100 years ago

AN inmate of Skipton Workhouse wrote to the Board of Guardians requesting a weekly wage. The woman stated that she worked hard from 7am until 8pm and if she was paid but 2s 6d a week she could put some money aside and hopefully get a position "outside" the workhouse.The board replied that it was prevented by law from recompensing inmates for their services.

The Grassington Temperance Society held its first meeting, where members resolved to "strongly oppose" an application to sell liquor at a new hotel to be erected near Grassington Bridge. There was also opposition to a licensing application for Grassington station by Sir Mathew Wilson. The society felt the village's 500 residents were more than adequately served by the four existing licensed premises. What Grassington most needed, said the members, was a large boarding and refreshment establishment with good stabling, or a temperance hotel.

The local court sent a clear warning to "loungers" by fining three Skipton youths for obstructing Belmont Bridge. Apparently, the trio - two labourers and a boatman - had refused to move, forcing several people to leave the footpath in order to pass them. The police had received many complaints about youths lounging around the bridge and decided to take action. One of the youths was fined 10 shillings and the other two five shillings each.

50 years ago

THE Stranraer to Larne ferry sank in a gale and of the 177 crew and passengers on board only 49 survived, among them Kenneth Harrison, 19, from Settle. He told the Craven Herald he was helping women out of the dining room towards lifeboats when a big wave smashed the windows and the boat quickly sank. He managed to get on to a lifeboat, but many were swept away. He was eventually rescued by the RNLI lifeboat.

Meanwhile a Skipton family was caught up in the floods on the Lincolnshire coast. Alice and Leslie Rawson lived six minutes walk from the sea at Mablethorpe, but their home was among the thousands flooded when sea defences failed. The couple found temporary refuge at the home of Mrs Rawson's mother, Mrs Rushworth, at Lindley Street, Skipton.

Skipton unveiled its plans to celebrate the Queen's Coronation. These included floodlighting Holy Trinity churchyard, hanging coloured lamps from the High Street trees and spending £100 on a firework display. All the children were to receive mugs and two ounces of sweets - no mean thing in those days of austerity.

There was only one case of drunkenness in the whole of the Settle area in the previous 12 months the local superintendent of police reported. These days the highest rank based in Settle is a sergeant, but back then a superintendent was required.

Finally the highlight of the Buckden calendar took place. The Tramps Ball was held in the Buckden Township Hall, which the Herald somewhat sniffily remarked was a pretentious name for a building measuring only 25 feet by 45 feet. Winners of the £1 prize for the tattiest, grubbiest outfit were Stanley Robinson of Heber Farm and Mrs Jack Beresford, of Oughtershaw.

25 years ago

CLAIRE Brooks made a speech at a special assembly of the Liberal Party held in Blackpool calling for the Lib-Lab pact to be scrapped. Liberal leader David Steel had entered the pact to prop up Jim Callaghan's Labour Government which had a slender majority. Mrs Brooks, who was fighting the Liberals' number one target seat, Skipton, said the pact could only damage the Liberals.

Heavy snow fall cut off every road leading to Skipton for the best part of the day. Thornton-in-Craven Parish Council praised the pupils at the local school. When it closed for the day due to the bad weather, the children spent their day off sweeping snow away from the public footpaths and to old people's doorways.

10 years ago

SKIPTON Town Council voted to move into the old town hall on Sheep Street. It also agreed to move the tourist information centre from the small kiosk in Victoria Square into the town hall as well, although some councillors warned that the cost would prove to be a worry.

Skipton Building Society purchased the former Craven College site on the Bailey. At first it would be used for car parking for staff at the newly-opened headquarters, but eventually it was likely to provide more office space for the ever-growing society.

Barnoldswick's Yorkshire Electricity shop was to close. It did not have enough customers and people were told they could pay their bills at post offices.