Looking Back: headlines from our archives

From this newspaper 150 years ago. – The picturesque and charmingly situated little watering place of Saltburn-by-the-Sea, one of the prettiest and most salubrious on our Eastern coast, having within the comparatively brief period of its existence increased very considerably in size and population, its place of worship, originally constructed to hold but small congregations indeed, have within the last year, been found totally insufficient for the accommodation of the permanent residents of the place, not to speak of the large influx of visitors that in quest of health and pleasure make this their summer resort. More particularly have the members of the Wesleyan body – a numerous community in the neighbourhood, and very much augmented during the bathing season, – found the urgent necessity of providing a suitable and commodious place of worship; and with the perseverance and heartiness which generally characterises this denomination they set to work to raise funds towards the erection of a new chapel. Local efforts have been ably seconded by friends of other districts, many of whom are in the habit of visiting Saltburn during the summer. The Improvement Commissioners have also given considerable encouragement, and with a spirit of liberality that does them credit they have on very easy terms offered the trustees an exceedingly eligible site at the corner of Emerald-street, facing Hilton-street, and commanding a magnificent view of the broad expanse of the sea. The pleasing and interesting ceremonial of laying the foundation stone of the new edifice, took place on Monday, and was witnessed by a large number of persons, several of whom had come from a remote distance to be present on the occasion. When completed the entire building will comprise the chapel, school-room, vestries, with conveniences in the cellar below for preparing water, &c. for tea parties. The whole is to be built of brick; the exterior being faced with white pressed bricks with stone dressings of a dark buff colour.

From this newspaper 100 years ago. – The announcement that Lord Kitchener had approved of Ripon as a military centre for two divisions of troops raised great interest throughout the city and district. For some months the Territorial Committee have been putting forward the claims of Ripon for recognition in the matter of the training of troops. For many years the neighbourhood of the city has been a favourite camping ground both in the days of the old Volunteers, and under the more recent Territorial regime. Troops have encamped in brigades and battalions of infantry, and Telegraph Companies and Engineers have found suitable localities for their operations. During the past few weeks military officers have inspected the Red Bank site and adjacent country, lying between the rivers Skell and Laver, and their reports have evidently warranted Lord Kitchener in approving of the scheme. The Red Bank was formerly the racecourse, but the grandstand has been turned into private houses and the land forms excellent pasturage for cattle. It has a gravelly subsoil, and the ground of the neighbourhood, is very similar. The site is an elevated and picturesque one, and in the background are the woods of the Studley Estate. There are various estimates of the number of men to be expected. Two divisions of infantry may mean anything from 20,000 to 30,000 men, but there many probably be more. No delay is to be experienced in starting with the work of building huts for the men, and it is anticipated these will extend over an area of 500 or 600 acres. The contractors are Messrs Nicholson and Co of Leeds, who visited the city on Wednesday to make preliminary preparations. According to their statement the first division for which huts are to be erected will be on Red Bank, at the point nearest to Ripon, and at the outset 18,000 men will be provided for. If the second division is to be of the same strength when the camp is completed it will include not far short of 40,000 men. As stated at the last council meeting, the Corporation will supply the camp with water from their Lumley Moor works, where the storage has recently been largely augmented by the heavy rain of the last few weeks. It is obvious, however, that with more than quadruple the population of Ripon will mean an immensely increased water consumption. The estimate put down for the camp was stated at one million gallons per week, and it will probably be more. There is a hint that should the establishment of this camp prove a success it may become a permanent one, and Ripon would partake of the nature of a garrison town.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. – With a view to increasing the scope of voluntary effort in the operation of health and welfare services of the County Council in the Richmond Health Area which comprises the borough of Richmond and the rural districts of Croft, Reeth, Richmond and Startforth), the Health Committee and the County Homes and Welfare Committee convened a conference of voluntary organisations in the area of the Town Hall, Richmond. The chairman welcomed the representatives of the various organisations and stated that invitations had been sent out to organisations in the Richmond Health Area and if any organisations had been omitted this was not intentional and the County Council would be happy to take advantage of any services they were prepared to give. Before the meeting, details were circulated of the services provided by the County Council, some of the services already provided by voluntary organisations and ways in which it was suggested voluntary organisations might be able to develop the services. These ranged from reception duties connected with chiropody treatment sessions, transport of aged and/or handicapped persons, day and night sitter-in service for elderly and/or ill people, shopping, exchange of library books, collection of prescriptions and pensions, meals-on-wheels service, to a boarding-out scheme for elderly people. The list totalled 17 in all. The chairman stated that it was intended that when the offers of service had been received from the voluntary organisations the District Medical Officer, Dr H R Morrison, of the Infant Welfare Centre, Quaker Lane, Richmond, would establish a register of the organisations and the nature of the service they were prepared to provide and would co-ordinate their efforts. Members of the various organisations spoke of the work that their respective organisations were doing and offered help in developing the services.