125 Years Ago - 1893

The Horsforth sanitary inspector, in his latest report, discloses a state of things which no sanitary authority worthy its name should tolerate, and we trust immediate attention will be given to remedy matters. The evil alluded to is sadly too common in the manufacturing villages in this part of Yorkshire. It consists in many cases of the inhabitants of four houses - in some instances more - having but one privy. I do not know what the exact legal requirements are, but surely this is scarcely decent, to say nothing of its sanitary short-comings.

Last Friday afternoon an awfully sudden death occurred at the Old Mills. Hudson Penny, a man aged 63 years, who had enjoyed exceeding good health during the whole of his life, and who was employed as stoker at the mills, was at the time going about his duties in, so far as anyone could see, the best of health, when he fell onto his face in the coals and died almost instantaneously. Dr. McLean attributed death to apoplexy.

100 Years Ago - 1918

Wharfedale is playing its part most patriotically in the matter of food production, and not alone in the large number of garden allotments that have been taken up, but in the amount of grass land that has been ploughed up by the farmers for potatoes, oats and other cereal crops. A portion of Denton Park and much other grazing land is now being used for food production purposes.

Chief Petty Officer Walter Edwin Bradley, R.N.A.S., awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, was killed in a seaplane in December 1916; news of which has recently been received. He was the son of Mrs. Bradley, of Daisy Bank, Menston, and of the late Mr. Walter Bradley, of Valparaiso.

75 Years Ago - 1943

Talks on Health by a Family Doctor: Don’t Cough - Just try to give up smoking for one month and see how it suits you. You will be surprised to note that you lose your irritating cough; that your throat feels more comfortable, and that your head feels clearer. It is an experiment well worth trying.

It was learned yesterday that interest in Aireborough’s “Dig for Victory” week which commences on Sunday, is already lively. Many tickets have been claimed for Sunday’s film show at Guiseley Picture House, and there is promise of wide public interest in the gardeners “Brains Trust” which is to hold sessions at Yeadon, Rawdon and Guiseley.

50 Years Ago - 1968

Young patients attending Wharfedale Children’s Hospital School at Menston have taken part in what is believed to be the first examination of its kind - the Royal Life Saving Society’s specially designed test to help non-swimmers. Twenty-two children took the test, and all were successful in gaining proficiency awards.

Our correspondence columns, in recent weeks, have provided indication of growing public concern at the state of the bus services in this district.There are complaints of unreliable time-keeping, schedules altered without passengers being made aware of the changes, of buses that run late or do not run at all, and of buses that go past recognised stopping-places and leave people standing.

25 Years Ago - 1993

One of the most historic buildings in the Wharfe Valley could shortly be up for sale. Myddelton Lodge, which dates back to 1260, overlooks Ilkley from the north of the town off Langbar Road. The former monastery was owned by the famous Middleton family and served as a secret meeting place for Roman Catholics persecuted after the 16th century English Reformation.

Pensioners are as interested in the hi-tech world of computers as schoolchildren. That much was evident when Ilkley Computer Club held a 10th anniversary exhibition. Members found that older people were keen to learn about floppy discs and the like so that they could make more use of their leisure time. The display of equipment showed the changes in computers, programmes and software which have taken place over the last ten years. Ilkley Computer Club was founded by Mrs Wyn Chalker, who after buying her own home computer wondered if there were any other computer users in Ilkley who wanted to share her new found interest.