Saturday, October 23, 2004

100 years ago: An engine driver from York lost control of his bicycle whilst riding down Poppleton Road one evening. He ran into a lamp-post, damaging his machine, and was so shaken that a sergeant had to take him home. In another strange incident, a bicycle was found hanging on the telegraph wires at a village just outside of York. The machine, which did not belong to anyone in that village, was presumed stolen. A columnist was puzzled as to why the thief, in order to get rid of it, should climb a telegraph pole and hang the bicycle on the wires.

50 years ago: The landlord of the Plough Inn, Hayton, and a number of his customers were somewhat abashed when a stranger dashed in breathlessly and asked: "What is there peculiar about this inn?" The party scanned the stranger up and down and replied, a little hurt, they did not think there was anything peculiar about it. "But there is!" insisted the stranger, pulling document out of his pocket. He read: "At Hayton you will find a plough before the horse." The locals became interested and one dashed out to make sure that the inn sign had not been changed, but there was no clue for the picture of the two horses pulling the plough was still there. Then someone remarked: "There's only that old tin horse on that building," pointing to a farm building opposite the inn where a painted horse, made by the local blacksmith, some years ago, had been placed. "That's the clue," said the stranger, rushing out and jumping into his car. It was later discovered that he was on a treasure hunt organised by a South Yorkshire club.

25 years ago: A Scarborough church was being demolished because of a blunder by builders almost two centuries ago. Christ Church, in Vernon Road, appeared to be a fine building, but 180 years ago the builders lay the stones round the wrong way. They placed the grain running horizontally instead of vertically, with the result that water seeped into the walls because it could not drain away down the stonework. As a result the stones were starting to crumble, and had become a danger to the public, and so the church had to be pulled down. It was a well-known landmark in the town, and was the scene of Anne Bronte's funeral, although she was buried in St Mary's churchyard.

Updated: 16:21 Friday, October 22, 2004