100 years ago

A KNURR and spell match took place in a field in the Ings, Cononley. The prize was a silver watch and was competed for by 16 people. W Horner was the winner with a score of 23 out of five rises.

Cottages in Silsden, namely 4, 6 and 8 Aire View Street, had been put under the auctioneer's hammer. The weekly rental was 7s 6d and a final bid of £230 secured them for purchaser, Albert Hollings.

The newly macadamed Park Road and Rainhill area of Barnoldswick was not only attractive to the eye and of great pride to the council, it was a magnet to hundreds of children each day after school who took advantage of the smooth surfaces for "peg-top" spinning.

Children in Settle sounded the alarm after seeing The Folly on fire one evening. The building contained a large amount of oak panelling as well as a large oak staircase. A large amount of damage was sustained in the two or three hours it took to put out the blaze. Three stories in the centre of the building were occupied by Messrs Griesdale Bros who kept stock there - most of which was either damaged by fire or by water from the fire engines.

50 years ago

THE running of double decker buses between Skipton and Embsay was met with great approval from the children who travelled on the route. The youngsters rushed to sit on the top deck of the bus, preferably the front seat. Some criticism had already been made about the timetable, however.

Residents in Barnoldswick's "Avenue district", off Skipton Road, were worried about the bad state of their streets. Nothing had been done to improve the situation, despite residents constantly criticising the council. A report from the Private Street Works Sub-Committee suggested work should be done on the lower avenues after current work had been completed. It was pointed out that it was only natural that streets with through traffic took priority.

The Skipton Snooker League Championship was won by Billards Hall A team. They defeated Skipton Working Men's Club in a play-off after the teams had tied at the top of the league table with 25 points. The prizes were presented by a founder of the league, Mr C E Beasley, who warmly congratulated the winners and runners up. Prizes were awarded for the highest break and the highest aggregate. Mr Beasley referred to the excellent spirit in the league and said collections taken at matches had substantially benefited the funds of various clubs.

25 years ago

A YOUNG orchestra charmed the audience at a Skipton Parish Church concert. Clarendon Chamber Orchestra comprised teachers and advanced students from the Leeds and York area and was a huge hit. The viola solo was a joy to hear according to members of the audience.

Bus operators were attacked by a Silsden councillor over anomalies in the service. A sharp attack was launched upon West Yorkshire's Transport Executive by Coun BS Mole at a Silsden Parish Council meeting. The anomalies concerned passengers using routes crossing the border between North and West Yorkshire and the fact that there was no return ticket available. Previously, the parish council had a great struggle to get a return ticket introduced between Silsden and Keighley. Also, there had been anomalies with the OAP concessionary bus fare. If an elderly person wished to travel to Sutton, Cowling or Skipton, they had to pay full fare as the concessionary fares ended in Eastburn. Coun W F Cathey agreed the matter should be pressed and changes made.

A meeting tried to urge the electricity board to make a straight forward charge for units of electricity used by domestic consumers instead of the present method of adding fuel surcharge. Many were confused by the current method and wanted it changed.

10 years ago

Stirton-with-Thorlby Women's Institute carried off the overall winners' title at the Craven Group's annual craft and produce show at Skipton Town Hall. Proud president Di Bloomfield received the winners' cup on behalf of the group. There were more than 500 entries from 11 institutes and over 1,000 visitors to the show.

Money raised by Craven Herald readers helped to buy Hunter One, an £18,000 Landrover to be used by casualty and other emergency staff at Airedale Hospital, Steeton. The new vehicle was to be staffed by doctors and nurses from the hospital and, unlike normal ambulances, it could be used to give emergency treatment at the scene of serious road accidents and to heart attack victims. It was said the vehicle should save many lives due to vital seconds being cut in journey times and by having expertly trained staff on board.

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