Wednesday, November 3, 2004

100 years ago: The police court served to throw a fresh sidelight upon York's poverty problems when a large number of parents were summoned for having failed to send their children regularly to school. Some pitiable excuses were pleaded, and in a great many instances it was said that lack of boots and clothing had compelled self-respecting parents to keep their offspring at home. The Leeman Road district supplied a big batch of defaulters, and on their behalf the secretary to the Education Committee took the opportunity to inform the magistrates that a great deal of the poverty hereabouts had been brought about by the closing of the York Engineering Works. The columnist was afraid that the full effects of the closing of this large industry had yet to be felt in the city, as when in full swing the works found employment for quite a young township, and it must inevitably follow that the suspension of operations would be attended by far reaching results.

50 years ago: Motels, "those colonies of bungalows used by long-distance motorists", were becoming increasingly popular in this country. A correspondent said: "It now looks as if we are going to get motels whether we like it or not. Anybody who has travelled in America will confirm that so long as we copy or adopt the better type of motel the prospect is not at all that grim. Hideous as the characteristic street scene may be in America, the contemporary standard of domestic architecture is high, and many motels are good to look at." There were already three motels in England, the oldest being the Hotel Cottages at Boroughbridge, on the Great North Road. It was established in 1935 and comprised of a main building, where meals were served, and ten various sized cottages, and an employee told Mr Nobody that American and Canadian tourists staying there said the set-up was just the same as at home.

25 years ago: The plan to ban all traffic from Deangate was backed by York City Council, and now the scheme had to be approved only by North Yorkshire County Council to be introduced the following May. The proposed scheme, which would run for six months, called for a 24-hour ban on all transport except bicycles. There was also a call for a mandatory ban on all heavy lorries in the city unless they had business in York.

Updated: 15:55 Tuesday, November 02, 2004