100 years ago

A QUARRYMAN living on Trees Terrace, Gargrave, had been summoned before Skipton magistrates for allowing overcrowding in his house. The man lived with his wife and 10 children between the ages of 15 and infancy. They occupied a cottage with only two bedrooms. The issue had been raised the previous September when the wife promised the sanitary inspector some arrangement would be made for the children to be boarded out. Nothing had happened, however. It was a question of air quality, reported the Herald with there being only 2115 cubic feet available when the minimum requirement was 300 cubic feet per adult. The family was served another order for the abatement of the overcrowding within 14 days.

An apology was printed from the Craven Herald itself for the considerable amount of news held over from the previous week. The cause was a lack of staff. Six were off work ill with influenza and the remaining workers were unable to set all the news that had come in. We couldn't get away with that these days!

The latest news relating to the Transvaal was of an Ingleton man, NW Greenwood, who had volunteered himself for the Gentleman's Corps, known as the Duke of Cambridge's Own. Honour was said to be due to such men who gave up a comfortable home, paid their own expenses and gave up their pay to the funds for wives, widows and children of soldiers for their country's cause. Another Ingleton man, Carl Webster, had volunteered for the Yeomanry Corps and had set sail a few days earlier.

50 years ago

PROPOSALS for siting the projected County College and secondary school were, in principle, approved by Skipton Urban District Council. The proposal was to site the college on the north side of Gargrave Road, in close proximity to Aireville Park. Meanwhile the school would be sited at the Aireville house.

A fire at the Devonshire Arms Hotel, Bolton Abbey caused damage estimated at around £150. The blaze, which originated from the dining room, was started when floorboards and joists became ignited by radiant heat. The owners at the time were Mr and Mrs L Hodgson.

It was confirmed that The Langroyd Maternity Hospital at Colne, serving Barnoldswick, Earby and other Craven townships, was to be closed. The Herald reported that additional maternity care was being offered elsewhere.

25 years ago

A VISIT from comedian Charlie Drake calmed pre-operation nerves on the children's ward at Airedale Hospital. The celebrity was invited by Radio Airedale whist performing in the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk in Bradford. Charlie also visited the orthopaedic and geriatric wards.

RAF Corporal David Cleaver, 37, of Skipton was awarded the Queen's commendation for brave conduct for his service during the fighting in Cyprus. He was on traffic duty in Limmassol when violence broke out in the town and he risked his life to direct traffic when the firing started.

Meanwhile in Settle, a school dinner war broke out due to a decision by North Yorkshire County Education Authority to replace a percentage of real meat with artificial produce. Parents criticised the plans at a general meeting. It was agreed it was "ridiculous" to import artificial meat at high prices when there was a surplus of home produced meat in the country!

10 years ago

SKIPTON Auction Mart hosted its last catalogued sheep sale at its former premises on Broughton Road. Some 4,000 animals were on offer, pending the mart's move to new premises on Gargrave Road. The vendor and buyer of the last pen of mule sheep were presented with a complimentary bottle of whiskey.

Skipton Civic Society won its battle to keep the north side of the town's Victoria Street as housing. The district council, against much opposition, had proposed allowing the row of cottages to become shops.

Arguments flared over the issue of Sunday trading in Skipton. Members of the Chamber of Trade said the town was being discriminated against compared with places already trading on Sundays, such as Settle and Grassington. It was reported that a majority of traders were in agreement to Sunday trading, making it a viable and legal proposition. Plans were made to write to the council regarding the issue.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.