100 years ago

EARBY Manufacturing Co Ltd was summoned to appear before the Petty Sessions in Skipton for a breach of the Factory Act. It was claimed that the firm had allowed weavers Annie Duxbury and Maud Riley to work during a meal break. The company responded by issuing a writ against the two weavers. The case against the company was dismissed, but the weavers were fined five shillings each, with costs.

Skipton Rugby Union Football Club competed in the final of the Yorkshire Challenge Cup. They faced the "redoubtable" Castleford, whom they had defeated in two friendly matches during the season. Alas the final ended in a 6-6 draw, with Castleford being cautioned for unsportsmanlike behaviour.

A stone-laying ceremony was held at the new Baptist Church in Salterforth. The new building was expected to cost £1,800, and would provide accommodation for 250 worshippers, with possible room for another hundred.

50 years ago

DOCTOR John Farrer succeeded his late uncle as squire of Clapham. He was an Australian doctor, who had never visited England before. In an interview with the Herald, he said there was nothing in Australia to compare with the limestone scenery around Craven. And he added: "The thing that strikes me most about Clapham is how everything is so tidy."

Thomas Arthur Rawson was appointed head of the new Greatwood School, which was being built on Skipton's Horse Close estate. Mr Rawson, who was previously head of a school in Saddleworth, would be in charge of six teachers and 200 children.

Barnoldswick man Wilfrid Bailey enjoyed outstanding horse racing success. His seven-year-old gelding, Queen's Taste, won the Scottish Grand National in a new track record time. Bought for 285 guineas, Queen's Taste finished the course in seven minutes and 58 seconds, and netted prize money of £1,500. Its trainer was Gargrave man Herbert Clarkson.

An 18-month-old chimpanzee, which fell victim to pneumonia during a circus visit to Gargrave was making a good recovery. It was being treated in an oxygen tent, and was expected to return to the circus within the week.

25 years ago

A WOODEN bridge made by boys at Aireville School and inspected by the Queen at the Great Yorkshire Show was lowered into place at the Ginnel. It was part of a Skipton Civic Society project to restore the area and Gwynne Walters, from the society, made a plea to the local community not to deface the bridge nor vandalise the area. The boys who had made the impressive new wooden structure were Rodney Beckwith, Russell Brewster, Ian Cranston, Colin Edmundson, Peter Ellwood, Neville Hutchinson, Paul Jephson, Timothy Kent, Paul Milner, John Spenceley, Andrew Thompson and Andrew Trevor.

Craven had fallen well short of its £6,000 target which was its contribution towards North the Queen's Silver Jubilee Appeal. Just over £2,000 had been raised in Craven but North Yorkshire had managed to reach its target of £80,000 despite Craven falling well short.

A £2,000 capital grant towards improvements at Skipton Golf Club was criticised at a meeting of Craven District Council, with some councillors saying it was a "private club". But officers pointed out that it was a sports club open to anyone. It was no different to any other sports club, such as tennis, athletics or football because anyone could join. Its fees were higher than a soccer, cricket or tennis club because there was far more land to maintain to a higher standard, but it provided a vital amenity to the district and should be treated exactly the same as any other sports club when considering grants for improvements.

10 years ago

GRASSINGTON announced that it was to revive its annual gala, which had not been held since 1958. Its demise was blamed on "a combination of rowdiness and bad organisation." But 35 years later gala committee chairman David Rhodes explained that the village enjoyed a strong sense of community spirit and the idea had been warmly welcomed by organisations.

Unstable outcrops of rock were posing a threat to Settle's Zion Congregational Church. Fears that they could dislodge and topple down the hillside and crash into the church had forced Pastor David Ruddick to declare the back rooms of the church out of bounds. Landowners had been served notice to take action to eliminate the risk and make the rocks stable, work which would cost thousands of pounds but both district and county councils and the national park turned down requests for financial assistance.

The most important planning application ever in Barnoldswick was how the town council described Silentnight's plans for Barnsey Shed. The town council said that Silentnight was looking at eight sites, only one of them in Pendle and if the beds firm's plans were turned down a second time then it could spell the end for 800 jobs in Barnoldswick.

Gargrave were crowned Craven Football League champions after a thrilling match against their nearest rivals, Embsay. Gargrave needed a point to take the title and achieved their aim with a 5-5 draw. They were behind four times before taking a 5-4 lead shortly before the end. Gargrave scored through Andy Geary (2), Lee Barrett, Dale Hoyle and Darren Phillip, while Embsay replied through John Hillary, James Waddington, Stephen Speak (2) and William Robertson.