100 years ago

The National Federation of Meat Traders Association was taking up an issue which needed to be carefully considered by Craven farmers. It was putting in force a resolution carried at the annual conference for the boycotting of English farmers who refused to give warranties that the animals they offered for sale were free from disease.

The Railway Inn, at Cononley, was sold by auction at the Victoria Hotel, Keighley. The price realised was £495, from Fred Anderton, of Skipton. Licensed property in Cononley had apparently increased in value following the closure in the previous December of the Bay Horse and Crown Inn.

The conduct of certain youths was reported by the Barnoldswick Recreation Ground keeper, who urged the council to take action. When spoken to by the keeper, the youths had used most abusive and obscene language. Councillors decided measures would have to be taken unless there was an improvement in the conduct of certain youths who frequented the playground.

50 years ago

Addingham was the worst-lit village in Craven, said resident Mr CF Wall. He wrote to the parish council, saying: "As a lifelong resident I would like to know how long the blackout is to continue in the village as the war finished in 1945." He said it was seven years since he had first brought up the matter of lighting on the trunk road, but residents were still having to put up with hit and miss lighting.

War broke out between two ice cream vendors. One - allegedly the victim of verbal abuse - hit his rival, saying the provocation was sufficient justification for his action.

The Skipton district was to be involved in a road safety experiment which was the first of its kind in Yorkshire. On all dangerous parts of the road from the Leeds boundary to Otley, Ilkley, Skipton and Settle, double white lines were to be painted to indicate danger.

25 years ago

Animal rights protesters forced the Duke of Devonshire to abandon his first grouse shoot of the season on Barden Fell. The famous 12th was far from glorious for the eight-gun shooting party, as the 100 or so protesters laid down in front of their vehicles and let down their tyres. The police were called to halt any "unpleasantness", but no arrests were made.

Barnoldswick town centre was allowed to fall into a disgraceful condition during the local holidays, the Neighbourhood Council was told. Malcolm Sterratt said rubbish was left blowing around throughout the first week of the holiday and rubbish bins were overflowing. The council decided to write to Pendle Borough Council to ask for the situation to be reviewed.

Engineers expected to be able to fill the giant new Grimwith Reservoir later in the month. Contractors were putting the finishing touches to the 45-metre-high earth damn, which would increase the storage capacity of the old reservoir by seven times, making it the largest area of reservoir in Yorkshire. Work started on the £24 million project in 1976.

10 years ago

When a sunflower competition had to be postponed due to lack of sun, it was clear Craven had been missing out on its share of summer weather. While figures showed the world had just had the hottest July in history, Craven had been hidden under almost continuous cloud and rain.

Cowling looked like it would get a new village hall following a meeting to discuss the future of the existing premises. Thousands of pounds needed to be spent on bringing the hall up to European standards and villagers had come out in favour of building a new one.

Residents battling against speeding motorbikes zooming through their village scored a victory over an offensive advert. Selside man Robin Goodman spotted the advert for the Yamaha Fazer motorbike in BBC's Top Gear Magazine and wrote to the Advertising Standards Authority in disgust. The double page ad called the bike an "urban terrorist" and "new breed of street fighter". The Authority upheld Mr Goodman's complaint.