100 years ago

ACOMB was very proud of itself as a residential suburb of York. It claimed to be one of the healthiest places in the county. Of ancient aspect in many ways, its dwelling accommodation was rapidly expanding.

Currently there were more than 30 houses being built and it was pointed out that not for many a long day had it been found necessary to advertise an empty house in the village.

Acomb was well elevated, and had a dry, sandy soil, and the landscape was level and open almost as far as Harrogate.

“I could let 50 houses now if I had them,” said an Acomb gentlemen interested in housing.

Acomb’s air was certainly recommended by the doctors, and scarcely a day passed, it was stated, without some application for houses being received by house agents.

“We shall soon have a bigger population than York,” our representative was laughingly informed. “We are outside the city. We don’t concern ourselves with you, though the Corporation has been trying to get permission to install electric light in houses here which are outside their boundary.”

 

50 years ago

An elephant which had broken out of her compound at Paignton Zoo, Devon, and led a team of keepers and RSPCA officials on a chase through the grounds, was back in her quarters.

The elephant, a female of nearly three tons, had forced her way out because she resented being parted from her mate. For six hours she roamed around the grounds while an Army marksman with an elephant gun stood by. The chase went on all over the zoo grounds until the elephant was lured back to her compound by bananas, bread and potatoes.

 

25 years ago

An expert on Roman Britain condemned “stupidity in high places” for wrecking priceless remains on the Queen’s Hotel site in York. Prof Sheppard Frere spoke out as diggers in Micklegate discovered what it was thought could be a massive Roman forum.

York’s top archaeologist, Dr Peter Addyman, said the bulldozers would rip out the heart of Roman York before his specialist team could save it.

Archaeologists had unearthed a wall which they thought could be part of York’s lost forum, which would have been the heart of the Roman city, where markets were held.

The square would have contained statues of emperors, and would have been surrounded by civic buildings.

One of these, the council chamber, could have contained a beautiful mosaic floor. There was no doubt that such a rare find would be of major international importance.