100 years ago

The York carriage and wagon shops of the North-Eastern Railway Company had turned out about 1000 transport wagons for the Army, and were currently engaged on a big order for ambulance stretchers running into many thousands.

The machine shops at Darlington were being fitted up to produce shells on a large scale.

At Gateshead and other centres the great mechanical resources of the company were being utilised for the turning out of war material for the Allies.
 

50 years ago

Increased postal charges were expected to be announced in the Commons this week, and some people were already beginning to ask whether it was sensible to carry letters the length and breadth of the country at the same charge as from one street to another in the same town.

The postal service had begun with charges by the mile - way back in 1635.

Moreover, the charges were for each sheet of paper - though oddly enough the size of the sheet did not appear to have been stipulated.

As an envelope counted as a sheet it became customary merely to fold the letter and seal it with wax. For many years pre-payment was not demanded, the fee being paid by the person who received the letter.

This arrangement certainly ensured delivery, but if the recipient refused to pay the postage, the letter was destroyed.

Some astute people found that this system enabled them to keep in touch with relatives at no cost at all.

They merely arranged for absent members of their family to send a blank sheet of paper, signifying that all was well.

When this "letter" was delivered the recipient recognised the sender's handwriting in the address... and refused to accept delivery.

If a genuine letter had to be sent, the writer gave a clue by slightly altering the form of address or making some other deliberate error. The recipient then accepted delivery and paid the postage.
 

25 years ago

Sea Life Centre, the big new holiday attraction planned for Scarborough's North Bay, had just been given full backing by planning councillors.

Deputy Director of Planning, Mr Jonathon Allison, said the centre, to be developed at Scalby Mills, would include two giant 50ft high pyramids in which the marine centre would be based, and would have shops, landscaped displays and a restaurant.

Councillors welcomed the project as an exciting new attraction which would be a valuable asset in wet weather for tourists.

It was to be built on the site of the former Scalby Mills Hotel and beer garden which had been demolished as part of the £28 million sewage outfall scheme currently under construction by Yorkshire Water.