100 years ago

Skipton was becoming more popular as a tourist resort, with an unusually large number of visitors on Whit Monday and Tuesday. Old Skiptonians said they did not remember the town being so thronged with holidaymakers. Hotels and refreshment houses did a brisk trade while Skipton Woods was popular with picnic parties. Buckden - described as the "most charming of health resorts" - was also proving popular. A correspondent remarked how curious it was to see so many cars so far up the dale, although the writer could not understand anyone who preferred the "rumbling, roaring motor car to the music of the coach, the ringing hooves of horses, the merry, jingling gear and the crack of the whip".

Skipton Cricket Club held a complimentary dinner at the Ship Hotel to celebrate the safe return of its member, Captain Dewhurst from the South African war. It was also revealed the Captain had paid off the club's overdraft of some £130. "We understand that the gift is intended as a form of thank you offering by the donor for his safe return from the perils of the South African Campaign," said the Herald.

Cruelty to a lion wasn't among the most frequent charges to come before the local court - but that was indeed the charge facing a lion tamer who had appeared in Skipton with a travelling menagerie. During the show, the defendant was said to have struck a lion 16 times after it refused to perform. He was fined 40 shillings.

50 years ago

Seventeen-year-old Skipton hairdresser Betty Phillip was chosen as the town's new gala queen. Dorothy Bateman, 18, was chosen as the deputy queen while Sylvia Wood and Jean Cooper would make up the retinue.

In sport, a new pavilion was officially opened at Steeton Cricket Club - 47 years to the day since the original pavilion was opened. Doing the honours was the wife of Captain Sam Clough, described as one of the keenest cricket enthusiasts in Craven.

Two Barnoldswick butchers were fined for over- supplying a mill canteen in the town with meat, and over-charging for dripping. Excess meat had been supplied over a 16-week period and was valued at £26 1s 10d in total. The mill itself was also fined, as was the canteen manager for aiding and abetting. The prosecutor, from the Ministry of Food, said due to the scarcity of meat it was necessary that a proper control was kept over canteens.

25 years ago

A FLAGPOLE which had been stolen from White Scar Caves near Ingleton was discovered at the top of Ingleborough. The 40-feet-high aluminium flagpole, which flew the union jack, had been the subject of a planning inquiry after the Yorkshire Dales National Park said it was an "undesirable intrusion" on the landscape. It was recovered following an anonymous phone call.

Hundreds of young school leavers faced an uncertain future due to a shortage of jobs. According to the Skipton Careers Office most young people were extremely worried and staff were appealing to employers to try to make more jobs available. There was a particular shortage in engineering, building, office work, motor engineering, shop work and farming.

10 years ago

Craven shoppers were being asked to support a campaign for changes in the law to allow more freedom to shop on Sundays. People were being asked to sign a petition at Great Mills, organised by the Shopping Hours Reform Council.

A group of 14 German cyclists enjoyed a well earned rest in Skipton after pedalling 1,000 miles from its twin town of Simbach. Their mammoth trek was described as one of the most outstanding efforts ever mounted in the cause of town twinning. The cyclists were accompanied by their wives, who sensibly travelled by car, and the visitors were treated to a civic reception.

Hundreds of people gathered to watch a special steam train glide into Settle Station to mark the launch of a £4.5 million appeal by The Settle-Carlisle Railway Trust for restoration work.