100 years ago

TALKS were going on in West Craven into the possible opening of a butter factory at Marton, on the Gledstone estate. The idea came about because of the large amount of imported butter coming into the country from all over the world - around £17,000,000 worth each year, a huge sum a century ago. RF Roundell presided at a specially called meeting and said even his family bought imported butter because he could not get any English butter he could eat. Local home-made butter was of a far more inferior quality than that from abroad! A factory scheme run by a co-operative was suggested and would buy the farmers' milk at a set rate. The skimmed milk would be sold back for calf rearing.

Settle's Board of Governors was musing over complaints of a pig nuisance in the town. An abatement notice had been issued to a resident, who announced it was ridiculous as he had no pigs. In fact he said his pigsty had been whitewashed and was as clean as any house in Settle! However, the sanitary inspector claimed there were pigs there and said he had received several complaints. More investigations were to ensue.

Such was the enthusiasm for keeping allotments in Skipton that when applications were sought by the urban council for a third field to be turned into 32 allotments off Brook Street, 28 people responded almost immediately.

50 years ago

A RAIL accident near Stainforth caused trains from Leeds to Scotland to be diverted along the Ingleton and Tebay branch line. A goods train with 20 wagons and a guard's van had become partly derailed near Helwith Bridge granite quarry. Guard Leslie Duerden, of Hellifield, had applied the brakes but by the time the train had got to Stainforth siding, three wagons had broken loose. One crashed into a signal box, another demolished a platelayers cabin and the third plunged down a 30 foot embankment. No-one was hurt in the accident, though the crew, including driver James Thistlethwaite and fireman George Whelan, both of Hellifield, were shaken. Two miles of line were badly damaged in the incident, but trains were running again normally within 48 hours.

A massive barn fire at Swinden Hall, Hellifield, saw 175 bales of hay going up in smoke. Fire crews from Settle and Skipton stopped the blaze from spreading to adjacent stables and shippons which contained livestock at the time.

After months of drought conditions the first boat for several weeks was able to pass through Gargrave along the Leeds to Liverpool canal. Although heavy rain had filled up the lower reaches, Marton Pool was still considerably below the normal level.

25 years ago

A "DESPONDENT" Skipton Charities Gala Committee met to decide whether to go ahead with the following year's gala. There were fears of a financial crisis, particularly as the 1974 gala was plagued by torrential rain. But the treasurer said the situation wasn't as bad as was first thought and it was therefore decided to go ahead with the 1975 event. President James Dawson said if every trader and stallholder in Skipton gave 50p towards the gala, it would secure its future for years to come.

Dog fouling was causing concern in Bradley, with a villager complaining to the parish council that dog owners had no respect for other pedestrians. Members felt only the dog owners themselves could assist in making the streets cleaner, although it was pointed out that it would be difficult to take further action when herds of cows were passing through the village daily.

The winner of the Skipton Division Conservative Association's "knit-in" managed to knit a 20.5 inch long strip in an hour at the final at Skipton Town Hall. Seventeen branches were represented in the final, organised by the Skipton Constituency Women's Conservative Association. Mrs M Summerscales, of Cross Hills, was the winner and Mrs Carr, of Cracoe, came second with a length of 20 inches.

Keighley Vocal Union, one of Yorkshire's finest mixed choirs gave a charity concert at Skipton Town Hall, in aid of the Friends of Airedale Hospital. Conductor Jack Smith set the tone of the evening by his vigour and enthusiasm, stated the report.

10 years ago

A BIRTH in the family is always something to celebrate, but when the baby was the fifth generation it was certainly time for a party for a Skipton family. The family all lived on Skipton's Greatwood Estate and had been in the town for nearly the lifetime of great-great grandfather James Howard, 89. Baby Chantel Louise Cheetham was the newest member of the family.

Cowling Cubs took the motto "Do a good deed everyday" to heart and raised £194 for Airedale Hospital's Paediatric Trust Fund. The Methodist Church Hall cubs raised the money by doing a sponsored swim at the village's recently-opened Ned Nook Centre swimming pool.

Pupils at Barnoldswick's Rainhall Road School celebrated Hallowe'en in style with a party and a fancy dress competition. The Wendy House was turned into Dracula's Castle for the evening and a ghoulishly good time was had by all. More than £400 was raised for school funds.

Skipton's Cock and Bottle pub presented Embsay Football Club with a new strip. The resplendent team then took to the field after the presentation and won 2-0. The royal blue strip was handed over by Beryl Bellas, the Cock and Bottle's landlady. It was the first time the pub had sponsored a team in such a way.

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