100 Years Ago

SHAREHOLDERS in the Yorkshire Dales Railway received their first dividend, albeit a modest one. Chairman Walter Morrison said that traffic in minerals, merchandise and livestock using the line had all risen again but passenger traffic had fallen slightly. He said this was probably because the novelty of visiting Grassington by train had worn off for tourists.

Barnoldswick's medical officer of health reported that the town's back streets were vile and the cause of unusually high incidences of diarrhoea. The medical officer said disposing of the town's sewage was a problem, pointing out that in 1899 there were 1,360 homes in Barnoldswick. Now there were 400 more but the number of "scavengers" emptying ash pits which collected sewage had not increased. Councillors said it could be weeks before the "scavengers" got round to emptying some ash pits.

Reflecting on that week's Pancake Tuesday the Herald said that, like many festivals, it was quickly losing its old associations. Schools had had a half day but the slush and rain meant outdoor pursuits were uncomfortable.

All matches in the Craven Football League were called off because all the league's teams had been suspended because of non-payment of subscriptions to the FA. The failure to pay was put down to a misunderstanding and the ban was quickly lifted and the games went ahead. Leaders Langcliffe were beaten 2-1 at Horton, allowing Skipton United to take over at the top.

50 Years Ago

UPPER Wharfedale Fell Rescue members Leonard Huff and Gerald Needham described their rescue of a ewe from a narrow ledge on Kilnsey Crag as the most hazardous they have ever been involved in. The ewe had slipped down the crag face, landing on the ledge, where it remained for a week, its plaintiff bleating signalling a slow death. But Mr Huff and Mr Needham were lowered down the ice covered crag face. When they reached the ewe, it panicked and backed towards a sheer drop. Mr Huff just managed to grab it and held it in his arms as he was hoisted to the top.

The Grass Drying Plant at Gargrave run by the Milk Marketing Board was likely to be closed and sold off. The plant had been offered to local farmers to run and a committee had been formed but support was poor and the scheme was abandoned.

Skipton Conservative Club was in danger of folding as it continued to run up losses. Chairman Ralph Wynn said the club was used by the same old faces and he was disappointed at the support shown by local Tories.

25 Years Ago

POLICE were on hand as the battle for Skipton's setts flared up. Barclay's Bank were trying to enforce their ownership of the setts in front of the bank and their agent, Keith Schofield, turned up to instruct stall holder, Shaun Macrae to remove his goods from "their" property. Mr Macrae refused, saying the people had an ancient right under market charter to trade from the setts, whereupon Mr Schofield, assisted by his son, began to move the tools Mr Macrae was selling from a stall to the pavement. The police observed but did not intervene and when Mr Macrae sat on his boxes and refused to budge, Mr Schofield withdrew.

The conflicting claims of frontagers, who owned the setts, and stallholders was causing friction, possibly because the council was introducing a fee for using car parks in the town and the frontagers were flexing their muscles to use the setts to park their cars. North Yorkshire County Council had given fruit and veg stall holder Michael Judge notice to stop trading from in front of the library and shop owner Fred Manby declared that the frontagers owned the setts, there was a public right of way over them and the fact that a cattle market was held once a week on the setts in the early part of the century was not an unlimited right to sell anything at any time from them. The stallholders said their market rights dated back centuries but said they were willing to pay a rent "of about £1,000".

It was not the only burning issue. Craven District Council held a secret committee meeting and voted narrowly to get rid of its chief executive. Naively it tried to keep its actions secret but the Herald was tipped off and reported on the decision in full. The council claimed that it "did not want to influence a full council decision through publicity". The Herald ridiculed the council's secrecy and said councillors should expect and welcome public debate of how public money was spent. Claire Brooks was not going to be gagged - she described the decision to sack the chief executive as "absolute stupidity".

10 Years Ago

THE Ohmeda factory at Steeton was to close with the loss of 280 jobs. It produced vapourisers to deliver anaesthetic during operations.

Wharfedale Rugby Club was promoted to National Division Three, putting them among the top 40 clubs in the country. It was described as the little club's finest hour but it was not destined to be a fleeting visit. The club is still there, although the league is now called the National Division Two.