100 years ago

The Herald declared the "Glorious Twelfth" a thing of the past due to the amount of illegal activity within the sport. The start of the grouse shooting season was thought to be going out of mode due to illicit dealing in game eggs and the illegal netting of birds, making the numbers low.

Plans for a stained glass window in the south aisle of Skipton Parish Church were finalised. The window was donated by the brother and sister of the late George Kendall in memory of his life.

The countryside around the peak of Ingleborough was the subject of a scientific inquiry. The Yorkshire and Geological and Polytechnic Society, in conjunction with a special committee of the British Association, carried out a series tests to identify various lines of underground movement and connecting various springs in the neighbourhood. The most interesting results were in connection with waters from Clapham Beck. By using ammonia and flourescein, it was ascertained that the waters of Gaping Ghyll issued forth at this point after taking five clear days to pass along the underground course over the mile that intervenes between the two points.

50 years ago

THE last business in the country, if not the world, to make clog irons by hand came to a close 50 years ago this week. The Silsden-based company was owned by the family of Thomas Green and was started in 1874 by his grandfather. Clog irons were known in the trade as 'Colne-irons' because the idea had originated in the town, but the idea was pinched by Silsdener George Baron in 1850. He introduced new machinery to make the job more efficient. The smithy was to be kept running to make boot and shoe components.

A Scotsman wrote to Barnoldswick Town Council with an unusual request - to find him a wife! He had been posted to the town while in the forces and had received a warm and hospitable welcome. The man had reached 35 and, feeling it was time to settle down, was determined to marry a Barlick lass. He asked women of the town of a similar age to write to him and the town council agreed to help him with his quest.

A determined effort was being made to revive a course in agricultural studies at Skipton Art School and Technological College. For young farmers, their sons, daughters and workers this was said to be the first course of its kind in the West Riding, but had been abandoned due to lack of interest. The college decided to try again, this time holding the course during the evenings instead of the day. The course was to be of a general nature but the type of farming in this region would also be covered. The hope was expressed that local farmers would release their workers to attend the course.

25 years ago

A NEW addition to Burnsall Sports Day was introduced this year - wellington throwing. The new sport, which organisers hoped would soon be played on a national level, was designed as a "final fling". The rules remained rather obscure at this inaugural competition, however. In fact there was only one rule - that the boot must be a size eight. Apparently, 100 feet was the standard to beat and a trophy of a leaking wellington would be given to the record holder of the year.

Jilly Cooper immortalised the Craven Herald in her Sunday column. The writer published a light-hearted piece mocking the practices of a provincial newspaper using the Herald as an example. The editor, writing in the "Craven Man's Diary" section, said he could stand the jibes, and that it was good to be helping a struggling writer in her career - he didn't regard the Sunday Times as strong competition.

Former Silsden woman Maureen Hansell was named "woman of the year" in her home town of Winsconsin, USA, for her work in pre-school education. She created a progressive programme of pre-school instruction concentrating on arts, music and nature studies. She had left Silsden 16 years previously for a working holiday, armed with the minimum nursery nursing qualifications from Sutton Church School and Shipley Technological College and with some experience working in children's homes in the area.

10 years ago

Skipton residents, police officers and rescue teams were out in force searching for a six-year-old boy who went missing from his parent's canal barge. The boy's family, from Newcastle, were visiting Skipton on a boating holiday. The search lasted four days before the youngster's body was found. The coroner concluded he had drowned accidentally.

Barnoldswick's Town Square was officially opened by celebrity guest Mike Harding. The name had eventually been decided by the town council after residents' suggestions of Victoria Square, Albert Square and Rest-a-While Square were rejected. They eventually opted for "The Town Square" which said it all.

Remember when we only had four TV channels, no-one had heard of Sky or DVD and those tired repeats were fresh from the studio? Ten years ago we were settling down on a Saturday night to Champion Blockbusters, 'Allo 'Allo and Spitting Image with All Creatures Great and Small and Blackadder the Third to look forward to the following night.