125 Years Ago

SHORTLY before Christmas in 1877 a public meeting to consider the Sunday closing question was held in the Working Men's Hall. The Rev E J Brailsford moved the following resolution which was seconded by the Rev R M Begg and carried: That this meeting is of the opinion that the sale of intoxicating liquors on the Lords Day is productive of a large amount of drunkenness, irreligion, pauperism and crime among the people inasmuch as it is enacted that all other trades shall not be pursued on that day. It is both impolite and unfair that such sale should be sanctioned as at present by the laws of the realm."

Ilkley Local Board applied to the Public Works Loan for £2,500 required for the completion of the new cemetery works. An agreement of conveyance of a portion of the cemetery ground from the Sedbergh Trustees to the Local Board received the requisite seal and signature.

100 Years Ago

THE future of the Bridge Hotel and riverside gardens near the Old Bridge at Ilkley looked promising in December, 1902. Mr W H Smith, the new proprietor, who had succeeded his father, Samuel Smith, as landlord of the Wheat Sheaf Hotel at the top of Church Street, had stated that he was setting about introducing various alterations and improvements likely to give increased comfort and pleasure to patrons. The gardens were to be conducted on much the same lines as before. The monkey house, aviaries and pavilion were being rendered more inviting and an effort was being made to secure a further lease of the gala field on the Middleton side of the River Wharfe, with a view to induce other volunteer corps to undergo their annual training there and also provide special attractions at holiday times.

75 Years Ago

THE successful play, 'The Ghost Train' was to provide a considerable attraction in the Ilkley King's Hall towards the end of December, 1927. The play had concluded a long run in London where it was seen by the King and Queen, the King and Queen of Spain and the Princess Christian. The company to visit Ilkley had been specially selected and approved by the author, Arnold Ridley, and the entire effects were to be carried including the marvellous railway sensation.

SNOW laid in Wharfedale to a depth of about an inch with drifting on the moors to as much as six to eight inches in depth, causing inconvenience to local farmers. There was a sharp frost of four degrees. A few enterprising youngsters took their sledges on to the upper reaches of the hills to find good sport.

AT the monthly meeting of the Addingham and District Education Sub-Committee held in the Old School in Main Street members were told that the attendance returns were very low due in the main to an epidemic of chicken pox at the High Council School and to general sickness.

A CHRISTMAS window display in the shop of Messrs Tipping and Lee, coal merchants, Brook Street, Ilkley, was burned out through the fusing of an electric fairy light which formed part of the decorations.

OFFICIALS of the Wharfedale Music Festival decided to extend the annual event to five days because of the increasing pressure on the timetable occasioned by the ever growing number of entries.

50 Years Ago

AUTHORITIES were urged by David Hudson, a representative of the National Farmers' Union, to take more interest in the importance of agriculture and try to keep builders off the best farming land when he addressed Ilkley Rotary Club in December, 1952. Though he agreed that Ilkley was mainly built on the hillside, he said there were few builders today who wished to build on a slope.

BY mid-December Ilkley had experienced keen frosts, blizzards and rain though the snowfall had been a light one and had quickly melted away. Keen frosts had slowly given way to warmer weather and after a fortnight's hold-up rugby football and hockey teams were able to play.

TWO teachers were in the news. Miss Mary Austin, headmistress of the Ilkley Church of England Controlled School, was appointed head teacher of a new school in Oxford. At the new County Infants School (Ashlands) in Leeds Road, Ilkley, Miss L A E Howker was appointed the first head teacher.

Burley-IN-WHARFEDALE Methodists Pantomime 'Puss in Boots' starred Susan Parker as the miller's son with Lillian Shaw as his cat. Patricia Summersgill played the part of the princess. The show was written by G Carter and T West.

25 Years Ago

THE use of the footpath and land at the rear of Ilkley Bathing Pool was likely to prove the most suitable temporary site in Ilkley for skateboarding, Ilkley Parish Council was told in December, 1977. Investigations were to be carried out and the site could be in use soon, the Area Recreation Officer told councillors. Coun Mrs M Renton, Chairman of Ilkley Road Safety Committee, said the bathing pool site was only a temporary one until a permanent one could be found. A suggested site at Menston was behind Kirklands.

THE Ilkley area was to have two councillors in the Bradford Lord Mayoral team in 1978. Mrs Joan Lightband, of Ilkley, was chosen as the next Deputy Lord Mayor and Coun Kenneth Emsley, of Burley-in-Wharfedale, was to be one of the Assistant Lord Mayors.

A 120-year-old horse chestnut tree in the grounds of Ilkley Parish Church fronting on to Church Street which had been felled for safety reasons was to be replaced by another tree.

NEW records both in terms of numerical turnover and prices were once again set up by Dacre, Son and Hartley's Ilkley office.

ILKLEY Swimming Club enjoyed an excellent year and expanded its activities, said the chairman, Mr J Hunter in his annual report.