What made Hexham Courant headlines up to 150 years ago

10 years ago

CATWALK CALL: Two inspirational youngsters from Hexham participated in a fashion show to fundraise for Josie's Dragonfly Trust. The pair had both endured years of cancer treatments including chemotherapy to get them on the path to recovery.

PARKING ROW: Hexham MP Guy Opperman and Northumberland County Council Labour leaders continued to disagree over the issue of free parking in Hexham and Corbridge.

SLIPPERY SLOPE: Hexham Town Council proposed installing an ice rink in the town centre over a weekend in December as part of its Countdown to Christmas initiative.

25 years ago

AXED: A tree in Hexham's Priestpopple which Tynedale councillors voted to preserve was felled. Northumberland County Council used its powers under the Highways Act to override the proposed tree preservation order and axe the silver birch outside the County Mills building.

James Weatherley, from Windy Hill Farm, won the prize for 'best turned out slug' at the Dipton Mill Inn's annual slug show in 1998 (Image: Newsquest)

INQUIRY: An inquiry was demanded by a Nenthead ecologist over the Met Office's 'inadequate' warning before a torrential storm hit the North Pennines and south-west Scotland.

CLOSURE: Hopes that Tynedale's Territorial Army centre would be saved were fading after a leaked government document revealed Hexham's base was among 140 nationwide facing the axe.

50 years ago 

BACK LASH: The drowning of a 14-year-old boy in the River Tyne at Corbridge led to parish council chairman Cllr Noel Dixon calling for vandals who repeatedly interfered with lifebelts on the river bank to be flogged. 

REOPEN: Haltwhistle's Westgate Methodist Chapel reopened after being closed for two years, following a £13,500 renovation scheme. 

75 years ago

LONG SERVICE: Fourteen miners and engineers with more than 500 years of service between them at the Settlingstones witherite mine near Newbrough were presented with long service awards in the form of mantel clocks.

WASH OUT: Dreadful summer weather saw four apprentices from Newcastle stranded by floods on Harbottle Island in the Tyne at Hexham for 48 hours. The Hexham and Corbridge guides had their summer camp in the Borders washed out.

100 years ago

CASTLE SHOW: The spacious parks of Swinburne Castle provided a fine setting for the ninth annual show of the Swinburne Horticultural and Industrial Society/

TRANSFER: Hexhamshire Agricultural Show transferred from Whitley Chapel to Dotland, and had a display of cattle, sheep and horses. 

BONUS: At the annual meeting of Acomb Brass Band, a balance of £17 8s was reported. Mr R Neal was reelected chairman.

125 years ago

GROWING: There was a large increase in entries at the Allendale, Hexhamshire and Whitfield Agricultural Society Show at Allendale, whose area had been extended to include Haydon parish.

BAND: The Consett Iron Company's Workmen's Prize Band gave a concert to a large crowd on the Sele at Hexham.

RELIEF: The cost of Corbridge's street lights were £64 7s, raised through a halfpenny rate on land and an 11/2d rate on houses. 

150 years ago

STONE LAID: The foundation stone for Wark Mechanics Institute was laid by Mrs Streatfield, daughter of Hugh Taylor, of Chipchase Castle. 

LAMB TRYSTS: Lamb trysts were held at Chollerford and Bellingham. At Chollerford, prices ranged from 15s to 30s, while at Bellingham Cheviot ewe lambs sold for up to 19s per head.