100 Years Ago

THERE was a shocking tragedy at Eastby where a mother "acting during a fit of insanity brought on by weakness and depression" drowned her four month old baby in the wash tub then drank ammonia to kill herself. The mother had been in "feeble health" since the birth of the child, the youngest of five, but in recent days had improved. The tragedy was discovered when she entered a neighbour's house in great pain, foaming at the mouth and smelling strongly of ammonia. The neighbours went to check on the children when they found the baby quite dead in the tub. Dr R Fisher raced up on his cycle but could do little to help. The mother was taken to hospital in Skipton where she died the next day. An inquest recorded a verdict of manslaughter and suicide.

Craven's Football League was founded at a meeting at the Black Horse, Hellifield. "The spread of the game of association football has been somewhat abnormal in late years in the Craven district and there are now few villages that cannot boast its 'soccer' enthusiasts," said the Herald. Clubs had been circulated at the end of the season to see about forming a Craven league and due to the interest the meeting was called at the Black Horse. Ten clubs were founder members: Skipton, Skipton Christ Church, Hellifield, Long Preston, Giggleswick, Settle, Langcliffe, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Threshfield and Grassington.

50 Years Ago

SKIPTON was featuring on television and radio. In the popular BBC TV show 'The Name's The Same' Mr A Waterfall, of the Sheep Street bookshop, appeared. His favourite pastime of potholing had a close association with waterfalls and he almost beat the panel before Dennis Norden rumbled his name. Meanwhile on radio 'Going Your Way', which sounds like a forerunner of the 'Down Your Way' programme hosted by Brian Johnstone, Skipton was the first of 16 market towns to be featured. Town librarian David Ettey, of Devonshire Street, Skipton, told the presenter that he got the extra 'e' in his name because his dad had a "gill or two" when he went to see the registrar as his brothers had only one 'e' in their surname. Finally the Gardener's Question Time show recorded at Embsay Horticultural Society's meeting was broadcast.

At an auction in Kettlewell institute Cam Pasture, a meadow called Broad Roods with a stone barn and fishing rights along the river Wharfe was withdrawn when the bidding had reached £1,175. But a Mr C Jacques acquired Causeway Croft, again with fishing rights, for just £200. The fishing rights must now be worth a small fortune.

25 Years Ago

CROSS Hills woman Audrey Doyle dashed home from her job at Airedale Hospital and stayed in a hole in the ground all day. Mrs Doyle was unhappy that an electric light was being installed outside her house because she already had a lampost on three sides. She got in a hole dug by the YEB workmen and refused to budge all day. Her protest had some effect as the next day Craven Council instructed the YEB to disconnect the light and said they were to discuss re-siting it elsewhere with the parish council.

In Settle safety barriers were put up on Castleberg, the cliff overhanging the town, while loose stones and a tree were removed from the rock face. The work had been recommended by the Cave Rescue Organisation who said stones were in danger of tumbling on to the town.

For the first time a woman became the mayor of Skipton. Judith Hollings, who ran the Westfield guest house on Keighley Road, was sworn in as mayor - and her deputy was Katherine Farey, the last chairman of the old Skipton Urban District Council.

A grade one listed building believed to be the oldest house in upper Wharfedale was withdrawn from auction. Bidding for The Old Hall at Grassington, dating from the 15th century and set in two acres of grounds, started at £40,000 but did not get above £51,000. It was subsequently sold for an enhanced price to an undisclosed buyer.

10 Years Ago

THE head teacher of Aireville School expressed his dismay at a lenient sentence on parents of a 13-year-old truant who had attended school less than one day in four in the previous year. Magistrates could have fined the parents £1,000 but instead imposed a £50 fine. Head David Croll said courts had to take the issue seriously and urged them to get tougher.

The council agreed to chop down trees on the Spindle Mill dam site in Skipton to allow new houses to be built, despite a 321 signature petition calling for the trees to be spared.

A short service to commemorate the 50th anniversary of D-Day was held in Skipton and Settle. Grassington Peace Group criticised the Government's services, saying the money would have been better spent on humanitarian causes rather than celebrating a military victory.