EACH week in the Free Press we look back at what made the news 150, 100, 50 and 25 years ago. Here is a sample of the items featuring in the This Was The News column this week.

150 years ago - February 27th 1869

The Rev W Hunnybun, vicar of Bicknoller for the past two years, and formerly of Withiel Florey, resigned his living and was received into the Church of Rome.

100 years ago - March 1st 1919

An unoccupied cottage in Nether Stowey, known as the Old Post Office, in Castle Street, caught fire. It had a thatched roof, but the flames were put out by a copious supply of water passed up in buckets, and the rain also helped. Investigations indicated that the fire was deliberately started. The cottage belonged to Lord Clifford.

50 years ago - March 1st 1969

The occupier of Lower Thorns, Exford, Miss Cyllene Reed, escaped serious injury when a domestic gas cylinder exploded in her kitchen. The resultant fire gutted the end portion of the house and brought firemen from three brigades to the scene. She told the Free Press the cylinder blew up in her face: “My clothing and hair caught alight but I was able to extinguish that myself.”

25 years ago - March 4th 1994

The proposed A39 by-pass around Carhampton may have to be re-routed because of an archaeological find dating to the 11th century. The discovery of the former parish churchyard was expected to lead to uncovering the site of the old parish church.