WE looked through our archives to find out what made Hexham Courant headlines up to 150 years ago.

10 years ago

CHARITY CAMPAIGN: A couple from Haydon Bridge fundraised for families to benefit from the treatment which transformed the life of their 10-month-old son Zach, who needed support with the condition known as 'flat head syndrome'.

WALKOUT: Tynedale schools closed due to a teacher strike.

DEVELOPMENT: Plans were discussed to build more than 300 homes in a multi-million-pound development in the grounds of the former Prudhoe Hospital.

25 years ago 

CASH INJECTION: A Heritage Lottery grant of £176,000 for Tynedale Council was formally approved, which was to support the refurbishment of public parks in Hexham town centre.

MP DIES: Former Hexham MP, Sir Rupert Speir, died aged 88. He won the seat in the 1951 general election and held the position for 13 years.

Hexham Courant: Leek experts Linda and Gary Scott with daughters Lucy, 5, and Emily, who was born in 1998. The event did not prevent the pair's success in the annual Acomb Show Leek experts Linda and Gary Scott with daughters Lucy, 5, and Emily, who was born in 1998. The event did not prevent the pair's success in the annual Acomb Show (Image: NQ)

CRISIS: Hill farmers faced a crisis as experts predicted a dramatic fall in earnings over the next year.

PRIORITY: Rows over pupils being turned away from Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham and Ponteland High School prompted county council education chiefs to rethink their admissions policy.

50 years ago

GRANTED: Outline planning consent was granted for a three-story shop and office complex in St Mary's Wynd, Hexham.

LIGHTNING LETTER: A letter posted in Hexham one morning arrived at its destination, another address in Hexham, just one hour later.

HANDOVER: Hexham Round Table marked its 21st anniversary by handing over a £1,600 minibus to the town's general hospital.

75 years ago

THREE IN A ROW: A win over Haltwhistle enabled Newton's cricketers to emerge as West Tyne Senior Cricket League champions for the third year running. 

100 years ago

VETERAN VICAR DIES: A man said to be one of England's oldest clergymen, Thomas Holbrow, a former chaplain at Stagshaw, died at home in Corbridge aged 94.

BIG FISH: Ovingham angler Jason Cook landed a 30lb salmon while fishing in the Tyne, reportedly one of the biggest fish caught so far that year.

125 years ago

MOURNING: John Erwin, 29, a miner at Nenthead's Vieille Montagne Zinc Company, died after being run over by one of the firm's traction engines.

DEAL: 145 acres of land around Alston changed hands. George Dickinson of Alston bought the 58-acre Blagill estate for £1,055. The 87-acre Ayle estate, near Kirkhaugh, was bought for £905 by Mr T Todd of Moorhouse.

150 years ago

HYDROPHOBIA DEATH: Joseph Robson of Westward Cottages, Bardon Mill, died of rabies after being bit by a mad dog, one of many reportedly loose in West Tynedale at the time.

STRIKE: A cottage called Bank Head, near Wark, caught fire and was gutted after being struck by lightning. Its occupants, John Bell and family, escaped unhurt.