Conservative Garden Party Tea Tent on Pilton Lawn around 1910-1914

About 100 years ago, the Barnstaple Conservative Association held its Annual Fete on Pilton Lawn in front of Pilton House. From the clothes in this photograph, the date appears to be Edwardian (up to 1910 when Edward VII died) or between 1910 and 1914, but we would be happy for any further suggestions on the precise date.  At the table on the left is May Pearce, daughter of Charles Pearce of Pilton House, who was born in 1893.

We have to thank Sue Pearce, Charles Pearce’s grand-daughter-in-law who was married to his grandson Arthur Richard Blackford Pearce and known as Dick, for this photograph.

Captain Tom Prideaux (right) and Vice-Captain Tim Webster (left) of the Lord Basil's Invitational XI

A Lord Basil’s Invitational XI, based in The Reform Inn in Pilton, played a Windsor Arms XI in Bradiford for the Lord Basil Trophy at Pilton Community College on August 25th 2013. This trophy has been played for since 2001, although not every year. Over the years it has been won by Lord Basil’s Invitational XI (thrice), The Corner House (twice), the Lords Leftovers (twice), the Royal Portland Arms (once), the Oddfellows Arms (once) and The Royal Standard (once).  In 2013 the match was won for the first time by The Windsor Arms who scored 104 in 20 overs and then bowled out the Lord Basil Invitational XI for only 35 with Kim Turner top scoring with 19.