A look at Sidmouth over the past 75 years

25 YEARS AGO

MORE than 75 people attended an auction of five properties offered by Fox & Sons at Sidmouth’s Fortfield Hotel on Wednesday. Of the five lots on offer, Flat 4 The Fort on the Esplanade sold for �65,000 to a local business tycoon and Longmoor, an elegant four-bedroom house in Bickwell Valley, also sold in the auction room after not quite reaching its reserve at the auction itself.

SIDMOUTH Town Council has given its backing to a by-law which will ban dogs from the town and Jacob’s Ladder beaches. The town council was asked for its view by the district authority, which is considering asking the Department of the Environment for a by-law to cover most of its beaches. If the by-law is approved, it will mean that anyone who allows a dog to walk on the beach between May 1st and September 30th will be liable to a �100 fine. Guide dogs will be exempt.

50 YEARS AGO

DURING the late evening of Sunday, October 16th, vandals succeeded in causing the following damage at the Connaught Gardens:-

Soap containers in the Ladies’ and Gents’ conveniences were ripped from the walls; a cupboard in the ladies’ conveniences was forced open; the ‘Ladies’ and ‘Gents’ signs were broken from their posts; a seat was thrown over the wall on to Jacob’s Ladder platform and was smashed beyond repair; and the bottom was smashed out of a waste paper basket.

THE Housing Committee’s report to be presented to the Sidmouth Urban District Council’s next regular meeting (on Nov. 15th) states that details of the revised rent and an explanatory notice have been sent to all tenants and that the revised rents are effective from November 20th.

75 YEARS AGO

OPENING a Sale of Work at the New Hall, Heydon’s Lane, on Thursday afternoon, arranged by the local Women’s Section of the British Legion, Mrs Balfour (its President) paid a well-deserved tribute to the unceasing interest and enthusiasm manifested by the members of the Sidmouth Branch.

THE violin and organ recital given by Monica Denyer and Clifford Brown on Thursday afternoon was a musical treat such as is rarely heard in Sidmouth. The Church especially lends itself to string tone. Miss Denyer’s beautiful warm tone and flawless technique were heard to advantage. Mr Brown joined her in the violin and organ Sonata by Tartani. It was a finished and excellent rendering by both artists.