April 7, 1866

The D&S Times of 150 years ago contained this enigmatic paragraph: “A meeting of the trustees of the New Music Hall in Barnard Castle was held on Friday at which it was resolved: "That the members of the Barnard Castle Amateur Dramatic Society be not permitted to have the use of the New Music Hall or any other room in the building, either for rehearsals, or dramatic performances.”

"We are unable to give the reasons for this decision, which is considered by the members and their friends to be unjust and unfair, as the rooms have frequently been let for similar amateur and other performances without the slightest objections being raised.

“The promised performance of Sir E Bulwer Lytton's Lady of Lyons will, in all probability, have to be postponed for a time in consequence of this decision.” What can have precipitated the fallout between the trustees and amdrams?

April 8, 1916

THE D&S reported the death of Mr Leonard Jaques JP, of Easby Hall, near Richmond, at the age of 76. “A generous supporter of charitable institutions in Richmond, he was especially interested in the Richmond Victoria Hospital,” said the paper.

“The coffin was conveyed from Easby Hall to the family burial ground (in the nearby churchyard) on a rolley draped with purple and drawn by two large agricultural horses, the cortège being headed by a detachment of north riding police.”

Mr Jaques was the lord of the manor of the Easby estate, which included Easby Abbey. His grandfather, Robert, of Thornton Rust, had bought the abbey – which had been founded about 1152 – in 1816. In 1930, the Jaques family passed it to the Ministry of Works and it is now in the hands of English Heritage.

April 9, 1966

NORTH Yorkshire County Council’s 20 year lease on Gisborough Hall was about to expire after which the 109-year-old “rambling stately home” would be placed on the market, said the D&S Times,

The council had used it as an old folks home, but the 51 residents were moving out.

Lord Gisborough, who “lived nearby in a luxury flat in the converted stables”, said: “I'd love to live in it again but the hall is just far too big. The family last lived there're just before the hall was leased to the county.

“I have no plans for it. It could become a hostel or flats

“I don't think there is much hope of anyone taking it over just to live in it, but I am sure that someone will come along who wants it and can do something with it. Someone always does.”

When asked how large the hall was, his lordship replied: “It's bigger than four haystacks tied together. But the number of rooms? I wouldn't like to guess!"