THE April meeting of the Okehampton Branch of the Devonshire Association attracted a record attendance.

Members enjoyed their evening held at the Okehampton Conservative Club and the association will be using the venue again for their May meeting on Thursday, May 17, which starts at 7pm.

Mike Wreford, a spokesman for the group said: 'It will be an evening of nostalgia as The Devonshire Association members are taking along items from their own personal collections, and in addition myself and my wife Hilary Wreford will be exhibiting many items from our own extensive, personal archives.

'This promises to be an interesting, informative and enjoyable evening with many hitherto unseen items of Okehampton past on display. Admission is free and everyone is welcome to come anytime during the evening.'

Mike, who is also a member of the Okehampton and district Local History Society, sent to the Times an old picture of the former site of the town's gaol.

He said: 'It is not generally known that the old Okehampton Gaol, administered by the Okehampton Corporation was situated in the Riverbank at West Bridge.

'This old photograph, taken when the gaol had been demolished, clearly shows the position and one can only imagine the cold and wet conditons in which prisioners were confined.'

A report by Government Inspectors in 1827 recorded: 'The gaol is an old building. It is in a most wretched state; it contains two rooms; the lower room is used as a store for fuel; it is desitute of all proper convieniences, and there is no yard for exercise.'

The longest period of imprisonment imposed by sentence at the Quarter Sessions was three months.

Despite this scathing report it appears that the Okehampton Corporation took no remedial action for some years!