100 Years Ago

EVERYBODY was up in arms, said the Herald, about the nuisance caused by motor cars. It was not so much their speed but the huge clouds of dust thrown up behind them. The situation was made worse because the area was experiencing a drought, with little rain over the previous weeks. "Skipton's main roads are incessantly enveloped in asphyxiating limestone powder," said the Herald. "One's sense of Sabbath rectitude was outraged by seeing the enjoyment of the motor car occupants as they sailed on leaving choking clouds behind them and the humble pedestrian began to splutter out threats of a most uncharitable nature".

Prominent Skipton solicitor CP Charlesworth, of the Raikes, brought two small Skipton boys before the court. He complained about the annual "depredations" on his flower beds and fruit garden and said girls were just as bad as boys. He had determined to bring the next gang he captured before the court but only to make a point and he wished to withdraw charges if the court would reprimand the boys, which the magistrates duly did.

The Craven Football League annual meeting looked back on its first season. Airton and Long Preston had withdrawn from the league and were replaced by Niffany Rovers and Gargrave. Applications from teams in Earby and Bolton-by-Bowland were turned down because teams could not reach those places easily.

50 Years Ago

A REPORT revealed that Skipton Rural District Council had built 718 homes since the war. A further 102 were in the pipeline at various stages from going out to tender to nearing completion.

A separate meeting of the Skipton Rural District Council discussed the shortage of car parking and the dangers of cars parked on narrow country lanes. The council said more lay-bys was an immediate necessity as the formation of the Yorkshire Dales National Park was likely to increase traffic. An urgent meeting with the highways department was called for to discuss the matter.

A rail strike and coal strike were in their second week. The coal strike was having no significant effect on supplies, said the Herald and at Skipton Gas Works supplies were said to be adequate, although the public was requested to economise on the use of gas. There had been a substantial increase in the number of passenger trains leaving Skipton station.

After a gap of three years, Skipton Prize Band revived its practice of giving open air performances in Aireville Park. Collections raised £8 and 10 shillings for band funds.

25 Years Ago

A FREAK hailstone storm caused flooding in Rackhams on Skipton High Street and the damage was estimated at £5,000. Six more shops were flooded in Keighley Road to the depth of a foot and shopkeepers were furious, blaming the culverting of Waller Hill Beck to accommodate the development of the Co-op. It happened a year and a day after the serious floods which claimed a life in Skipton.

Banners were strung out along the road in Langcliffe and Stainforth after three children were narrowly missed by a lorry which lost control. The villagers claimed cars and lorries travelled too fast along the B6479 and wanted a 40mph speed limit imposed.

10 Years Ago

A COMPROMISE to a dispute which had set Holy Trinity Church in Skipton at loggerheads with local veterans looked likely to be resolved. The HMS Vesper Association wanted to hang a military flag in the church to show the town's association with the Royal Naval vessel but had twice been turned down on the grounds that the flag was too big and a precedent would be set. The veterans had responded by threatening an organised boycott of the church but a letter from Holy Trinity's Parochial Church Council seeking a meeting to explore "ways and means in which the banner might be hung" suggested a peaceful solution would emerge.

Horton-in-Ribblesdale School took delivery of a new toy tractor but a crash in the playground causing minor damage to the new addition meant the introduction of a "driving test". Only those who passed could ride the pedal powered tractor. The driving test was the idea of the pupils themselves, who devised an obstacle course taking in skills such as reversing and turning. Pupils took the test during lunch breaks and the biggest reason for failing was the emergency stop.

Darnbrook Farm near Malham was bought by the National Trust from the Moores family, the owners of Littlewoods Pools. The National Lottery provided £600,000 towards the £790,000 purchase price for the land which covered an area of special scientific interest.