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 – October 16th 1869

There seemed to be some prospect of Minehead being lighted with gas before the winter was over, considerable progress having been made in the works and pipe-laying. However, late high tides had done considerable damage to the works, which were being erected close to the sea.

100 years ago – October 18th 1919

Lifeboat launches in Watchet were being handicapped because the trackway through the harbour was silted up. The RNLI stated that the future maintenance of the station would have to be considered unless the urban council did something.

50 years ago – October 18th 1969

A police officer travelling along the Holywell Lake to Wiveliscombe found hundreds of live chickens in plastic crates scattered all over the road and in hedges. They had fallen off the back of a lorry.

25 years ago – October 21st 1994

The 17th century Quirkes Almshouses, in Minehead, lost Environment Department protection because they looked too modern following renovation at a cost of £150,000 eight years ago.