10 years ago

New chapter: A new £900,000 arts centre at Allendale was preparing to open its doors. The Allendale Forge Studios, in the Market Square, was set to be home to a variety of creative groups.

Heating bills: It emerged that Northumberland County Council was continuing to pay gas and telephone bills at Haltwhistle’s former Greenholme care home, 18 months after its closure. The council said it remained responsible for safely maintaining the building.

Golfing royalties: A golf club in the district came up with an alternative for people who did not want to watch the forthcoming Royal Wedding. With William and Kate due to tie the knot on April 29, Stocksfield Golf Club invited golfers from around the district to compete for the Royal Salver on the big day, instead of watching the event on TV.

25 years ago

No industry: Campaigners at Acomb were celebrating when Tynedale Council shied away from earmarking a 100-acre greenfield site on the outskirts of the village for industrial development. Councillors accepted planning committee recommendations that the proposals for a strategic employment site at Acomb, or anywhere else in the Tyne Valley, should be dropped from the Tynedale Local Plan.

Dutch courage: A blacksmith from Ayle, near Alston, Stan Pike, produced a replica ancient Celtic sword for Dutchman Bram Dageling, one of the strongest men in the world, to use at a series of Highland Games in Holland, Belgium and Germany.

Fish deaths: A probe into a spate of fish deaths at Wylam over the previous six summers concluded that low oxygen levels in the River Tyne was the main cause. The National River Authority was hoping to obtain funding for a £350,000 programme to solve the problem.

50 years ago

Dusty domain: Hexham Rural Council called for the amount of whinstone dust generated by Barrasford Quarry to be reduced. The request followed complaints from visitors that they were living much of their lives in a haze of dust.

Dog theft: Pet owners in the Tyne Valley were warned that dog thieves were at large. The breeds reported to be most at risk of theft were labradors, Jack Russell and Bedlington terriers.

Green light: A timetable for the construction of a swimming pool in Hexham was agreed by urban councillors in the town.

Lorry hijack: A lorry carrying £100,000 worth of tobacco was hijacked near Haydon Bridge.

75 years ago

Cold continues: A spell of cold weather continued. The chilliest place in the district was reported to be the North Tyne Valley, where stretches of the river had frozen over. At Houghton, near Barrasford, 22 degrees of frost were recorded.

Show comeback: Bellingham’s annual leek and vegetable show was revived after a lapse during the Second World War.

Rampant Hearts: The superb Hexham Hearts football team maintained its winning streak by notching up a 7-0 home win against Corbridge Rangers. The emphatic victory kept the side 17 points clear at the top of the table and took the goals tally that season, after 21 games, to a hefty 112.

100 years ago

Housing project: Work got under way on a housing development, consisting of eight properties, in Corbridge, off the Stagshaw Bank Road.

History lesson: The names of places in and around Hexham were the subject of a talk led by Rev. J. E. Hull, of Ninebanks, at a meeting of Hexham Nonconformist Literary Association. Among the information dispensed at the get-together, it was stated that Cockshaw meant ‘hill of the moorcock”.

125 years ago

Floral celebrations: Allendale Floral and Horticultural Society held various celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of its founding.

Unpleasant epidemic: Alston had fallen prey to an outbreak of diarrhoea, it was reported at a district council meeting. Fortunately, the cases which had come to district medical officer Stewart Carson’s attention were said to have been mild, and none had proved fatal.

150 years ago

No progress: A talk to the members of Hexham Farmers’ Club had to be postponed due to the “indisposition of Professor Wrightson”. The talk was set to involve the reading of a paper on the “advantages nationally of compensating tenants for unexhausted improvements.”

Worthy feast: A total of 30 people sat down to a gratefully received capital supper at the Bush Inn public house, in Hexham.