150 years ago

September 17th 1870

* The justices at Bishops Lydeard refused an application for the reopening of the New Inn, Lydeard St Lawrence. The superintendent of police objected to the application, saying that the village had been a lot quieter since the New Inn closed.

* Foot and mouth disease was on the increase in West Somerset and had broken out on a Stogursey farm. The parish had been placed under operation of the Contagious Diseases Act.

* The labourers of West Somerset celebrated harvest home. The farmers joined them in theMarket House for a dinner which was served by Mr Lang, of the George Inn, and at which Mr G F Luttrell presided. Mrs Luttrell gave a tea to the wives of the labourers.

* Collections were taken in West Somerset churches for the succour of those injured in the Franco Prussian war; Paris was being defended against the German advance.

100 years ago

September 18th 1920

* Fears were expressed at Watchet Urban Council that the southern side of the town was going to be overrun with rats, which were breeding in huge numbers in the district adjoining Liddymore Lane and coming out in droves. It was resolved to enlist the aid of Mr Gurney, the county council’s rodent officer, although Mr W G Penny said what was needed was a pied piper!

* The future of Williton stock market was uncertain. At the last market, said [weekly column] ‘Notes By The Way’, there had not been a sufficient entry to interest a warble fly. Washford’s market was congested but Williton’s neglected.

* Commander H G Innes, inspector for the RNLI, visited Minehead Lifeboat Station. He said it would be some years before the station could be equipped with a motor lifeboat. His attention was drawn to the difficulty of telephonic communication between Minehead and Lynmouth. Calls had to be routed via Taunton, Barnstaple, Ilfracombe and the coastguard before reaching Lynmouth.

* About 2,400 people attended a Conservative fete at St Audries House. There were speeches by Lord St Audries and Sir Robert Sanders MP.

50 years ago

September 19th 1970

* Former Watchet Salvation ArmyCO Mrs Brigadier G Moores and former lieutenant Mrs R Langdon (née Walker) returned to lead the corps’ 86th anniversary celebrations. Methodist minister Pastor Lloyd Berry chaired songs of praise and there was an open air on The Esplanade.

* Some members of the audience at Minehead Arts Society’s first concert of the season “thought fit to express audibly their disapproval” of the Durham Strolling Players’ revue, ‘On The Beat’. Others thought the society’s new image “a breath of fresh air”.

* Colonel Walter Luttrell organised a rescue operation and saved two London girls trapped by the tide at the foot of cliffs at East Quantoxhead. Members of his staff used ropes and ladders to lift the girls to safety 25 minutes before the tide came in.