125 Years Ago - 1893

Yesterday Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, widow of the late Adam Brown, and mother of Mrs. Annie Livingstone, of the Listers’ Arms, Ilkley, died at her residence in Headingley. On the same date Mrs. Margaret Bickerstaffe, youngest daughter of Mrs. Brown, died at South shore, Blackpool. The deceased ladies were not unknown to many Ilkley inhabitants, and deep sympathy is felt for Mrs. Livingstone in this dual bereavement.

On Friday morning last, shortly before ten o’clock, a boy named Albert Clarkson, some twelve or thirteen years of age, residing in the Upper Gay Lane, had his left hand caught in some machinery at Messrs. Garnett’s paper mill where he was working. The hand was badly crushed, and a compound fracture of all the fingers and thumb was caused.

100 Years Ago - 1918

The Food Controller has taken powers to regulate the distribution of edible oils and fats and oil and fat compounds, which for the present will be used only for the biscuit making , confectionary and baking industries, and for fish and potato frying.

The necessity of producing all the food possible has caused rabbit breeding to become much more important than a pleasant hobby, and all over the country food production is now being carried on in this as well as other ways. Rabbits that at one time could be purchased for a few coppers, now fetch as many shillings, and even pounds in the case of first class specimens. During the lecture Mr. R. J. Ambrose recently delivered in the Ilkley Town Hall on “Rabbit Keeping,” he promised to provide a number of rabbits for boys attending the Ilkley and Ben Rhydding elementary schools.

75 Years Ago - 1943

Ilkley has already earned a reputation for its investments in war savings. The present total of £2,500,000 raised up to the present time represents well over £130 per head of the population of the urban district, and it is doubtful if there is any other area of equal size in the county, or even in the country, which can show anything like such a figure.

There is still no rush for ration books at Ilkley. Something like 25 per cent of the people are failing to call at the Food Office for them. People are being asked to collect their books in the alphabetical order of the initials of their surnames. By this evening the list will have reached the letter “H” - and there are something like a thousand books in the Food Office which have not yet been collected.

50 Years Ago - 1968

Concern is being felt by Ilkley Council’s Moor and Parks Committee over the continued deterioration of the White Wells, Ilkley Moor’s famous landmark which can be seen for miles around. There is no intention, however, of demolishing the buildings which contain what are claimed to be Roman baths. Chairman of the Moor and Parks Committee, Cr. M. J. Boothman said at the weekend the buildings had suffered considerably in recent years from acts of hooliganism. The isolated position made it difficult to keep them under observation.

The low level of the River Wharfe at Ilkley on Monday afternoon exposed lying in the river bank two missiles, one of which was in such a dangerous condition that it could not be moved and had to be exploded on the site. It was near the Ilkley Golf Club that an Army Bomb Disposal Unit exploded a mortar bomb which was in a highly dangerous condition. Further down the river, near the stepping stones, a hand grenade in a very rusty condition was discovered. This was moved to Ilkley Police Station.

25 Years Ago - 1993

Coronation Street battleaxe Vera Duckworth has seemingly deserted the Rovers Return - and started drinking in an Addingham pub. The boisterous blond has recently been dropping in for a drink or two in the more sedate surroundings of The Swan off Main Street. Henpecked husband Jack has been left holding the baby while Vera - otherwise known as actress Elizabeth Dawn - enjoyed the change of scenery in the Jacobean pub.

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Habgood, created history on Sunday when he visited St Mary’s Parish Church, Burley-in-Wharfedale, as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations. He is believed to be the first Archbishop to visit the church.