Before 1911 street lighting in Braunton consisted of paraffin lamps in the care of Matthew Butson who took on his rounds a three wheeled cart which carried his cans of paraffin, map chimneys, wicks and cleaning materials, with his pointed ladder riding on the top. Matthew was made redundant in 1912. His cart can still be seen at Braunton Museum

7.10.1897              3F           Braunton Parish Council    Parish Council                      Braunton Parish Council held a meeting in the parish rooms on Thursday evening last. Mr J. Yeo was in the chair, there being also present: Messrs. Huxtable, Howard, Perriman, Slee, Ashton, Pim, Jarman, Lamprey, Smith, Lane and Clarke. The minutes of the last meeting were read, after which tenders were read offering to light the village lamps from Messrs. Ronnells, Symons, Knott, Butson, and Pedlar. Mr Butson’s tender (10s per week) was accepted.   (from the North Devon Journal)