These were among the stories in the Free Press ...

150 years ago – April 16th 1870

* The post offices of Williton, Watchet, Stogumber and Bishops Lydeard were opened for telegraphic communications. Messages not exceeding 20 words could be sent for the sum of one shilling.

* The Board of Inland Revenue appointed Mr G Hake, postmaster of Williton, to be sub-distributor of stamps for this district in place of the late Mr Joseph Williams.

* The success of the 1869 Duster Flower Show exceeded all expectations, an the society had decided to introduce several new classes for this year. They included one for exhibits by members’ servants.

* Mr G H Bryant, master o the Wesleyan day school in Washford, gave a lecture in the court-hall at Williton police station on ’The Lollards or the Christian Heroes of Britain in the 15th Century’. More than 100 people were present.

100 years ago - April 17th 1920

* A gypsum worker from Watchet was walking over Cleeve Hill when he picked up a pewter plate that had an association with one of the district’s churches. It bore the inscription ’F Bradley and T Staddon, churchwardens, 1713’. No further information was available about it at the moment.

* Mr James Bailey, of East Quantoxhead, received from the RFA headquarters at Woolwich the Military Medal which he won in action in France.

* It was announced that Lord St Audries would unveil the war memorial which had been erected on The Gravel, Stogursey.

* One of the most important sales in the area for many years was that of the Wootton estate, comprising farms, cottages and moorland and the eastern slopes of Dunkery. The Dunkery land comprised 945 acres, and included the lordship of the manor. There appeared to be no great rush to acquire it, and it eventually passed on to Mr Allan Hughes for £2,400. The cottages sold “like hot cakes”. Among the farm prices were: Huntscott, £5,250; Wootton Knowle £3,400; Fairgarden and Spangate £3,450.

50 years ago – April 18 1970

* Leonard Desmond and Company became the new owners of one of Minehead’s most important development sites, the Parks Estate, which was allocated for housing worth around £2 million.

* Wansbrough Paper Ltd, of Watchet, won a national safety award after the company’s accidental rate fell 40 per cent below the national average of companies in the industry.

* Minehead lifeboatmen were pictured in the Free Press putting their new inshore rescue boat through its paces in the harbour. The boat was capable of reaching a speed of 25 knots and designed to deal with incidents involving swimmers and yachtsmen in distress.