Monday, July 19, 2004

100 years ago: The Britannia ketch Captain Mason, from Port Dinorwic, North Wales, arrived at Skeldergate Bridge in York with about 150 tons of slates. It had come direct without trans-shipment, from the famous quarries of Mr Asheton Smith, for the firm of Messrs J Dodgson and Sons, slate merchants, Toft Green. This was the second cargo of slates which had arrived that year from these quarries for this firm. In face of the attention then being paid to the issue of water carriage to York, the event was noted with interest.

50 years ago: A hundred years ago this month the York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway, the Leeds Northern and the York and North Midland amalgamated and became known as the North Eastern Railway. It was on July 31, 1854, that the Bill of Amalgamation was sanctioned and in this month's issue of the British Railway Magazine the history of the company was traced. There was special mention of George Hudson, who laid the foundation of this mode of transport. Of the centenary, the magazine said: "The North-Eastern Railway stood in high prestige. Its managers always were in the front of the battle with clear thought and strong action. What vigour was theirs! What a glorious heritage they left us!"

25 years ago: Tea and coffee at 1919 prices of tea at 2p a pot and coffee at "three-half pence" a cup were on the menu at Betty's, as part of a fundraising scheme for Barnado's. The only snag was that the drinks had to be paid for in "old money" such as farthings, 1/2d, 1d and 3d coins. Customers were also being asked to donate any additional old money to the charity, especially silver coins.

Updated: 12:43 Saturday, July 17, 2004