From the archives (From Craven Herald)

From the archives

10:20am Saturday 9th May 2009 in

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100 years ago

Half a dozen Barnoldswick youths appeared at Skipton Petty Sessions for gaming with coins. PC Newsham said he was on a footpath from Barnoldswick to Broughton when he saw the defendants playing at pitch and toss.

A 15-year-old girl also appeared at Skipton Petty Sessions charged with stealing 3lbs of toffee, the property of George Dobson, of Skipton. During the hearing, the court was cleared of spectators and, under the Children’s Act, became a Children’s Court.

Supporters of Skipton Rugby Football Club were surprised and indignant when they heard that the committee of the Yorkshire Rugby Union had suspended 13 out of the 15 members of the team who played against Headingley at Ilkley in the final round of the Yorkshire Cup competition.

50 years ago

Once more the skies glowed red above West Craven when a fire-raiser brought his total bill for damage to close on £1 million. It was the 18th mystery fire and caused £200,000 of damage at Dotcliffe Mill, Kelbrook – one of the biggest mills in the area.

Ingleton Parish Council discussed the removal of a kissing gate at the footpath at the end of The Crofts to make the path suitable for prams. British Railways stated it had no objection in principle, but that the council would have to meet the cost.

A meeting was held in the Victoria Institute, Low Bentham, about forming a youth club.

25 years ago

Two heroes saved a row of cottages from a rampaging fire, which left 15 miles of devastation along the Settle-Carlisle Railway. Skipton police officer Mike Caukwell and resident John Cameron desperately fought the flames with shovels for 45 minutes to stop the blaze spreading to Railway Cottages, at Selside. The railway embankment from Hellifield to Horton-in-Ribblesdale was devastated by the fire, which was caused by a steam train.

An 11-year-old boy, who rescued his young brother from a swollen stream, was honoured by the Royal Humane Society. Craig Smith was looking for conkers with his five-year-old brother, John, when the youngster slipped into Austwick Beck, which had been swollen by heavy rain. Aware that John was being swept away, Craig called for help and entered the stream. He managed to catch hold of his brother and fought his way to the edge of the water. Local police chief Tony Maclean said had Craig not been so brave, the circumstances could have proved fatal.

Craven got its first recycling bins – dome-shaped structures to collect glass. They were being put in place at four locations – two in Skipton, one in Settle and one in Cross Hills.

10 years ago

Three hundred people turned out to protest against millennium plans for a 50 metre-long bridge across the River Aire at Gargrave. The proposed location was near the historic stepping stones and residents claimed the idea was a waste of time and money. “The coming of the millennium is meant to be a celebration for village people. It is not going to be a celebration any more,” said villager Gordon Tilburn.

A rather unusual Dales property was being offered for sale. Estate agent Tim Wilman had been instructed to sell the old Cracoe Village Hall – or, to give it its proper name, Rylstone District Memorial Hut. “We are, of course, only selling the timber and not the plot itself,” he pointed out. The new owner would be expected to dismantle and remove the building and restore the land to a greenfield site.