What made news in Hexham and Tynedale 150 years ago?

10 years ago

LICENCE ROW: One of Tynedale's most popular tourist attractions, the bird of prey centre Falconry Days in Stonehaugh, faced closure after council officials demanded £2,000 for a zoo licence. Owners Mark and Wendy French refused to pay as they said the business was not a zoo and therefore did not need a licence.

Owners of Falconry Days in Stonehaugh, Mark and Wendy French, with a red kite (Image: NQ)

AMERICAN DEAL: The Specials Laboratory in Prudhoe, an unlicensed medicines manufacturer and specials supplier Craig & Hayward, was acquired by the American company Professional Compounding Centres of America INC (PCCA). The laboratory also produced veterinary specials and products for hospital-based clinical trials.

DARED TO WIN: Langley vet and mum-of-two Jo Bates appeared on the BBC quiz show Who Dares Wins and walked off with £15,000. 

CLOSURE CONCERNS: The year-long closure of Ovingham Bridge to carry out a £3m facelift filled residents with trepidation. Villagers were concerned about the scheme's impact on everything from local businesses to riverside trees and road safety.

25 years ago

TYNEDALE TALES: The clean, fresh air which brought tourists to Tynedale was something of a myth according to a new report. Coal fires and cars emitted so much pollution that air quality in the district was below Government guidelines in four out of seven key areas. The report's biggest surprise was that among the worst polluted areas were rural villages such as Bellingham and Allendale.

MOCK WEDDING: Two schoolfriends tied the knot at St Cuthbert's Church in Haydon Bridge. Haydon Bridge High School pupils Alison Carruthers and David Seal, both aged 15, were involved in the mock ceremony as part of their religious education studies. The school's kitchen staff made a special cake for the returning party and Alison wore a (loaned) £1,500 designer dress down the aisle.

MIX-UP: Angry Prudhoe parents felt a bus company was skating on thin ice when it sent a dilapidated school bus to take their children on a skiing trip to France. Parents claimed the bus, sent by tour operator Ski Bound for Prudhoe High School's annual ski trip to Sierre Chevalier, was in poor condition and had no toilet or drinks facilities.

50 years ago

RUBBISH GALORE: Litter louts dumped rubbish on the doorstep of Hexham East End First School which included a three-piece suite and mattresses.

SOFTLY: At a meeting of Birtley Parish council members said if controversial plans to build houses in the village went ahead they would be asking for the development to be built gradually. 

TALENT POOL: A new craft federation, harnessing the home-grown talents of Tynedale people was launched under the umbrella of the Allendale-based firm of Dale Valley Products.

75 years ago

CALLING TIME:  Time was set to stand still in Allendale unless the villagers subscribed almost £200 to fund a restoration of the church clock.

FIVE-DAY WEEK: Prudhoe Urban Council was the first local authority in Northumberland to introduce a five-day week for its outdoor staff.

100 years ago

CHARITY ACHIEVEMENT: With nine concerts, Prudhoe Gleemen raised £226 for charity, bringing the total amount raised since the Gleemen's reformation in 1919 to £945.

CORBRIDGE CAPERS: Corbridge Town Hall was crowded when the Jesmond Jesters gave a concert on behalf of the local cricket and tennis clubs. 

ROBBIE REVERED: Bellingham Burns club held its annual supper in the Railway Hotel, the haggis being piped in by Dr Graham Miller.

125 years ago

FUNDS FLOW: The Hexham Abbey appeal was making good progress having raised £6,416.

FIVE TO SERVE: The school board of Broomley and Bywell was to comprise five members, every ratepayer in the two parishes having a right to vote in the election. 

AMATEURS' WORK: The Hexham Amateur Minstrels comprising 24 artists provided entertainment in the town hall of Corbridge to fundraise for Newcastle Infirmary.

150 years ago

SPECIAL EDITION: Because of the great interest in the parliamentary and local school board elections, a special Tuesday edition of the Hexham Courant was published.

HEXHAM BALL: Hexham subscription assembly ball in the town hall was was described as the most enjoyable that had been held in the town.