100 years ago

A slater from Skipton was tried at the town hall on a charge of wilful damage to Harry Greenwood's confectionery stall. The prosecutor told the court that the defendant had purchased two pennyworth of sweets and then went round the side of the stall and "gave it a push" sending the stall crashing to the ground. Despite the defendant's protestations that he was merely turning round to pick up a box of chocolates he was fined £2, adding that the stall was "a rickety affair when it was there."

An employee of Stirton Grange Farm reported an obstruction to the highway on the footpath to his home. The obstruction was manure that had been "placed there by workmen of the Skipton Castle estate." When the surveyor visited the site he was moved to comment that the place was "a perfect bog" covered with manure to the depth of 8 or 9 inches and ordered that the obstruction be removed.

Skipton Workhouse housed the destitute of the district and might not seem like the ideal spot for a burglary but thieves broke in and stole various small items, including a small amount of cash belonging to the inmates and a mackintosh belonging to the master. The workhouse committee met in order to discuss whether to replace the stolen items.

50 years ago

THE treasurer of Skipton Cricket Club accused Skipton residents of not being "cricket conscious" after announcing that the club had made a £98 loss in the previous year. At the annual meeting of the club in the Brick Hall Hotel it was revealed that most of the expenditure had been attributed to new seating and repairs to the tea tent. Owing to what was described as "Skipton's apathy", gate receipts had fallen by a disappointing £20 in the year.

Grassington's Devonshire Insitute was back in the black two years after its chairman, Mr RS Spencer, had warned that it faced bankruptcy. A fund-raising campaign had turned things round and the Institute was now solvent to the extent of £251.

The authorities were a lot more open about the management of schools in those days. Thus the Herald was able to inform the public that a meeting of the South Craven cluster of schools had considered an application to put poultry keeping on the agenda at Glusburn School. Assistant divisional education officer Mr H Stott said the head and staff would feed the chickens during the holidays and a loan to purchase an incubator was approved.

25 years ago

The founder of the Dalesman magazine, Harry Scott, died at his home in Grange-over-Sands at the age of 76. A journalist on the Yorkshire Post he had founded his magazine in April 1938, just a few months before the outbreak of war threatened its existence. During the war he had worked for the Craven Herald, which said he was a man who would publish a book because he felt it should be published not because it would be a commercial success.

Roadworks have been causing traffic chaos on Broughton Road, Skipton for months. Back in 1978 things were even worse as Belmont Bridge was closed for a period of eight months. The old bridge was being knocked down and replaced by a new structure which could bear heavier traffic.

Skipton Bulldogs were in danger of folding as they had been given notice to quit the field where they played. The council was looking to find them a new home in Aireville Park.

10 years ago

THE Pocket Spring Bed Company was formed in Skipton, making Silentnight's top of the range beds. It was the first movement into Skipton by the company founder Tom Clarke, who had shunned the town ever since he accused it of failing to help him expand.

A timber barrel on the front of Skipton's Cock and Bottle was frowned on by planners, who wanted the old painted board sign back. But several members of the committee said they preferred the new version.

There were still teething problems with new regulations for the parking on Skipton's High Street setts. Traders had complained that parking tickets were being issued to motorists who left vehicles on the setts on wet market days, when there might be no traders. They thought it discouraged trade and wanted the order altered. But the county council replied that a traffic regulation order could not be applied willy-nilly, rescinded if it rained or was windy.