Pilton Bridge Garage in the 1960s

Pilton Bridge Garage was built in the 1930s by Charlie Hinxman and he is recorded in Kelly’s Directory as the owner in 1941.  In the 1960s, it looked like the photograph below when it was owned by Terry Loder’s uncle, Jack Bater.  By the end of that decade, petrol cost about 5 shillings and 6 pence per gallon (the equivalent of around 6p/litre and about one twentieth of what it costs today.  Regrettably, this splendid Art Deco building, which wouldn’t have looked out of place in the heyday of Hercule Poirot, was replaced by the modern construction which is there today.  The photograph was first posted on the Facebook Barnstaple History Page by Terry Loder to whom many thanks are due.

At the All Pilton World Conker Championships in The Reform Inn, Pilton, on Sunday 27th October, twenty eight intrepid conker players chose their weapons, drilled and strung them and then engaged in a battle to the death – of the conker that is.  The conkers were all provided by Tim Webster from a horsechestnut tree at Bradiford House, Bradiford.

The Final of the All Pilton World Conker Championships

After a couple of hours of conker fights, the winner was Paul (right) and the runner up Charlie (left) and they were presented with their cups for 2013 to the applause of the crowd.  Well done the organisers Esther and Gavin of The Reform Inn.