125 Years Ago – 1889

At the Otley Police Court yesterday (Friday), Alfred Bengerfield, photographer, of the Bridge Lane Studio, Ilkley, was charged with following his employment on a Sunday. On promising not to repeat the offence he was let off by paying the costs, which amounted to 8s.

A batch of seven Addingham youths, ranging from 16 to 18 years of age, were charged at the Skipton Petty Sessions on Saturday last, on the information of PC Lovell, with obstructing the causeway by standing in a group.

100 Years Ago – 1914

Death has ended the career of a very fine singer in Mr Norman Salmond, who passed away suddenly on board the Balmoral Castle at Port Elizabeth when homeward bound from South Africa. Mr Salmond was 55 years old. He was a Yorkshireman by birth, his father being the late Mr David Salmond, a Bradford magistrate, for many years resident at Eldermere, Ilkley. Gifted with a beautiful and robust voice, he soon gained attention and was selected to appear at the Leeds Festival and other festivals.

During the early part of Saturday afternoon, two thieves very audaciously and smartly secured a sum of money from the shop of Mr James Jacob, stationer and picture framer, Church Street, Ilkley. Their first move was for one to go into the shop for a picture postcard, tendering half a sovereign in payment. This enabled them to know where the money was kept, and that there was at least half a sovereign to go for. Later the other man entered the shop to make a similar purchase and drew the attention of the manageress to a showcase outside. The manageress followed the man outside and the other man slipped in and secured the bag.

75 Years Ago – 1939

In a curious accident at Guiseley on Friday, a motor cyclist was knocked out by a bag of coal and had to receive medical attention. He was James Lamb, of Marshall Street, Yeadon. Lamb was driving a motor cycle combination out of Cross Street, Guiseley, into the main Otley Road, and a passing lorry, laden with bags of coal, swerved violently. As a result of the swerve about 50 bags of coal were thrown into the road. One of the bags fell on top of Lamb, and another was unceremoniously tipped into the sidecar of the machine. Lamb was stunned by the blow and was attended to for head injuries but was able to go home.

The War Office Mechanised Demonstration Column, which was to tour certain areas, including Yorkshire, during June and July, has been cancelled. The reason is that the training commitments of the Regular Army have been vastly increased owing to the large number of new personnel.

50 Years Ago – 1964

The need for a “serious re-thinking of the direction of the Scout movement” was mentioned at the annual meeting of the Wharfedale Local Association of Scouts, at Otley on Monday. Locally, it was said, it is intended to set up a committee investigating the cause for the decrease in the number of Scouts.

Work on the preparation of the scheme to improve the Menston sewerage system is to be expedited by Ilkley Urban Council. This decision was taken after a foul sewer at the Homestead Estate had caused flooding during a period of recent heavy rain. An obstruction in the main sewer had been found and had contributed to the flooding.

25 Years Ago – 1989

A camera crew from Yorkshire Television was out and about filming in Ilkley on Tuesday for a new children’s drama to be screened in July as part of the ITV Dramarama series. About 20 crew members were based at “Relics” antique shop in Wells Road for most of the day filming for the programme entitled Back To Front.

The world-famous recluse, Miss Hannah Hauxwell, who lived in a world of her own in the Yorkshire Dales alone with no gas, electricity or water in a house colonised with mice and rats, and earned on average £250 per year, is visiting Ilkley this Saturday. She will be at the Grove Bookshop signing copies of her latest book Season Of My Life – The Story Of A Solitary Daleswoman.”

Delightful images of Yeadon Feast between 1892 and 1910

All the fun of the fair can be seen in these photographs of Yeadon Feast which range from 1892 to 1910. The Feast was an annual event held on Albert Square. The photographs are part of the Aireborough Historical Society archive.

Carlo Harrison, from the society, said: “The annual holidays when all the mills would close was known as ‘Feast Week’. At this time the mill workforce would be able to enjoy the pleasure of the visiting fair or ‘feast’ “You can see that Yeadon folk would be dressed in their ‘Sunday Best’ for this occasion, which in those days would be a very important event.

“In the days before radio, television and cinema, this sort of entertainment would rank among the most spectacular of the time and would be talked about, visits with family and friends planned weeks in advance of the fair’s arrival.”