100 Years Ago

"THE projected railway line from Gisburn to Barnoldswick received a happy send off from a public meeting," reported the Herald. "Everybody knowing anything of Barnoldswick will concede the opinion of one of the speakers that Barlickians are a hard headed race. But once having grasped the fact that a scheme has 'summat in it' none are so ready as they to give it the necessary fillip." The Herald concluded that the new railway line would bring expansion and wealth to the town undreamt of 50 years previously. The report went on to say that only 15 years ago Barnoldswick had hardly a street worthy of the name and the main thoroughfare was ill-kept and obstructed by unsightly projections along the causeway. But a building boom and good governance had tidied the town up and set down paving stones.

The story of two rival fishing clubs was heard in Skipton's magistrates when a member of the Saltaire Club was charged with fishing the Aire Angling Club's waters near Cononley. He claimed he thought he was in Saltaire's waters but the bailiff said the Saltaire club had acquired just a tiny portion of rights along the river and it was some way downstream. The magistrates passed the opinion that the Saltaire Club did not appear to be a fishing club at all but a poaching club.

A social function was held in Buckden School at which John Robinson of Litton was presented with an atmospheric barometer by grateful residents in appreciation of his work as councillor for the rural district council. Dancing continued until midnight, when there was a rousing rendition of the national anthem to close the evening.

50 Years Ago

A SURVEY of public footpaths was being carried out and Embsay Parish Council was keen to see the path from the Cavendish Arms to the Rock and a path over the top of Crookrise Woods included. British Rail had objected to the former and the parish council asked for evidence from people who had used the footpaths in the past.

Cross Hills Co-operative Society was refused permission to build a shop on the new Beanlands Housing estate at Glusburn. The council felt that it was close enough to the main shopping centre of Glusburn, where the Co-op already had a store.

About 320 children attended Skipton Working Men's Club's annual children's day. They received gifts of lemonade, ice cream, chocolate and a small amount of money. Races were held.

Oughtershaw School was to get a water supply for the first time. Skipton Rural District Council agreed to extend a one inch water pipe by about 200 feet to a point nearer the school. The pupils had previously to rely upon a nearby beck for water.

Nine years after the war ended, rationing was finally over as meat was available without coupons for the first time since before the war. Housewives' ability to buy whatever they wanted and in whatever quantity caused a rise in prices by about one shilling a pound in Skipton district but local butchers suggested that prices and availability would quickly stabilise. The end of rationing brought intense activity at the local auction marts.

A man who established a caravan building business in Gargrave and his wife were killed when their light aircraft crashed in France. Jack Rice started his business in Church Lane in premises which had been vacated by the Goffa Tyre Company. Eventually he outgrew them and in 1938 moved the manufacturing business to Leicestershire.

25 Years Ago

THE first Broughton Game Show attracted 7,500 visitors (the 25th attracted 10,000) including television cameras from around the world to capture the main event - ferret racing. The winner was Andrew Dobson, from Draughton. Other competitions included the 'world' cream cracker eating championships, won by Brett Young from Earby, who managed 11 in three minutes.

Two Leeds men appeared in court for an unusual case - they were charged with killing and cooking a peacock. The two had been staying at Helwith Bridge on a camp site owned by John Jackson, who also owned the unfortunate peacock. The police were called in by fellow campers, and the remains of the peacock were found in a fire but the men were cleared as they could not be linked to the death and cooking of the bird.

10 Years Ago

A councillor branded Skipton Girls High School "an eyesore". He was objecting to an extension of the school gymnasium. But Coun Malcolm Riley, an architect, said the constant extensions had made the school a real patchwork of styles with bits added on here and there. The council wanted a meeting with North Yorkshire County Council to try to ensure the school did not spoil the conservation area it was situated in.

Rudi Heinrich returned to Skipton almost 50 years after he had been incarcerated in the town as a prisoner of war. He also revisited Doublestones Farm, near Silsden, where he had been put to work for the Fothergill family.