100 years ago

A poacher appearing in Court for stealing rabbits from the Bolton Abbey estate said he did so because the Duke of Devonshire owed him £30,000. He intended to steal enough rabbits to make up the debt (that's a lot of rabbits!). The judge concluded the man would have to live until the age of Methuselah, however, and did not accept the plea.

Lord Lonsdale, fifth Earl of Lonsdale and sporting enthusiast, was revealed to be leading a double life as "Mr Shepherd, the Slipper". The aristocrat was exposed when he was asked to step in at greyhound racing trials in Lowther Park and it was clear that he had indeed done the job before. It was then that he revealed his secret identity as the notorious Mr Shepherd. A slipper is the man who held back the greyhound before the start of a race.

The Wheatsheaf at Ingleton held an exhibition of cinematography, using both still and animated pictures. Approximately 500 people turned up to watch graphic footage of the Boer War.

50 years ago

The Herald's editorial was celebrating the end of soap rationing. It concluded that the older generation would be celebrating the move, finally being able to "wash the grime from behind their ears", although the younger generation would be less keen. Amid the celebrations, however, was concern about rising prices in a free market - there were rumours that it would soon be impossible to purchase a suit for under £25.

St James' Church, Barnoldswick had an unusual visitor when a convulvulus hawk moth settled on the gates. The moth is a rare visitor to the country and boasts a tongue of seven inches!

Fifty-five years of steady deterioration was too long to procrastinate over the state of Farnhill's Newby Road concluded parish councillors, backed by the Herald. The road, widened in 1895, had a history of complaints concerning floods, dirty conditions, problems with the drain and cesspool and disrepair. However, the main concern was silt from the canal which caused the road surface to rise by about two foot. This meant the wall protecting pedestrians from the canal was now low enough for children to jump on. As one of only two ways for youngsters to get to school, the other being under the culvert which was said to be in the worst state for 81 years, fears were raised for the safety of children who had no protection from a drop into the canal.

25 years ago

Members of Settle Youth Centre carried out an unusual sponsored Three Peaks challenge. The youngsters tackled the climb carrying dustbins, picking up rubbish discarded by other ramblers along the way. Three bins were filled, Ingleborough being the untidiest.

Four management trainees at Silentnight in Barnoldswick were "dumped" in Germany with just the minimum of money in their pockets and told to make their own way for six months by their employer. The firm set the challenge to encourage the young men, aged between 21 and 23, to gain a spirit of adventure and initiative and to acquire a greater knowledge of the language and culture of the country as the company moved towards better links with Europe. The men, who were all studying German at Leeds polytechnic, had to find jobs and accommodation.

10 years ago

Skipton's new auction mart got the royal seal of approval when the Princess Royal officially opened the £3 million centre.

A man appeared at Skipton Magistrates' Court charged with stealing 537 pairs of men's boxer shorts and underpants. The man was thought to have a sexual fetish for men's underwear.

The leisure centre at Randell's Hotel (now Hanover International) was officially opened by throwing hotel owner, Thomas Randell into the 75 square metre pool.

A new label designed to identify and promote products made in the Yorkshire Dales was launched. The scheme was devised by the Dales Enterprise Agency in Gargrave and there were also plans to produce a small catalogue featuring the goods that bore the distinctive green and white label.