Saturday, January 28, 2006

100 years ago

At the York Police Court William Humble senior, aged 50, labourer and William Humble junior, aged 23, labourer both of 13 Portland Place, York, were charged on remand with stealing 3cwt 22lbs of coal from a yard in Walmgate, the property of Messrs Lancelot Foster and Sons. The Chief Constable said that following complaints made of coal theft from the yard, a watch had been kept. The two men were seen loading a small keel boat with coal. Detective Joseph Blackburn said that he and a police constable saw the prisoners come from the direction of Walmgate. The elder prisoner got into a keel boat and he saw the two men load coal into the boat. He got out of his hiding place with the PC and arrested the accused. William Robinson, foreman in the employment of Messrs Lancelot Foster and Sons, said that the coal was valued at 21s 6d per ton, and the amount taken at 3s 6d. Father and son were sentenced to one month's imprisonment each with hard labour.

50 years ago

No one should have imagined that because of Parliament's quiet re-start there was a dull time ahead. This session MPs would have to decide such controversial questions as whether to abolish hanging or to stop it for an experimental period; whether to allow Malta to send MPs to Westminster - with the possibility that other colonial territories would want to do so too; and whether peers should be paid and MPs given another rise in salary. These matters were almost upon us in addition to much more important legislation, as the Monopolies Bill would be out in two or three weeks.

25 years ago

The Castle Museum, York, was moving with the times. Not content with having one of the most comprehensive and fascinating displays of historical paraphernalia in the country, the museum was moving into the middle and late 20th century. Under construction were two kitchens -- side-by-side. One in the style of 1951, and the other with up-to-date equipment. Together they cost £2,500. Mr Stephen Harrison, keeper of Folk Life, said the 1951 kitchen had a cooker donated by NEEB from a disused house in Castlegate, a pantry with wire-netting over the window and a white porcelain sink. Added to that it had a rather battered-looking door, which Mr Harrison said gave the kitchen, a "hint of realism." The 1981 kitchen, with its spotlight, modern cooker, built-in shelves and lack of pantry, would show how things had changed in 30 years.

Updated: 16:04 Friday, January 27, 2006