100 years ago

A WOMAN accused of murdering her own child at Starbotton appeared again before the magistrates in Skipton Old Town Hall, on Sheep Street. Crowds gathered between the police station and the court hoping to catch a glimpse of her as she was brought in custody to the court. It was alleged that the woman had killed her illegitimate child. The baby had been left in the care of her brother and sister-in-law who later asked the woman to bring the girl up herself when she moved to Starbotton and married. The mother had collected the child from her brother's house and had been seen off at Ripley station - but no more was seen of the child until remains of an infant were found in a tin box by workmen 14 years later. The brother of the prisoner's husband gave evidence that he had never seen a child at the accused's home. The court remanded the woman in custody for a further week at Armley Jail.

Trouble at football matches is far from a modern problem. Craven FA met to discuss the referee's report into a disturbance at the end of the Settle v Skipton United match. No details were given, but the Settle club's attention was drawn to rule 31 of the West Yorkshire FA which stated "every club is responsible for the actions of its players, officials and spectators. Clubs are further required to take all precautions necessary to prevent spectators threatening or assaulting officials or players during and after a match."

The work of laying pipes for Grassington's new sewage works took place on Hebden Road. The Herald noted: "Between 30 and 40 men are engaged, mostly of the rougher element. The begging and loafing fraternity have made their presence felt and are making themselves a nuisance." The labourers were also having trouble finding lodgings in Grassington as the town had not had a model lodging house for some years.

50 years ago

SKIPTON'S Moorview Baths had attracted a record number of visitors during the summer, the manager's report revealed. During the season 34,130 people had attended the baths - 5,106 more than the previous year. The indoor and outdoor baths had been in use for almost 50 years and were run by Skipton Urban District Council.

Linton Camp School, near Grassington, was offered for sale to the Bradford Education Committee. The Ministry of Education was selling off a number of camps, which had been built between 1930 and 1940 as evacuation centres for children. After the war Linton Camp was used to house youngsters who would benefit from the "invigorating air of Wharfedale" and latterly it catered for a small number of "semi-delicate and a few maladjusted children".

25 years ago

CONCERNS were already being raised about the decline of rural services. Craven villages had taken part in a survey, which revealed that post offices, village halls, churches/chapels, primary schools, general stores, garages and pubs were still present in 60 to 80 per cent of parishes. However, primary schools, churches, policemen and Sunday Schools were said to be on the decline, while at the top of the "at risk" list were village stores, post offices and milk rounds.

Sixty anti-nuclear bomb protestors from Craven travelled to a mass march in London. Members of the Craven and Barnoldswick branches of CND joined 50,000 protestors taking part in the march.

Barnoldswick man Tommy Isherwood was elected president of Barnoldswick Brass Band - despite never having played a note. For years Mr Isherwood had been a loyal supporter of the band and his hard work was honoured at the annual meeting.

Craven was hit by the worst floods in many years leaving villages cut off, roads closed and thousands of acres of farmland under water. More than 48 hours of rain had turned hill streams into torrents, flowing into already swollen rivers.

10 years ago

YEARS later it was a different story as an ongoing drought forced the closure of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. British Waterways said the lack of any significant rainfall had left it with no option but to close the locks. Meanwhile Yorkshire Water said the water situation in general was "critical" and urged residents to conserve supplies where they could.

The mobile phone revolution had begun. Bob Turner, landlord of the White Lion at Kildwick, declared part of his pub a mobile free zone after the trilling and beeping of phones sparked complaints from regulars. Anyone caught chatting on their mobile would be ordered to buy everyone in the tap room a drink.