100 years ago

The recent visit of a Zeppelin airship to Antwerp could, it was suggested, prove the most significant episode which had so far occurred in the war.

It marked the beginning of a new epoch in the conflicts of mankind. For the first time in history one of these huge and glittering structures had sailed over the house tops of a sleeping city, dropping death from the skies.

The incident was notable for what it suggested rather than for the actual damage done.

Ten years hence, it was predicted, every great nation would have fleets of airships and some aspects of modern warfare would have been revolutionised.

This was the last great war to be fought out mainly under the old conditions, except for the changes wrought by motor transport and submarines.

The story of the innocent women slain by bombs at Antwerp was tragic, but we had to remember that this was a war of the deadliest kind, and war was a tragic thing, though many people in this country seemed still unable to grasp that elementary fact.


50 years ago

The White Horse of Kilburn was almost a non-runner.

Its legs had gone and unless they got expert attention very soon one of the North Riding’s best-known landmarks would be in danger.

The public had been asked to give generously towards the estimated cost of £5,000 for repair work.

Mr John Hodgson, schoolmaster at Kilburn in 1857, had drawn the plan from which the Kilburn Horse had been cut on the Hambleton hillside. It was 314ft long and 228ft high.

Except for a very small return from an investment there was no money available for the upkeep of the horse, which, over the years, had tended to slide down the very steep hill.

The horse’s legs were currently so bad that they would have to be completely restored. It had been suggested that large hand-picked stones were used as the foundations for the new legs.

Experience had proved that lime was the best and most lasting colouring matter. Comment was made that it would be a sorry day if the Kilburn White Horse had to be withdrawn for ever because of lack of funds to keep it in good condition.


25 years ago

Castle Mills Bridge had proved too tight a squeeze for the Evening Press barge, delivering a cargo of paper.

Unexpectedly high water levels in the Foss meant the barge had stuck under the bridge, and stayed there for 20 minutes.

Onlookers crossing the bridge peered down on the barge’s crew and waited patiently for the lock operator to lower the water levels by the necessary couple of inches.

The barge’s tug, named Little Shifta, was powerless to budge it from under the heavy concrete span near Fishergate.