100 years ago

The engine christening and opening ceremony of an additional portion of the Bankfield Shed, Barnoldswick, took place. The premises were owned by the Barnoldswick Room and Power Co Ltd and, with the extension, the building would be the largest cotton weaving mill in Lancashire and Yorkshire. It would have accommodation for more than 3,000 looms, compared to the 1,800 looms it had at present.

The district superintendent of the Midland Railway Company sent a revised list of the train service to Grassington Traders Association. One feature was the through return train to Leeds and Bradford. This was expected to induce business gentlemen from the two cities to spend more time in the Dales.

In connection with the visit of the Church Army van, a procession from Kildwick Church, headed by the Kildwick Prize Band, went through Farnhill to the moor. En route, the litany was sung by the choir and a service was held on the moor.

50 years ago

To see how hockey really should be played, 27 girls from Aireville School, Skipton, travelled to Wembley to watch the international hockey match between England and Germany. The girls also wandered up Oxford Street, visited Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace.

Owing to the increased demand for telephones in the Long Preston area, the present automatic exchange in Moor Lane could not accommodate any more subscribers. The Post Office had, therefore, erected a new timber building on an adjacent site and installed modern automatic equipment that would meet the needs of Long Preston folk.

25 years ago

Skipton was to get a Dorothy Perkins store. The Burton Group announced it was to open an outlet on the High Street in the former premises of Le Gourmet Delicatessen.

Craven paid its last respects to local benefactress Jessie B Coulthurst at St Andrew’s Church, Gargrave. Leading the mourning for one of the area’s most famous residents was Craven District Council chairman Tommy Cardus. Members of many sports clubs, which had benefited from the Coulthurst Trust, were present as were representatives from the three tiers of local government, Craven Museum, the Petyt Library and the North Craven Heritage Trust. Following the service, six police officers acted as pall bearers and Mrs Coulthurst was interred in the churchyard.

Three Craven cavers were hoping to conquer the “Everest” of potholing in the wilds of Central America. On a remote 10,000-feet- high plateau, they planned to plunge 9,000 feet underground as part of a British speleological expedition. If successful, they would set a new world record, which currently stood at 4,300ft. The group, including Ian and Christine Watson from West Marton and Tim Pickup from Thornton-in-Lonsdale, would face many dangers, including altitude sickness and the dreaded bats lung disease.

10 years ago

A petition containing 900 signatures was presented to Barclays Bank to show the anger felt over the closure of the Earby branch. It was one of 200 due to shut its doors nationwide. The petition represented a quarter of Earby’s population, demonstrating the depth of feeling towards the town losing its only bank. Local MP Gordon Prentice said he was outraged by the bank’s decision.

Life at Carleton’s Gaskell Carpets drew to a close. Gaskell plc had announced it was closing the 130-year-old mill the previous year, with the loss of numerous jobs. But the finality of the decision was brought home when wagons arrived to take away the machinery. Gerald Cahill, managing director, said it was an upsetting time. The 19th century grade two listed building was to be put on the open market.

Environmental watchdogs were continuing to investigate claims that cattle slurry had contaminated Carleton Beck. Residents alerted the Environment Agency after they noticed the water in the beck had become discoloured. The watercourse was an important breeding ground for brown trout.