From this newspaper 150 years ago. – The funeral of the late Duke of Cleveland took place on Tuesday, and, notwithstanding it was ostensibly private in its character – a desire to that effect having, shortly before his death, been expressed by the deceased nobleman – an immense concourse of persons were present to witness the obsequies pertaining to the occasion.

In addition to Staindrop, whose entire population, as may naturally be inferred, join in the solemnities, large numbers from Darlington and Barnard Castle, and the intermediate country, by their attendance, evidenced the respect universally felt towards the memory of one who, although prone to manifestations of irritability of temper, was nevertheless a true-born gentleman, gifted as he was with a proper sense of the dignity of his exalted rank, and at the same time deeply sensible of the responsibilities which attached to his position.

Since the demise of his Grace the body, placed in a shell, lay in the room which was occupied by the deceased when alive. In preparation for the funeral the shell was afterwards encased in a coffin covered with crimson velvet, and ornamented with gold coronets and mountings. The breastplate bore this inscription: – Henry, Duke of Cleveland, K.G. Born August 16th, 1788. Died January 18th, 1884. On Tuesday morning the coffin lay in the Octagon Room of Raby Castle, but in conformity with the regulations of the mournful occasion, the pomps and ceremonies of lying in state were not observed. A number of the relatives of the noble deceased were staying at the castle, and it will be well understood that if the outward show of formal mourning was dispensed with, there was in the hearts of those distinguished personages, and in the hearts of many an old and valued domestic, who trod the silent halls, the real sorrow of bereavement that was deeply felt by peer and by retainer, by yeoman and peasant.

From this newspaper 100 years ago. – Aysgarth Guardians.

The Workhouse Master reported that 13 casuals had been relieved, against eight in the corresponding period. The Master reported that he had made enquiries in respect to firewood chopping in the Leyburn and Bedale Unions, and it seemed there was a very good trade done in this work.

Of course, they at Bainbridge were not very well off for workers, but the men could do a little chopping, and some of them would be glad to have it to occupy their minds. They could sit in the joiner’s shop with a fire, and do it in their leisure. The casuals could saw the wood in the place of stone breaking. A machine for the bundling would cost 56s., but he had fitted up a small one himself, and if they decided to give it a trial there would be no need to go to that expense until they saw results. The chairman: Is there any profit attached to it?

The master: In what experience I had had we used to make a very large profit, but wood was cheaper than it is now. Mr Kirkbridge: Would this interfere with the new scheme for casuals? The genuine working-man would not detained for work? Mr Leyland: That would be at the Master’s discretion, if they could prove themselves bonafide working men.

The master: Any man that was not genuinely in search of work would have to be detained for a day and work found for him. It was unanimously agreed to give the work a trial, the bundles to be sold at 3s.

Darlington and Stockton Times:
From this newspaper 50 years ago

3d per 100, and 1s. 8d for 50.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. – Northallerton will have to wait another year before any more progress is made on the £12,000 playing field scheme on the seven-acre site in Bullamoor Road. Members of the Northallerton Urban Council at their meeting on Monday heard that specialist firms who deal with sports and playing field construction are already booked up with work for the rest of 1964. Because of this the Council are left with no alternative but to wait and stake an early claim with a firm for work to start in 1965.

After hearing this from the chairman of the General Committee, Coun Miss Pamela Bramley, the Council turned down a suggestion from Coun W Wake that they should advertise to try and get a firm to take on the work before 1965 and save further waste of time over the planned scheme.

Coun Wake said that he was disappointed to learn that it was going to be another year before they were able to make any progress with the playing field. If the Council were to advertise to see if they could get a response from a firm they might be able to press on and give the public the playing fields earlier. Coun C H Sawdon said that it would be a waste of money to advertise unless there was some publication in which an advert would draw a response. The Council’s engineer, Mr A J Hardy-King, said that he had contacted ten firms without success and as the work of building a playing field was a specialist job he doubted whether any firm of repute and able to carry out the work would be engaged before the end of 1964.