150 years ago

July 16th 1870

* Lightning struck Bonson Farm, Fiddington, belonging to Mr William Cavill, and set fire to a stable and cowhouse and a large straw rick. A dog and 12 fowls were killed.

* Children attending the Countess of Egremont’s Sunday School in Watchet, 180 in number, had tea given them in a field adjoining the parsonage. “We are pleased to state that the heath of the Countess permitted her to drive to the field, where the children surrounded her carriage and sang two hymns.”

* A large picnic was held in Dunster park in connection with the Wesleyan Methodist Society, and 140 people sat down to tea.

100 years ago

July 17th 1920

* A fifth bell was added to the tower of St Audries Church in memory of the men of the parish who fell in the Great War. The bell bore the inscription “For religion, liberty and peace”. The wrk was carried out by Mr John Sully, of Stogumber.

* The King conferred the medal of the Order of the British Empire on Pioneer Gordon Robert Williams, of Winsford, for his services in connection with the war.

* Mr and Mrs Geoffrey Luttrell arrived at their old home in East Quantoxhead after six years residence in Australia. With them they brought their infant son. Parishioners drew Mr and Mrs Luttrell’s car to Court House with ropes, and the village was en fete for the occasion. Mr Luttrell had accompanied his uncle, Sir R Munro-Ferguson, when he became Governor General of Australia.

* Watchet Urban Council sealed an agreement with Cardiff Marine Stores Ltd whereby the company was given a 15-year lease of the west pier for ship-breaking purposes.

50 years ago

July 18th 1970

*A crowd of over 2,500 packed Minehead harbour for an air-sea rescue demonstration involving Minehead lifeboatmen and their new in-shore rescue boat and a Whirlwind helicopter from RAF Chivenor. It was part of Minehead Gala Fortnight and pulled the event’s largest crowd.

The county council mad an order permitting the establishment of a parish council for Nettlecombe. Those who made a contribution to parish history as the council’s first members were Sydney Bennett, Lesley Pring, Horace Routley, James Fraser and Edward Spence.