100 years ago

A NEW purpose-built cattle mart was being considered to replace the open air cattle market held in the streets of the town. Residents and businessmen had long complained about the filth on the streets and their complaints were backed up by new sanitary regulations introduced by the Government. The new law stated that cattle markets could only be held on surfaces that were easily washed down.

Settle Rural District Council was considering building an infectious diseases hospital. The necessity for an isolated hospital as opposed to treating patients in the workhouse was becoming increasingly apparent.

Rumours that a railway company planned to pull down Kilnsey Crag in order to extend the line to Kettlewell were dismissed at a public meeting to discuss the contentious plans. A proposed level crossing at Threshfield also attracted objections.

A fete was held near the stepping stones at Bolton Abbey to raise money for church restoration - particularly for the provision of an organ motor and urgent repairs to the organ. The two day bazaar was opened by the Duchess of Devonshire.

50 years ago

Skipton children had been expecting to start at the new Greatwood Primary School this week but on arrival found workmen still in the building. The opening was delayed for another week, giving the delighted youngsters an extended holiday.

Residents of a lonely hamlet of Beckermonds, in Langstrothdale, near Buckden were hoping to be linked up to the outside world. It was hoped that the first radio-telephone line in the country may be installed there. It was thought some sort of telephone communications was necessary in case of an emergency.

Work on an extension for a new auction mart at Skipton was delayed due to a shortage of cement and a delay in the delivery of metal work. The work was expected to be finished in the coming year.

The Steeton home of the mill-owner Sir Donald Horsfall, Currergate, was put on the market.

25 years ago

Visitors to Malham were encouraged to keep the Dales litter-free in a Tidy Tourist competition. Holiday-makers who collected a carrier bag of litter while walking were in line for a £25 prize.

Vandalism in Steeton and Eastburn was fast becoming a serious problem. Elderly people were afraid to go to one area of the village for fear of the youths.

The Herald asked Bradley residents if their village had spread as far as it could go. It stated that few places in Craven had grown so startlingly since the war - in the past 30 years its population and the number of homes had doubled.

Low Bentham's gala had to be cancelled due to bad weather and was held the following day instead.

Fred Trueman came out of retirement for an Earby v Peter Parfitt All Stars XI cricket match to mark the opening of Earby Crickt Club's extension at their Applegarth ground. Fiery Fred bowled with "considerable pace" but his four overs cost 25 runs for no wicket. He did score 14 with the bat, though, in a team which also included Test cricketers Farokh Engineer and Peter Lever and Burnley and Wales soccer star Brian Flynn.

10 years ago

Demolition work started on one of Skipton's historic landmarks, the 200 feet high chimney at Dewhurst's Mill on Broughton Road. The chimney had dominated the sky line for over 100 years but had to be pulled down for safety reasons. It was one of two chimneys remaining in the town out of the original eight built for the textile industry in the nineteenth-century.

Raikeswood Hospital site was back up for grabs after property developers pulled out of the sale. Airedale Trust said it was hoping to maximise the income from the sale and commit the money to investing in improved facilities at Skipton General Hospital. The trust also announced that elderly and mental health services at Castleberg Hospital in Settle were to cease. It planned to either close and sell off the building, or use it for community services.

Cross Hills and District women's section celebrated 50 years of helping war veterans and their families.