100 years ago

THE Herald reported on a new invention for the preservation of meat which did not use cold temperatures or subject the meat to any preparation. An ox and two sheep were killed and placed in a chamber which was then sealed by the Minister of Agriculture. A week later the meat was found to be perfectly fresh. Was this the first experiment in vacuum packing?

The postal address of Long Preston, which was curiously Long Preston, Leeds, was changed 100 years ago this week to R S O, Yorkshire.

A young man was found guilty of the attempted assassination of the Prince of Wales, the future Edward VII. The defendant was placed under the disposal of the Government until he reached 21.

50 years ago

Property forming part of the Skipton Castle estate was sold at auction at the Black Horse Hotel, Skipton. For the first time the Castle Inn and the Red Lion Inn were transferred from the estate to private ownership. They were bought by Tetley Breweries and Yorkshire Breweries respectively.

Outraged spinsters met up to protest against their unfair treatment by the Government in comparison to widows. The Skipton branch of the National Spinsters Pensions Association was well attended, with speakers from the national headquarters in Bradford. They argued that spinsters received less pension than widows, which meant they were unable to afford to live alone. A resolution was unanimously supported and it was agreed to lobby Parliament, and also to petition Skipton Urban District Council to build houses, flats and bungalows for the occupation of single women.

25 years ago

A NEW pothole was discovered under the kitchen of a Dales farmhouse. It was revealed when workmen poked an iron bar through the flagstones in the yard of Darnbrook Farm, near Arncliffe, and was about a mile long. Potholers were further amazed when they came across six names engraved into the walls dating back to 1862 and also the print of corduroy trousers, footprints resembling clogs and an old bottle marked "Taylors of Lancaster, 1 imperial pint."

Two classic children's films had their first showing at the Regal cinema in Skipton. The Railway Children, starring Jenny Agutter, and Swallows and Amazons, with Virginia McKenna, were double billed as the school holiday season started.

The three peaks were challenged with military strength. The 4th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment held a three peaks race in which five companies of 12 men tackled the peaks "at the double". The scout helicopter caused a stir when it landed on the top of Penyghent - probably the first time this had ever happened. The winning team completed the challenge in seven hours and 13-and-a-half minutes.

10 years ago

WHILE Craven District Council came up with new measures against non-payment of poll tax, campaigners stepped up the pressure by organising an anti-poll tax union. The union, based at the Horse Close pub in Skipton, held a meeting which was attended by prominent campaigners from Scotland and Keighley. There was talk of resistance to poll tax, labelled "robbery on an enormous scale", at all costs. In other areas of the country, local authorities had had to bring in security measures against attacks on offices. Meanwhile The Women's Anti Poll Tax group, based in Colne, organised a national petition, in the form of a chain letter to be sent to Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.

Over half of the girls evacuated from Leeds Girls' High to Bolton Abbey during World War Two were reunited at a special event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their evacuation. Visitors enjoyed lunch at the Devonshire Arms and historical readings written by the head of the school at the time. Amongst those who attended were 89-year-old Helen Hostwick, a member of the domestic staff, and old girls who had travelled from as far afield as Canada and Italy. A special concert by present pupils at the school was given in the priory, in which some of the old girls took part.

Worshippers at Steeton Methodist Church had reason to celebrate as they opened their new chapel with a special open air ceremony. The rebuilt chapel and multipurpose hall was finished after 10 years of planning, and church-goers were treated to a special concert by Steeton Male Voice Choir.