100 years ago

THE matron of the cottage hospital conveyed her thanks to the many generous people in Skipton who had donated gifts over the year. These presents included fruit, eggs, linen, flowers, periodicals, cakes, biscuits and jellies. She said the donations were very much appreciated but she would be grateful for some gifts of dressing gowns and soft slippers to be used in the wards.

The board of guardians at the town's workhouse was seriously thinking about getting a new oven. The chairman had inspected one at Bradford which would do the same work more effectively than the one they had. It would also save money on coal. Its running costs were put at just five shillings a week as opposed to the old one which used 18 shillings of fuel. The cost would be around £100.

Street widening in Addingham was commencing at a good pace now that two old cottages on Bolton Road owned by the Co-op Society had been demolished. Their razing would also remove a dangerous corner from a congested thoroughfare over which a great portion of vehicles passed on the way to Bolton Abbey.

50 years ago

THE naming of Skipton's schools showed a deplorable lack of imagination, according to members of the Skipton Group of Primary School Managers. Such examples were Brougham Street Nursery School, Otley Street Nursery School and Water Street School. Dr RG Rowley said in a town rich in historical associations he thought the examples of the fore-fathers might have been followed. According to him school names should reflect the town's history and, therefore, he suggested Brougham Street Nursery School could be named St Leonards after a local man, Edward Sugden, who rose to be Lord Chancellor and assumed the name title of St Leonards. Also, in view of the nearness to Spring Gardens, Otley Street Nursery School could become Spring or Spring Field School and the name of Water Street School changed to Millfields School. However, it was noted that there could be some confusion with Millfields Hall, at one time knows as Millfields School. Instead headmaster TC Booth suggested that it could perhaps become Raikeswood School due to its close proximity to the area. The governing bodies were to be approached with the suggestions and the matter was to be brought up at the next meeting.

25 years ago

IF you were looking for a new job 25 years ago there were plenty on offer around the district. For instance Castleberg Hospital at Giggleswick wanted a full time cook. It was a post, it said, suitable for a housewife with cooking experience. A person with such qualities would be offered £32.32 for a 40 hour week. Ashfield Nursing Home on Carleton Road, Skipton, was on the look out for care assistants. Class ones would get £31.55 and class twos £32.20 per week. Night duty staff could command £1.05 an hour. At Aireville Secondary School a kitchen assistant was sought and just over 74p an hour was offered with a free meal thrown in. And Sedbergh Secondary School was looking for a caretaker for £33.50 per week. These hard earned wages could then be spent on a nice meal at the various establishments in the area. For example a three course meal at the Boar's Head, Long Preston would cost £1.10; The New Inn, Clapham, was offering la carte and table d'hote lunches for £1.50 each - £1.80 on Sundays! Meanwhile, the Anchor Inn, at Gargrave, was virtually giving away bar snacks and lunches at 80p plus VAT and service charge.

10 years ago

SKIPTON art lovers were making a last-ditch effort to keep the Roebuck collection of paintings in the town. Craven District Council's estates and leisure services committee recommended supporting a trust group which would raise money to find premises to show the collection. Clement Roebuck's will stipulated that unless the paintings were put on permanent display in the town, the collection would go to Bradford Metropolitan Council to show in Ilkley. Failing that, Kirklees Council would be offered them for display in Huddersfield. If all the possibilities went pear shaped then the paintings would be sold off and the proceeds donated to charity. The trust fund was given five years to find the money and premises.

Much of Barnoldswick town centre resembled a building site whilst the new town square was being built on the former Co-op site. The plans for the new square included raised flower beds, flagged walking areas, a centre fountain and seating.

Airedale Hospital Friends had raised £9,200 to purchase a new minibus to transport patients to the child development unit, stroke club and breast screening unit. The group was now looking for more volunteer drivers.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.