee and Dramatic Party gave a concert.

* The West Somerset Polo Club was reconstituted at a meeting held in Minehead under the chairmanship of Mr R B Magor. The president was Sir Robert Sanders MP, and the subscription for playing members was five guineas.

* Brompton Regis asked for polling station facilities and Dulverton RDC agreed to support the request to the county council.

* The death occurred in Minehead of the man who had been the first to crown North Hill with a villa residence. He was Mr John Boddy, baker and confectioner, 75, who carried on business at Higher Town and then Holloway Street before opening a restaurant in The Parade.

50 years ago – May 2nd 1970

*Controversy was raging over Minehead Urban Council’s plans to convert the harbourside road into a virtual pedestrian precinct. As the kerbs started being laid, residents signed petitions and businessmen voiced fears about likely drops in trade.

* Dulverton councillors called for British Rail to carry our work to improve the sight of the town’s derelict station. The clerk contacted British Rail on two occasions, but it did not know where the station was.

* Local authority money should be spent on subsidising operations on the Minehead to Taunton branch line to help save it from closure, Somerset Parish Council Association said.

* Minehead AFC president Marshall Conely handed the Player of the Year award to centre-half Bob Boyd before a home match against Andover.