125 Years Ago - 1893

On Saturday afternoon last Mr. Joseph Lowcock, farmer, of Cross Bank, Addingham, went with a horse and cart, to one of his fields for the purpose of getting some turnips from a “pie” which he had there. When getting out of the cart the wind lifted the horse sheet, and frightening the horse, which was a young one, it started off. Lowcock fell to the ground, and the cart passed over his body. He was very severely hurt.

On Saturday morning at about five o’clock, a fire occurred at the house in Victoria Terrace, Addingham, occupied by William Wade, caused by a frame, which was filled with clothes, falling from the hearth. Mrs Wade discovered the fire, and immediately raised an alarm, but very few people were out of bed at that early hour. Mr Wade, however, came downstairs and succeeded in getting the burning woodwork out of the house.

100 Years Ago - 1918

Private George Peacock, West Riding Regiment, youngest son of Mr William Peacock, Nelson Road, Ilkley, died from wounds at a Casualty Clearing Station in Flanders on March 1st. Private Peacock was 22 years of age and had joined the Ilkley “Pals” Company of the West Riding Regiment about the end of August, 1914. He first went to the Front in July, 1915, and was twice wounded and once “gassed.”

Letters of thanks for Christmas parcels have been received from several Ilkley men serving in India and Palestine. Bombadier R.H. Woodrup, writing from Quetta, India, says:-”I have been in this country for a few years now, but try as I may thoughts of the old country, and especially of Ilkley and its surroundings are continually in my mind. One makes many friends in this life, but the old friends are always dearest to me, and I shall not be sorry when I say good-bye to India and am on my way to good old Blighty, and the Old Folks at home.

75 Years Ago - 1943

The Home League Section of the Otley Salvation Army Corps are holding a series of six demonstrations on war-time cookery in the Young People’s Hall at the Corps Headquarters in Newmarket on Wednesday afternoon. The demonstrations are sponsored by the Ministry of Food. The demonstrator made some very savoury cheese and dried egg “pancakes” and a sausage, leek and custard “flan”.

The necessary plant having been installed in the overseas producing countries, supplies of dehydrated beef and mutton are beginning to arrive in this country. There is not sufficient to issue it to the public as part of the ration, and arrivals so far have been issued to manufacturers of meat pies, cooked meat and so on. There will be increasing quantities for restaurants and it is doubtful if the public will even realise, when partaking of a made up meat dish, that it is actually eating dehydrated meat.

50 Years Ago - 1968

The Middletons held out for nearly four years before they agreed to sell their land on the north side of the river in 1900 and it was the Wharfedale Estate Company that eventually persuaded them to do so. The timber came down the hillside much nearer to the river then, but once the sale had been effected it was not long before the axe was ringing and the crash of the forest trees a familiar sound. Sadly, the “Gazette” commented, “The old world aspect of the town itself has long since lost its fascination; new and handsome villas stand where once the picturesque thatch and ivy covered cottage graced the scene, and the old green lanes and blossoming hedgerows have all but disappeared.

25 Years Ago - 1993

Fears have been eased over the future of one of the most historic buildings in the Wharfe Valley. Mystery last week surrounded the decision by a religious order to sell Myddelton Lodge, of Langbar Road, Middleton, which date back to 1260. But the former monastery is expected to remain a pastoral retreat centre and be bought by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds.

Ilkley has received a present to mark the millennium of the office of High Sheriff of West Yorkshire. Humphrey Boyle, the 923rd holder of the 1,000 year old position, helped plant some 16 trees in West Holmes Field on the banks of the River Wharfe.