100 years ago

A NEW building in Settle to house a market, news room, public library and savings bank was approaching completion, and parts of it had already opened to the public. The principal room had been used to hold Messrs Smith and Doliers' lectures on education.

Police in possession of a telescope and opera glasses nailed an illegal bookmaker they had been hunting for some time. The officers had staked out the gambling tycoon by hiding in the Primitive Methodist Chapel and observing him handling bits of paper. The defence counsel said it was the first time he had heard evidence gathered by viewing through a telescope and questioned the accuracy of what had been observed.

There was considerable despondency in Barnoldswick over what appeared to be a serious decline in the cotton trade. The extended stoppage of spinners at Whitsuntide added to their fears. It was likely that short-time would have to be introduced as salesmen had been unable to find a market for the goods.

Silsden shopkeepers were urged to stop selling a kind of spice known as 'chewing gum' to children. A boy and girl had become very ill at school after eating the 'unwholesome' sweets.

50 years ago

THERE was little room for anything else in the Herald this week as it celebrated the Queen's Coronation with a special supplement dedicated to the event, picturing photographs of the youthful Queen Elizabeth, her husband the Duke of Edinburgh and their two young children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne. Eight pages were devoted to the celebrations, and all across the district families had acquired their first television sets especially to watch the occasion.

A 70-year-old man who married his 60-year- old bride stood by wedding tradition and asked her father for her hand. Fortunately the 83 year old father said yes! Mr Smith Lund and Mrs Emily Alderson, both from Barnoldswick, were workers for the town's Bethesda Baptist Church.

Over 25,000 books had been borrowed from the Skipton Public Library Book Club that year, ensuring the continuing success of the venture.

25 years ago

PRINCE Charles paid a flying visit to Grassington to open the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue group's new headquarters. He also visited Grassington Primary School, which the children had decorated with red, white and blue streamers and paintings. The Prince remarked that it seemed a prerequisite for potholers to have beards and he said he wished he still had one himself.

There was a bomb scare in Gargrave when what was thought to be an unexploded mortar bomb was discovered in a field at Ray Bridge Farm. A bomb disposal expert from Catterick was called in and the bomb was found to be a dud filled with concrete. It was thought to have been left over from territorial army training.

Craven's weather soared with temperatures reaching 79 degrees Fahrenheit in Bradley, leaving the sun-spots of the Mediterranean in the shade. The Bank Holiday crowds flocked to the Dales to enjoy the rare sunshine.

Plans to build a new bypass around Horton-in-Ribblesdale met with a mixed reaction from residents. The village was being covered with dust from the 30-ton lorries thundering through it from the nearby quarry. People feared that the planned bypass would never come to fruition and would prefer to see immediate traffic calming measures instead.

10 years ago

A TW0-YEAR-OLD toddler from Skipton was scarred for life after he was savagely attacked by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The dog savaged the little boy's legs and lower back in the attack.

Postman Pat officially launched a new post bus service for the Dales. The children's favourite met youngsters from Kirkby Malham primary school at the launch of the service, which enabled residents to hop on a bus driven by the postmaster while on his route.

Well known performers Kenny Ball and Prunella Scales, along with poets Wendy Cope and Fleur Adock were among the line-up for Grassington Festival as tickets went on sale for the popular event.

An eight-month-old baby girl from Steeton was to join a 127 mile sponsored walk along the Leeds-Liverpool canal to raise funds for cancer care. She was to take part in the charity event with her mother and grandmother, Linda Shearing, who was a nurse at Airedale Hospital.