100 years ago

Never in the long history of Steeton had there been less ground under cultivation for cottage gardens or allotments. The slump came at a time when the population was growing.

The medical officer reported that, during the past month, there had been 21 deaths in the district - 11 males and 10 females - against 25 in the preceding month and equal to a death rate of 11.4 per thousand. Births during the month numbered 35 - 19 males and 16 females - a birth rate of 19.5 per 1,000. In the early part of the month, the officer had advised the closure of the infant school at Cowling through an outbreak of measles.

The terms contained in the letter of the Duke of Devonshire's agent to supply Appletreewick with water were accepted. The terms were that water be supplied at six pence per 1,000 gallons and £3 per annum for the pipes over certain fields. The minimum quantity of use was 1,000 gallons per 24 hours and the lease was granted for 99 years.

50 years ago

For exceeding the 30mph speed limit for goods vehicles, a Bradford man was fined £2. He was caught doing between 42mph and 48mph at Coniston Cold and told police: "It's the old, old story - good road, foot down."

Craven poultry farmers failed to achieve much success in the Egg Laying Test held at the Yorkshire Federation Test Ground, Otley. Even the Jacksons, the redoubtable Silsden poultry breeders, gained only two first positions. In the Yorkshire Federation Silver Challenge Cup, John Lund, of Cowling, was in second position with a pen of Buff Rocks,

25 years ago

Sunshine poured through the windows of Edroth Church as villagers and visitors gathered for a thanksgiving service. The church, which was flooded with mud and water less than two years previously, had been renovated, decorated and festooned with flowers for the service. Since the church was seriously damaged in 1981, the tiny community had raised £5,000 for the restoration and had done much of the clearing and repair work themselves.

Steeton villagers were strongly opposed to the large scale development, both residential and industrial, proposed in the draft local plan. At the annual parish meeting, residents agreed to back the parish council in its fight to stop any further growth within the village. Chairman Geoffrey Funnell said members had decided to stick by their long-established policy that Steeton had reached its potential.

It appeared that a leakage of cyanide from Barnoldswick's Rolls-Royce factory was not as serious as had been believed at first. A letter from the director general of the Health and Safety Executive said it was believed that only a small amount of cyanide had found its way out of the factory and was not, in the opinion of the inspector who investigated the circumstances, likely to be a danger to employees or to the public.

10 years ago

Buckingham Palace was interested in sending a member of the royal family to help Skipton celebrate its 100th gala the following year, it was revealed. Organisers of the special 1999 event said that to have a royal attend would be the icing on the cake. Glynn Beresford, secretary of the Skipton Charities Gala Committee, was speechless when he received a favourable reply to his letter asking whether a visit would be possible. He said: "The Queen normally sends out telegrams for 100th birthdays, so you never know, it could be her."

A tremendous village effort meant that Burton-in-Lonsdale would be able to join in a bell-ringing event to bring in the new millennium. The six Victorian bells in the belfry of All Saints' Parish Church had been removed and taken to Derbyshire for renovation by a specialist bell hanger. In just a year, the village had raised £10,000 towards the bell restoration appeal.

3:25pm Thursday 17th April 2008

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