100 Years Ago

CHRIST Church in Skipton attempted to bring about more sympathetic relations with the working class by holding a meeting to discuss the poor and the church. The vicar of Gargrave led the event and the clergy of the parish left the pulpit to hear the grievances of the town's lower classes. The Herald noted that socialists revelled in the opportunity to air their grievances and declaim against the wickedness of those whose worldly possessions were enough to make equal distribution desirable.

The Skipton Workhouse guardians decided that tooth brushes should be provided for children and that one girl should be sent to the dentist. However, it was discovered that the workhouse had no arrangements with local dentists and it was put on the agenda for the next meeting.

Meanwhile the guardians of the Settle Workhouse sued a Helwith Bridge carter called Marklew for failing to contribute towards supporting his aged parents. The workhouse was providing seven shillings a week for the 75 and 63-year-old parents. Ingleton magistrates ordered the carter to pay one shilling a week from his £1 and one shilling wages to his parents but he replied that he paid three shillings a week in rent and had a wife and three children to support and could not afford it.

Sutton United AFC's annual meeting at Cross Hills Liberal Club agreed that its switch from rugby to association football had been beneficial even though extra expenses had been incurred. The club had started the year with 25 shillings in the bank and ended it with a few shillings more.

There was an explosion in the town hall shop of Settle tinner L Jackson. He had been working late one evening with a blow torch and had put it down to answer a knock at the door when it blew up. He was considered very fortunate for, had the explosion occurred when in his hand he would surely have suffered grievous injuries.

50 Years Ago

MALHAMDALE farmer Robert Foster, chairman of the Skipton branch of the National Farmers' Union said the outbreak of myxomatosis in the area would not mean no rabbits in future. He said the disease had struck his farm two months previously and very soon afterwards no rabbits were spotted. But the burrows had been re-colonised very quickly by immigrants. While he had done nothing to spread the disease, he said the rabbit was nothing but a pest.

Earby Secondary Modern School would remain open for at least five years while Barnoldswick Secondary Modern was expanded. West Riding County Council had plans to transfer the education of all 11-15-year-olds to Barnoldswick eventually.

It was the scouts Bob-A-Job week, in which scouts carried out tasks in return for a donation to funds. The scouts would have an official form, to prevent unscrupulous imposters.

25 Years Ago

A 500 gallon oil tank caught fire in Long Preston, to the alarm of locals. The blaze was spotted by an off duty police officer, who raised the alarm and tried, unsuccessfully, with the help of locals to put it out. The fire brigade eventually pumped fuel out of the tank at considerable risk of it exploding.

Skipton Town Council was fighting to preserve the council chamber in Skipton Town Hall. It contained furniture by Robert Thompson, the famous "Mouse Man of Kilburn", which had cost £6,000. The town council was unhappy at work by contractors called in by Craven District Council, who had left cuts and ink marks over the furniture. The council wanted a preservation order placing on the chamber, which had been used by the old Urban District Council.

Armoride, of Earby, told Skipton MP John Watson that in 1977 South Korea did not sell pvc to the UK. Three years later it had 15 per cent of the market and this was because it was heavily subsidised by the South Korean government to unfairly undercut UK firms. Mr Watson agreed to take up the matter with the Department of Trade.

10 Years Ago

A CANDIDATE in elections to Craven District Council had a message for the electorate - Don't vote for me. An unforeseen work commitment meant Independent candidate Richard Braham no longer wished to be considered for the Ribbleside ward and he wanted to give the only other candidate, Liberal Democrat William Bradley a free run. But under election rules returning officer Colin Iveson had no alternative but to continue with a ballot. Mr Braham issued his plea for would-be supporters to vote for Mr Bradley instead.

Developers Victor Homes unveiled their plans for converting the former Skipton Workhouse into a housing development. Prices would range from £50,000 up to £200,000 but the company declined requests to call the site something recognising its past, perhaps Raikeswood Court. Instead they were to call it Gainsborough Court, although connections with the Lincolnshire town were not apparent.