100 years ago

The York City Surveyor had reported to the Public Health Committee on the bath, at Acomb Landing.

The swimming pool was silted for the extent of about half its area to about 3 feet above the summer level of the river. The silt extended the whole length of the bath on the land side. When constructed, the depth of the bath at this side had been 3 feet.

The depth of the swimming pool on the side next to the river was also considerably reduced. The paths from the entrance gates to the bath were silted up and grown over with grass, the silt being around 1ft in depth.

The floor of the dressing shed was covered with silt 2ins deep, and the seat with½ inch of silt. The building was in a very dirty state, the floor being broken away in places, doors broken and partition boarding torn away. The eaves spouts were missing to the back and front. The steps to the bath next to the river at both ends were broken away.

The committee recommended the Council to authorise the discontinuance of the use of the bath, and that arrangements be made with the North Eastern Railway Company for the termination of the lease of the land.

50 years ago

A talk on the Staple Howe Iron Age settlement on the north slopes of the Wolds between East Knapton and Heslerton had been given to members of the York Centre of the Building Societies' Institute.

The hill settlement, discovered in 1950 when children on a picnic took home pieces of pottery, was excavated between 1951 and 1956. Three huts and a grain store were discovered, and it was found that the settlement was a farmstead, defended by a lodge encircling the hill.

About 1000 pieces of pottery, bronze razors dated about 500 BC, tweezers and bone equipment were found. It was said to be the most complete Iron Age settlement in Europe.

25 years ago

The biggest pancake race in North Yorkshire would stop traffic in York and attempt a possible world record against medical advice.

Radio York presenter Chris Choi aimed to make a glutton of himself for charity, and personalities from television and theatre would be running round York Minster with frying pans in their hands.

The event was the Around the Minster Charity Pancake Race, organised by Radio York's Mid-Morning Show and British Gas. After the race Chris Choi intended to eat 100 pancakes. “I have spoken to medical experts about it, and they tell me I'm ridiculous.

I don't know if it will be a world record or not, but there is no entry for pancake eating in the Guinness Book of Records,” said Chris.