150 years ago
1868
January
Three people living in the household of Major Carew, of Crowcombe Court – the butler, housekeeper and the cook – narrowly escaped death through eating soup which had contained a powerful mercurial poison used in the manufacture of that popular but dangerous toy known as Pharoah’s serpent.
February
A correspondent called attention to the lack of public order in Watchet. Persons were assembling on street corners, using obscene language and generally misconducting themselves towards people arriving by train. The modesty of females was being shocked. The writer mentioned that he had been showered with stones and slate nails, and he urged that the Watch Committee of Quarter Sessions should enquire into the disgraceful state of affairs.
March
Stogumber Baptists were taking active steps towards the rebuilding of their chapel, which was in a very dilapidated state, besides being too small for the congregation. Recognition services were held in the chapel for the new minister, the Rev John Green, whose predecessor, the Rev J Mills, presided over the meetings.
April
On Easter Sunday, a new harmonium purchased for Luxborough church at a cost of £30 was opened and played by the Rev W Evans, curate. In future it would be played by Mr R Baker, schoolmaster.
May
A public meeting was to be convened at the Egremont Hotel, Williton, for the purpose of considering the best steps to procure a watering cart. “It is a long wished for object to prevent our being stifled with dust in the summer months.”
June
July
Three cases of sunstroke occurred at Bishops Lydeard. The labouring men were struck while in the harvest field and there was no hope of their recovery. Another man, seized with apoplexy while reaping, died almost immediately.
August
A schoolroom with house attached had been erected in Sampford Brett through the munificence of Sir Alexander Hood, the lord of the manor. The cost was £600. It was named St George’s National School.
September
In Stogumber, the foundation stone of a new Baptist chapel on a site adjoining the original chapel built in 1729 and now dilapidated. The new chapel would have seating for 300.
October
The schooner ’Emma’ (Capt. Nankivell, of Plymouth), bringing timber to Watchet for the Ebbw Vale Steel, Iron and Coal Co. Ltd, collided with the eastern pier-head. The blow carried away the Emma’s jib-boom, shifted her bowsprit and windlass, and started one of her beams.
November
The shock of an earthquake was felt in many places in the West, Minehead among them. Houses trembled, furnishings were disturbed, and people said the shock was accompanied by “a deep buzzing noise”. One Minehead family got up in the night “to see who the intruders were”.
December
All the directors of the Devon and Somerset Railway expressed their intention of resigning. This would further complicate the difficulties the company was labouring under in completing construction of the railway.