Pictures

The Three Tuns was once a very popular pub on Barnstaple High Street and was marketed as "the oldest tavern in the oldest street in the oldest borough in Britain" - not completely true but a good strap line. The three tuns, small ornamental wooden beer barrels which hung outside the pub until it closed in about 2007, were made by carpenter William James Norman, the grandfather of John Norman of Pilton. William lived in Bradiford as a child and then moved to Yeo Vale as a young man. He worked for Radford Brothers before joining the Royal Engineers and going off to fight in World War I. Unfortunately he was killed at the Battle of the Somme in July 1916.
The tuns were recovered by John during the refurbishment of the pub as a Pizza Express Restaurant and are now on display in Barnstaple Museum.
Thanks to John Norman for the photograph and information.