100 Years Ago

CHRIST Church in Skipton reopened after being closed for four months for a refurbishment costing £1,700. A subdued tint had replaced the somewhat cold and austere appearance of the stonework but the biggest change was the removal of the old, plain, wooden pulpit and its replacement by a beautiful Aberdeen alabaster or marble erection. In the chancel bare stone walls had been replaced by light oak panels. The Bishop of Ripon performed a dedication ceremony

Another dedication ceremony, this one conducted by the Bishop of Richmond was taking place at St Alkelda's, Giggleswick where three sisters, Misses Mary, Ellen and Ann Hartley, had paid for a window in memory of their late brother, John, of Clapham. The unique window "will probably be regarded as one of the noted windows in the Church of England".

It seems as though teenagers in Edwardian Skipton, like their modern counterparts, had their own meeting place to congregate. That place was the police court, where they met to talk and listen to cases on a Saturday morning. But, without warning, magistrates instructed all young girls to leave the court. The Herald noted that "precocious youngsters" had acquired a taste for "moral garbage". The Herald said that while courts could not meet in camera and the magistrates had no power to exclude the general public, they did have the power to stop the attendance of youngsters and said the exclusion should apply to all minors, not just girls.

The chauffeur of General Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, did not appear before Settle magistrates when he was called to answer a charge of speeding. The case referred to the General's motor car tour of the country, which included Settle. He was said to have entered narrow Kirkgate at 10 to 12 mph, forcing a Mrs Fewkes to leap against a wall or be crushed under the car's wheels. Two policemen gave evidence and the chauffeur, who did not appear, was fined £4 with 11 shillings costs.

50 Years Ago

THE Skipton Castle estate was sold but the new owners were not being disclosed. The estate, which as well as the castle included 6,000 acres, 20 farms, three stone quarries and 500 acres of woodland, had been sold to meet death duties on the estate of Lord Hothfield.

As West Craven's drought continued, Earby residents were urged to step back in time and both their clothes and themselves in Earby Beck - although they were warned the water was unfit to drink. Water was being diverted from a private supply to Banks Farm and Spring Mill, providing 3,000 gallons a day but the fire service warned that it was too expensive to pump water from Thornton Beck.

A proposal to establish a garage and petrol filling station at Threshfield was opposed by 104 signatures on a petition. Objectors claimed there was sufficient provision for such services in the upper Wharfedale area already.

25 Years Ago

THE Devonshire Arms Hotel at Bolton Abbey was to close for more than a year for major alterations. The lease had expired and it was being taken over by the Bolton Abbey estate. Rennich Hodgson, whose family had held the lease for 41 years was retiring. While from the front, there would be no changes to the exterior, a new extension was to be built taking the number of bedrooms up from 12 to 42. Both bars were being redecorated and furnished, the hotel was to be completely rewired and plumbed.

Sutton Clough needed serious tree pruning and 49 trees should be cut down, said a Forestry Commission report, otherwise its lifespan was no more than 40 years. Tightly packed trees were preventing others from growing and slowly smothering other vegetation. But the plan was opposed by residents living nearby who wanted a full inquiry before any work was carried out.

Bolton Abbey Priory Church launched a £300,000 restoration appeal with a special service in the church. The target was reduced by £200 after a special collection.

A bypass for Thornton-in-Craven was put back on North Yorkshire County Council highways list of works. However it was a lowly joint 32nd in a list of priorities for the county, with work to Grassington Bridge the highest Craven priority.

10 Years Ago

AFTER letting locals know the time for almost 70 years, Kettlewell's clock had finally given up the ghost. Presented to the village by Frances Hodgson in memory of her husband in 1927, villagers said they were lost without the timepiece. The parish council launched an appeal to raise £1,866 to repair and service the clock.

Clapham milkman and horse lover Tommy Coultherd stepped in to rescue appropriately named racehorse Gold Top which injured its leg in an accident while training at Ulverston. The son of 1980 Derby winner Henbit, Gold Top faced being put down until Tommy offered to home the horse and Settle vet Mike Davies carried out an operation on its leg without charge. Mr Davies said it was too early to say if the operation would be a success, but the horse was much more comfortable.

Airedale consultant Archie MacAdam retired. He had been at the hospital since it opened in 1970 and had been a prime mover behind the formation of the Airedale Cancer Support Group.