Whatever Happened To The White Lion?

We have had work experience student Millie with us for the last fortnight. She has been looking into the history of the various public houses of Barnstaple, particularly the premises known as the White Lion, and the people who operated them. Here is what she found out...Barum Athena Why did the White Lion go under? …

“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 …

The Jones Connection

For the past fortnight we have had Philip with us on work experience. He has written this post on what he found about his Jones ancestors by using the resources we have in the Athenaeum and our partner departments, the North Devon Record Office and the Local Studies Library...Barum Athena During the previous two weeks, …

Put That Light Out! — Failing to Obscure Lights in Lynmouth

The Defence of the Realm Act came into force on 8th August 1914, just four days after the declaration of War. What follows is the coverage of the first case in North Devon to be brought before the Magistrates regarding the visibility of light from a property facing the Bristol Channel. Any light visible from …

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 …

Discover the Magna Carta…On Our Shelves!

Northward of Egham, between the town and the Thames, is Runnymead, which will ever be celebrated in the history of this country as the spot where the assembled barons, in 1215, compelled King John, who had in vain resorted to the most criminal prevarications, to grant what is emphatically denominated Magna Charta, the great charter …

Discover the War of the Roses…On Our Shelves!

Today marks the 560th Anniversary of the start of the War of the Roses which saw the country descend into civil war until, the recently reinterred, Richard III lost his life at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. The first battle was fought on this day in 1455 in the town of St. Albans, Hertfordshire. …

Police and Troublesome Aliens

During the First World War German citizens, or enemy aliens, were required to register with the authorities and had strict restrictions placed on their movements. The following article, taken from the North Devon Herald in May 1915, involves the case of a German alien, Fritz Adler, who was fined £20 (roughly £1,400 in today's money) for breaching the regulations when he hired a pony and joined two local hunts...

Cut Off From His Regiment

Pte. F. T. Hookway, of the 2nd Devons, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hookway, of Richmond-street, Barnstaple, has been invalided home from the Front in consequence of a serious attack of pneumonia and rheumatism, brought about through a most trying, dangerous, and thrilling adventure which he experienced. Pte. Hookway participated in the famous bayonet …

Bravery Under Fire

“I am looking forward to returning to the firing line and having another go at the Germans.” Such were the sentiments expressed to a “Herald” representative by Pte. T. Passmore, of Pugsley's street, Green lane, Barnstaple, who is spending a fortnight in his native town, having been wounded while serving with the 1st Devons at …