150 years ago - September 16th 1871

* A ferocious sow at Farm, Northway Halse, severely savaged a little girl of eight.

* At Dunster Petty Sessions, the landlord of a Minehead inn was cautioned for using bad language to a police officer during business hours.

* At Williton Workhouse, 196lbs of the red skin flour-ball potatoes were dug from three-quarters of a perch of garden. This was the product of only 5lbs of seed.

* The Rev W Spurgeon was about to resign the pastorate of the Independent Chapel of Nether Stowey.

100 years ago - September 17th 1921

* The death occurred of one of the district’s best known figures, Mr William J Leversha, auctioneer, of Torre. He held the first stock auction at Washford in 1884, and since 1909 had been a partner in the firm of Risdon and Leversha. He was 65.

* In the FA Cup, Minehead were beaten 3-0 at home by Torquay United. Faced with a big financial loss win or lose, Minehead allowed their Amateur Cup match with Swindon Casuals to go by default.

* A newly-built house, ‘The Kraal’, in Withycombe, was sold for £750.

* A welcome addition to Watchet harbour trade was the import of coal for Wansbrough Paper Company. Over 1,000 tons had been handled in a month.

50 years ago - September 18th 1971

* Two young Watchet mums, Mary Wakeling and Margaret Bowden, both of Gladstone Terrace, won a four-month battle with bureaucracy when they opened a playschool.

* Minehead fisherman Doug Baker hauled in, with a struggle, a 21lb cod. He was out with Ted and Kevin Slade on Ted’s boat, the Kingfisher, and used mackerel bait.

* Minehead Amateur Radio Society spent 24 hours camped up on Dunkery Beacon for a VHF contest in which they made contact with 130 other stations, mainly in Britain.