100 years ago

M Briand and M Sarrant, who had left for Bordeaux after their tour in the East of France, were much impressed by the terrible scenes of devastation which they had witnessed, but also by the invincible hope in the future manifested by the inhabitants of the stricken districts through which they had passed.

The ravages of the German invasion in frontier towns and villages were really appalling. Hardly a house was intact in districts lately so prosperous, and the details of wanton cruelty and vandalism were so numerous that it was impossible to innumerate them. On the other hand, despite the terrible suffering and misfortunes, the spirit of the inhabitants remained unbroken.

The ministers had witnessed the heart-rending sight of old men, women and children returning to their devastated homes to take up again their daily task and save the crops which had escaped the storm of invasion.

 

50 years ago

High-fashion in hand knitting, for cold and not-so-cold weather, for daytime, cocktail time and bed-time, for Christmas presents and even for wedding wear, was on parade this week at York Co-Operative Society Ltd’s Lecture Room.

Hayfield knitting wools were the yarns being shown; although, in practice, these “wools” could nowadays be pure wool or one of a variety of man-made fibres. This collection covered clothes for all ages from schoolgirl to mature woman. There were mother-and-daughter teams and “him and her” sweaters (although for the parade, modelling was confined to “her”).

In a tempting selection of hand-knitted suits, you could take your choice between jacket and skirt “classics,” jumper suits, and three-piece teams with open-fronted jackets like extended boleros.

 

25 years ago

New draft plans for the development of a site christened Emperor’s Wharf, in York, looked set to continue the city’s riverside renaissance.

In an effort to plug one of the last remaining gaps in the river frontage between Ouse and Skeldergate bridges, York City Council had produced a new draft planning brief. The guidelines, aimed at promoting a “sensitive” development, showed the possibilities of building both offices and residential buildings from 26 to 34 Skeldergate.

Although they did not own the site, the move was part of the council’s positive programme of trying to project more money and jobs into idle city centre sites. The site was owned by Mr Andy Clarke, the owner of Lady Anne Middleton’s Hotel in Skeldergate, who had christened it Emperor’s Wharf.

Mr Clarke said the warehouses on the site were currently used for storage. but He would not expand on the type of development earmarked for the site, although he said it was likely to be offices.