100 years ago

Silsden was mourning the death of one of its inhabitants. Thomas A Langthorne, a tinsmith and ironmonger, was also an inventor and had invented and patented an ink well. It was said to have sold well throughout the country. Another of his inventions was a contrivance for opening and closing window sashes. Just before his death he had been working on a match case, something on the style of a push-out lead pencil which struck a light when it expanded and extinguished when it closed.

A 16-year-old Silsden youth was accidentally shot by his friend who had been fooling around with a revolver. His friend was unaware there were three bullets in the chambers. The bullet hit the lad in the lower jaw and became wedged in his neck. He was treated by Dr Dobie.

The Kildwick Parish Gas Company had given the council notice that the price of coke was to go up to 14s 2d per ton for broken coke and 13s 10d for unbroken coke.

50 years ago

Concern over rat infestation in hen pens and pig runs at Silsden prompted a discussion at the town's urban district council. Sanitary inspector Mr W Mitchell said the problem could be cleared up by council staff and the process would cost each landowner just a few shillings. There was concern about the expense of the clearance, but Mr Mitchell said the council's method was both the cheapest and most effective.

Skipton Urban District Council, meanwhile, was receiving support for its plan to establish a crematorium at Waltonwrays. The scheme had received the backing of fellow authorities in Barnoldswick, Earby, Silsden, Skipton and Colne.

The demolition of a derelict, unsightly property in Skipton's Newmarket Street was carried out to make room for the Skipton Automatic Telephone Exchange. The demolition work meant that the imposing faade of Skipton Congregational Church was clearly visible from the main road for the first time in its history.

25 years ago

HELEN M Smith gained the title of Miss British Legion at a social evening held in the Skipton club. Miss Smith, herself from Skipton, was presented with a cheque for £5, a bouquet and a sash by the president of the branch, Mr H Tempest. Miss Smith, 21, would go on to represent Skipton in the area finals.

"Granny sitters" were suggested by Dr D Marshall, of Airedale Hospital, to help those people caring for mentally incapacitated elderly relatives at home. The suggestion was made to the South Craven Good Neighbours annual meeting. Dr Marshall said a caring group such as the Good Neighbours could offer reliable support by regular visits to such families. In cases where a person was caring for a relative single handed it could give practical help by "granny sitting", enabling the carer to have a well-earned night off.

The first Craven District Council Civic Ball and Banquet was a great success. The ball was held in Skipton Town Hall where the main hall, stage and foyer were colourfully decorated by the council's parks department with shrubs, evergreens, plants and flowers. Music was provided by the Edwin Harper Orchestra and welcoming the guests was council chairman, Coun R A Stockdale.

10 years ago

Silsden men Ronald Peacock and Richard Towers returned from the hurricane-devastated Caribbean island of Montserrat. The pair, who worked for Yorkshire Electricity, had formed part of an international aid team sent out to the island after it was left with no power, shelter or water. They joined a 13-strong team of electricians from Yorkshire and Humberside who helped restore power to the island. Yorkshire Electricity's distribution director commented: "They were a credit to their profession and company."

Protestors in Sutton were angry that a proposed bypass could split their village in two. Villagers signed a petition which was handed to Skipton and Ripon MP David Curry. The petition had been organised by Sutton Parish Council to gauge local opinion, but after surveying the village members found 1,058 people were against the road and only 13 for it. The proposed bypass would go past the secondary school and Holme Lane bridge and would be within 500 yards of the primary school. Protesters in the village favoured a route along disused railway lines.

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