Thursday, January 20, 2005

100 years ago: A thick fog settled over York, accompanied by a sharp frost and the combination of fog and frost, which "clothed the trees and shrubs in exquisite dresses of delicate white lace work".

Since the snow fell children and adults had a high time tobogganing in York Museum Gardens. The steep asphalt path at the west end of the ruins of St Mary's Abbey made a splendid toboggan slide, and the invigorating pastime was thoroughly enjoyed. Skaters were also having a splendid time in Victoria Park, which had been flooded, and was covered with a sheet of ice in grand condition. The skaters could enjoy themselves by night as well as day, for after dark the park was brightly illuminated. Those who were on skating bent could cross the ferry at the bottom of Clifton Scope free of charge to join in the fun.

50 years ago: The weather was in the news, as there was a sheet of ice across the River Ouse for the first time since 1947, and so Mr Nobody went in search of interesting stories of previous cold snaps. He found some in the Public Ledger, from the issue of the newspaper from 1760, one paragraph referring to the fact that the Thames was frozen hard, "even so low as Deptford." It also said, in a matter-of-fact statement, that "several persons attempted to walk over the ice, but, venturing too far, it broke under them, and three of them were drowned." Mr Nobody couldn't imagine such an occurrence receiving such bald treatment in "these days of brighter (and dare I add? better) newspaper reporting," as now the paper would have the fullest details of the three people including what they were wearing, and why they were trying to cross the ice.

25 years ago: Restoration work at the 14th century Bedern Hall was in progress, and was expected to last until November at a cost of about £140,000. The hall, owned by the council and part of the medieval College of the Vicars-Choral, was being renovated as it was in "poor condition" and needed to be extensively shored up and civil engineering techniques used to ensure it stood up when work took place. The work included making good the original roof timbers, which were in an intricate scissor arrangement, and glass was to be fitted in the hall's windows when they were unbricked.

Updated: 11:19 Thursday, January 20, 2005