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 5th 1870

A steam tug, the Cruzier, went ashore in Porlock Bay. The crew of five landed in their boat but the steamer became a total wreck.

100 years ago – February 7th 1920

The old Porlock road between the stop of Cher Steep and Alcombe had been mended with broken bottles, old iron, saucepan handles and china, with a percentage of stone added. This was stated in a letter to the editor from Mr R C Lethbridge, of Minehead, who was sending a sample of the “metal” to the clerk of the county council.

50 years ago – February 7th 1970

Exmoor licensees were divided over plans to extend opening times on Friday and Saturday nights to 11pm. They were eventually voted through after publicans accepted drinking habits had changed.

25 years ago – February 10th 1995

Fire ripped through an award-winning 12th century pub, the Royal Oak, leaving it a blackened shell in the middle of Winsford. A spark from the chimney had set the roof alight.