100 years

THE tramping fraternity who made the Skipton Union Workhouse their "temporary" home had been given the short, sharp, shock treatment. No longer could they saunter into the premises and have board and lodgings graciously provided for them with no work done in return. More rigorous methods were being adopted to show that even "gentlemen of the road" had to suffer pains and penalties and were to be given a double dose of tasks to do. However, the tramps had other ideas, with many of them showing their disapproval by running away; often by scaling the boundary wall and making off into the night. The workhouse master declared that in order to stop the tramps' little game, a proper labour ward would be provided which would confine the casuals to their quarters to devote their undivided attention to their tasks. Railings would also be erected from the tramp ward to the rural district council offices and the height of the wall would be raised.

Ingleton was gaining fame as being something of a health spa since the discovery in 1888 of its spa water at Lund Holme on the Kirkby Lonsdale road. Dr Griffiths, of Ingleton, recommended the healing qualities of the water to aid in the treatment of rheumatism, gout and torpid liver.

50 years

IT was likely to be a good fruit season in Craven, reported the Herald with housewives (and WI members) expecting to be busily engaged in jamming and preserving over the following months. The size of some of the fruit, no doubt wild as well as cultivated, reminded one reader of old-time gooseberry shows held in parts of Yorkshire. Here people would exhibit fruit of gargantuan proportions with equally impressive names such as Shiner, King of Trumps, Hue and Cry, Slaughterman, and Fuddler - the latter being most appropriate as many of the shows were held in public houses. Entrance was generally around five shillings with one shilling and sixpence usually added on for liquor money. Prizes were in the form of copper kettles, brass pans and the occasional teapot thrown in. So strict were the rules of the show that those entering were not allowed to object to having their garden inspected right up to the day of the show and had to swear solemn oaths that they were the growers. Judges too were treated with suspicion and were also forced to make declarations.

25 years

FEATHERS had been ruffled among the residents and parish council in Long Preston - the winner of the best kept village competition on two previous occasions. It was feared the village's chances of winning again in the near future could have been put in jeopardy because a horse chestnut tree on the village green had had several of its lower branches cut off by workmen working for a firm in Bingley. Parish council member Alec Beattie said he could not believe his eyes when he got off the bus from Settle and saw the men sawing the branches off.

Nowadays it is computers which are targeted by thieves, but 25 years ago it was machines of a different, yet equally important, function. In the days when sewing was part of the school curriculum (I never did finish that blouse!) Settle High School's handicraft department was the proud owner of eight electric machines. Was, that is, because thieves broke into the school and stole them along with a steam iron.

Also missing from Bradley Forge was a life-size metal figure of a blacksmith working at an anvil. It had been made by one-armed blacksmith, Walter Greaves, who lived and worked there.

10 years

CONDITIONS at Airedale General Hospital's ante-natal clinic were likened to a cattle market by visitor Molly Jones, who had the impressive title of chairman of Airedale Community Health Council's child health and expectant nursing mothers' special interest group. She commented on the unsatisfactory conditions during an inspection of the unit, when parents registering births were seated alongside parents registering deaths. There was not enough room for everyone to be seated as the waiting room was "full to busting", she said, and there was no ultrasound scanner nearby. Those requiring its services had to make a trip to another part of the hospital.

Alistair Meeson, of Firth Street, Skipton, got an additional gift for Father's Day. His son, Chris, had entered a special Father's Day competition being run by the town's Woolworths store and had won his dad a Rotary watch.

The 10th anniversary of Broughton Game Show was celebrated in style, with thousands of people flocking to the event making it a record attendance. One of the more unusual attractions was camel racing, but there was also a host of more traditional events such as falconry, gundog scurry and the amusing terrier racing.

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