May 13, 1916

THE news that Richmond Castle is to get more than £350,000 to safeguard the graffiti left in the dungeons by First World War conscientious objectors led us to look out this story from 100 years ago.

Francis William Thompson, grocer and baker, of Ampleforth, appeared before Helmsley Police Court charged with failing to report for military service. He had been due to report with the colours on April 29 but had ignored subsequent reminders and had appeared before two tribunals, saying that he was a conscientious objector, “but he had failed to convince the tribunals that his claim was a bona fide one”.

The D&S Times report of the hearing continued: “Defendant pleaded that he had been consistent in what he had done. He had a conscientious objection to war and to fighting, and would never willingly join an organised armed force. No one would ever compel him to fight, nor would he accept military pay. He was quite prepared to stand by any pain or penalty that might be inflicted upon him.

“In announcing that the defendant would be fined £10 and handed over to a military escort, the chairman (Dr Porter) said he could not understand any able-bodied young man such as Thompson trying to make people believe such nauseating nonsense as a ground for his escape from what should be a sacred duty to the nation which had fostered and sheltered him.

“Such men were content to enjoy and take advantage of the privileges provided by a free country like England, and then when called upon to render service they sought to sulk out of it on grounds of conscience. Conscience, to his mind, was a negligible quantity with them.

“If the manhood of Britain were made up mainly of men like defendant then the sooner the Germans came and polished the lot off, the better for the future of the race and mankind. It was an unspeakable shame and a standing disgrace to British manhood to have such individuals casting the slur of degeneracy upon the grand old traditions of the race. If he had his way he would see to it that all such men should have their conscience touched by a closer contract with the brutal Huns. If the safety and peace of this country depended upon men like defendant, then it would be a sorry day for Britain and her people.

“Thompson was subsequently conveyed by motor car to Richmond.”

More on the Richmond 16 in next week’s paper.

May 19, 1866

TWO fishy stories occupied space in the D&S Times 150 years ago.

“Wholesale destruction of fish. – The river Leven has long been noted as an excellent trout water but we regret to learn that from Stokesley to where the Leven falls into the Tees below Yarm, the fish have been totally destroyed.

“The water in the gasometer at Stokesley being pumped, the tank having to be emptied, the water through which the gas was purified for years past, about 350 tons, was allowed to flow into the river. The consequence has been that all the fish are killed from Stokesley to the end of the Leven.”

Meanwhile, at Darlington police court:

“A lover of crabs. – William Thomson, iron worker, was detained on a charge of stealing a crab on Saturday night. The information received by the police was to effect that the defendant went into the shop of Mr Harrison, fishmonger, with the ostensible purpose of purchasing a crab. Without hesitating as to the goodness or otherwise of his bargain, he seized a member of the coveted species and ran off with it. He was pursued by Sgt Taylor and after some difficulty, captured by him, with the crab in his possession. The owner of the stolen property did not appear to prosecute and prisoner was therefore discharged.”

May 21, 1966

THE 200-year-old Revellers’ Inn at Yafforth, near Northallerton, had reopened after an overhaul. “This agreeably named hostelry has been renovated and has had its dining room extended to provide up-to-date facilities for the people who drive out from towns to enjoy the country, and like a good meal when they get there,” said the advertising feature in the D&S.

“The new dining room seats 60, and has a splendid view through a wide window to the Cleveland Halls. Outside are tables with gay umbrellas for the warm days; inside are diffused lighting, decorative lanterns, refectory tables and contemporary carpets and curtains.”

The Revellers closed in 1992 and a street called Revellers Mews now stands on its spot on the B6271 from Northallerton to Scorton.

The pub was named after Reveller, a racehorse which won the St Leger at Doncaster in 1818. This nugget of information sparked a conversation in the pub: are there – or were there – any other pubs named after old racehorses. There’s the Beeswing at East Cowton (winner of the Northallerton Gold Cup in 1837 and 1838) which was sired by Doctor Syntax, which used to stand in Cockerton. There was the Non Plus at Morton-on-Swale, which won the St Leger at York in 1827, and there’s still the Tickle Toby at Northallerton, which was owned by Hutton Rudby trainer John Hutchison and was sent for stud in the US in the 1790s. Any others?