Monday, August 23, 2004

100 years ago: That otters exist in the Foss was sufficiently well known, but one had now made an appearance in the Ouse. It was seen about 10 o'clock one night, when it was very calm and still after the heat of the day, and whilst the witness was fishing near the Blue Bridge. He was surprised to see some ripples in the water close to the bank, and first thought there was a dog in the river. The next instant he heard a plunge, and saw an otter swimming. A noise startled the animal, and it struck off towards the Clementhorpe side of the river up stream, afterwards turning swam back close to where the watching angler stood. A good view was obtained and the otter was estimated to have been about two feet six inches in length

50 years ago: Myxomatosis was spreading across many counties, with it recently having been found in rabbits around Beverley, and owners of the tame variety were beginning to show concern that their own stock would be affected. The chairman of the Ebor Fur Fanciers' Society tried to allay fears, saying "I have never heard of anyone in York having rabbits with the disease," and he also recommended that owners take advantage of the anti-myxomatosis vaccine that cost only fourpence a head.

25 years ago: It would be a long wait for the replica of the 18th century Queen's Hotel in Micklegate to be built, the original of which had been demolished along with the buildings either side in 1975, as they were regarded as dangerous. The owners of the site announced it would be 1984 before the new building would be finished, the Environment Secretary having made conditions that the replacement must be a replica of the original building. Work on it should have been started within six months of it being demolished, however delays were being caused by the difficulties of planning a building that is a replica of what was one of the finest examples of that era craftsmanship in York.

Updated: 15:23 Friday, August 27, 2004