WE looked back at what made the headlines up to 150 years ago.

10 years ago

VICTORY: Villagers celebrated victory over a wealthy family accused of using threats and blackmail in a bitter land dispute. Members of the Northumberland Planning and Environment committee approved an application by Melkridge Parish Council for a 50-yard lonnen between the village and the A69 to be reinstated as a much-needed public byway for use by residents and farmers.

STEAM: A life-size replica of the famous Puffing Billy locomotive visited Tyne Riverside car park, mere yards away from where it began carrying coal from the local pit 200 years prior.

FOUND: A missing snake was found curled up under a car bonnet in Ponteland. Mechanics at A&K Motors discovered the four-foot-long reptile as they carried out routine repairs. 

25 years ago

QUESTIONS: Prudhoe High School hosted BBC Radio 4's live broadcast, Any Questions, with one panellist being Education Secretary David Blunkett. 

STOP: A new 'bus stop' sign was introduced to Hallington, leading to confused residents queueing for a bus hoping one would turn up. The sign was a work of art produced by artist Matthew Stokes who worked at nearby North Farm, and admitted it was half-intended to confuse people.

SNAKE: A two-foot-six-inches black rat snake was captured in Hexham amid fears Hexham may be turning into an urban jungle. The species is not venomous but can administer a nasty bite.

50 years ago

REDUNDANCY: The projected closure of the Bardon Mill Colliery would put 24 men out of work by September. 

OVERTIME: Three employees clocking up 120 years of service between them retired from Fourstones Paper Mill.

INCREASE: The estimated cost of providing a library at Corbridge were revised upwards to £14,130 at a meeting of Northumberland county library sub-committee.

75 years ago

CELEBRATIONS: Nearly 300 tenants and employees on the Stagshaw and Leazes estates accepted the hospitality of Major Ian and Mrs Straker at a dinner in a marquee at Stagshaw House, Corbridge, marking the coming of age of their son, John Joicey Straker.

CONDEMNED: A system permitting the 'Poor Law Institution to seize the money of a man forced to enter the institution on account of sickness and poverty and send him away without a penny in his back pocket' was condemned at the monthly meeting of the West area Guardians Committee. 

100 years ago 

TRADE: Eggs and butter were in good supply at Hexham Provisions Mart. Eggs were selling at 1s 2d and 1s 3d per dozen and retailing at 1s 3d to 1s 6d, while butter was selling at 1s to 1s 2d per pound and retailing at 1s 3d to 1s 4d. 

125 years ago

IRRESISTIBLE: An advertisement ran: An honest medicine. Dr Davis' Famous Female pills. The most effectual on earth. Nothing can resist them. 9.5d to 4s 6d. Extra strong 11s.

PITCH IN: Permission was granted to Major GL Herbert Armstrong of the Northumberland Fusiliers for troops to 'encamp on the Seal' during their march through the county.

CROSSING: It was agreed that a footbridge was needed at Dryburn Ford, Colwell. Bellingham and Hexham Rural district councils would share the costs.  

150 years ago  

SKILL: William Prudhoe, cartwright of Barrasford advertised 'carts made in the best style of workmanship and of the most superior quality'.

DAY OUT: The eleventh Northumberland (Sandhoe) Rifle Volunteer Band had been engaged for the Langley Temperance Society's 17th annual picnic at Staward-le-Peel.

WARNED: It was reported to Hexham Local Board of Health that several of the town's butchers had put the refuse from their slaughterhouses into their ash-middens. They were warned the practice had to stop or they would be prosecuted.