Germans Release Barumite – Mr. Francis Gribble Describes his Life at Ruhleben

A fortnight after the article covering Mr and Mrs Chanter's visit to their son in a Dutch internment camp was published, news of another interned Barumite was reprinted in the North Devon Herald. Francis Henry Gribble was born in Barnstaple in 1862, the son of Henry Gribble of the Old Bank. In 1887, after finishing …

An Interned Barumite

As part of our series of posts covering World War One articles from the local newpapers this interesting article from the North Devon Herald contains an interview with Charles Edward Roberts Chanter (an original Trustee of the North Devon Athenaeum) and his wife describe visiting their son, John Fincher Roberts Chanter, in an internment camp …

The Jewell in Barnstaple’s Crown – Twelve Months of War & the Splendid Work of Barnstaple’s Mayoress

As part of our series of newspaper articles from the First World War comes this piece about the work done by Harriette Ellen Jewell during the first year of the war...Barum Athena The war into which, as an Empire, we were so suddenly plunged twelve months since found us quite unprepared in the country, whatever …

“Between the Devil and the Deep Sea” — A Barum Motorist’s Dilemma

Whilst trying to comply with the Defence of the Realm Act this Barnstaple motorist got caught driving without his lights at night... The magistrates at Braunton Divisional Sessions held in Barnstaple yesterday (Wednesday), were called upon to decide a case of an unusual character. A Barnstaple motorist, Mr. Roy Berry, was summoned for allowing his …

Diary of an Officer at the Battle of Waterloo

The Carnage dreadful beyond description...Lieut. John Roberts 18th June 1815 In our document collection is a small pocket diary chronicling one man’s experience of the final campaign against Napoleon which led to the Battle of Waterloo and the eventual overthrow of the Emperor. In 1815 Lieut. Roberts, of Bideford, said goodbye to his wife and …