Way we were

100 years ago: A letter from "Onlooker" said, when passing Spurriergate corner, he was surprised to see a policeman doing the work of a tram-horse. The writer thought something should be done in the way of new trams, as the city police shouldn't be pushing trams, adding: "Or is this the thin end of the wedge for the Corporation taking over the trams?" The editor responded that he presumed the constable was giving a hand in getting the tram round the corner owing to difficulties caused to traffic by the laying of electric cable. He could see nothing improper in that, on the contrary it was a very creditable act, and such was expected from the York Police in an emergency affecting the convenience of the public.

50 years ago: The Archbishop of York, Dr Cyril Garbett, in his presidential address to the 100th meeting of York Diocesan Conference, revealed that Bishopthorpe Palace, home of the Archbishops of York since the 13th century, may become a retreat house and conference centre for clergy and laity of the Northern Province. After the changeover, expected in three of four years' time, Archbishops of York, while still using Bishopthorpe Palace for official purposes, would live in a smaller house called The Chantry. The Archbishop also referred to a considerable legacy left to him to administer by a personal friend, of which he intended to appropriate the greater part for the endowment of the palace, as long as it was a retreat or conference house. Dr Garbett said he realised when he came to York as Archbishop, more than 12 years before, that no Archbishop could live in the future at Bishopthorpe without large private means. Soon after he went to the house, there was heavy rain, and seven leaks were detected through the ceilings of various rooms, and on two occasions heavy expenditure had been necessary to prevent the embankment in front of the house from slipping into the river.

25 years ago: A message written more than 100 years before was found in a bottle under the floorboards of Bootham Park Hospital in York. The discovery was made by an electrician engaged in rewiring. The message said: "This floor was laid on April 30, 1868, by George Noble, the asylum carpenter, assisted by Richard Jenkins, a patient who is deaf and dumb." The note also gave a list of hospital officials at the time from the Medical Superintendent, Dr Frederick Needham, to the matron, Betsey Penrose.

Updated: 16:45 Friday, November 12, 2004