HISTORIC Craven Herald articles written by a well-known Earby character more than 80 years ago have been brought back to life.

Earby and District Local History Society has transcribed the articles and they can now be seen on the group's website.

First published in the Herald during the 1920s and '30s they provide an insight into Earby's past.

Bob Abel, of the History Society, explained: "Just after the society started about nine years ago we started looking into local history and we discovered a number of articles in the Craven Herald."

The articles were written by John Hartley, who was born and bred in Earby, living in the town until his death in 1943.

"Newspapers are one of the primary sources for local history, added Mr Abel.

"We started delving and finding the articles and typing them up. Originally we just transcribed copies for Barnoldswick library and Earby library. Then last year John Turner suggested putting them on the website and I thought it was a brilliant idea."

Mr Abel discovered that Mr Hartley's niece lives in Barnoldswick and still has a scrapbook of his original cuttings from the Herald.

"We gleaned from the articles that he was a well known Earby character," he added.

John Hartley was born in 1875 in an old weavers cottages in Green End Road. He was the son of George and Elizabeth Hartley who had moved to Earby following the opening of Victoria Mill.

George was originally a mule spinner, but in the mid 1880s became manager of the Earby Co-operative Society. In 1895 he became a founder member of the Earby Manufacturing Co Ltd, being one of the first directors and eventually becoming chairman.

On leaving school John followed his father into the company, working his way through every department until, just before the First World War, he became managing director.

At one time he was known as the "Manchester Man", regularly setting off from Earby Railway Station to attend the city's Cotton Exchange.

He was a stalwart of the Methodist cause and was also involved in local education, being a member of the School Board and the education sub committee as well as a governor at Ermysted's Grammar School, Skipton.

Mr Abel said: "John obviously enjoyed recalling his younger days in Earby, remembering the events and the personalities.

"This led to him writing numerous articles for the Craven Herald and Pioneer.

"There were three main series of articles, 'Earby - Our Village', 'Earby Through 60 Years' and 'Earby of Long Ago' totalling many individual articles. Another contributor to the Craven Herald was Mr AH Clegg who many locals will remember as a former headmaster at New Road School."

Mr Abel added: "It will be an ongoing job to transcribe all the articles, but when complete they will be of invaluable use to local and family historians alike."

The website address is www.earbylocalhistorysociety.co. uk.

Picture by Stephen Garnett.