Hexham Courant headlines in Tynedale up to 150 years ago

10 years ago

JOB BOOST: A double jobs boost was to breathe new life into the 'ghost village' of Otterburn. The sales of both Otterburn Hall Hotel and The Percy Arms Hotel were imminent and the village rejoiced that both properties were to receive new owners. Following the closure of the hotels, local businesses said they had noticed a downturn in visitors to the village and the prospect of them reopening was a huge boost.

STAFF WALKOUT: There was a mass walkout of sector staff and the strike meant several of Northumberland County Council's services were out of operation. Some of the district's schools closed for the day as were several libraries and other council buildings and services.

GRAVE CONCERNS: The North East Ambulance Service was heavily criticised for 'scandalous' delays after people were left waiting for urgent treatment in three separate incidents in Tynedale. 

25 years ago

TRAIL BOOST: The Hadrian's Wall national trail project landed a £1.6 million National Lottery grant. This grant, announced by the Heritage Lottery Fund, followed another of £1.35 million, made to the £4.5 million Countryside Agency scheme several years earlier.

Ponteland Rotary Club's annual duck race in 1999, where Tom Jones bought a ticket for his wife without her knowledge and won her a day out at Kielder with a meal for two, courtesy of Northumbria Water (Image: Newsquest)

TRAGIC DEATH: A horse which was in the middle of a charity ride had to be put down because of injuries it sustained after getting stuck in a bog. A walker discovered the animal and its rider near the Chew Green Roman Fort, above Byrness. The horse had two broken legs and was unable to remove itself from the bog. 

JOB HOPES: There were hopes for hundreds of jobs to be created at new factory units on Prudhoe's industrial estate. 

50 years ago

ANIMAL KILLERS: Raiders smashed their way into a barn at Eltringham, near Prudhoe, and slaughtered rabbits, hens and a pregnant pet cat. The attack, apparently without motive, left a young couple heartbroken and was described by police as pure sadism. 

LUCKY ESCAPE: Children who emptied a canister of poison into a Kielder stream were lucky to escape with their lives. The canister was shown to have contained deadly ferrous cyanide when it was analysed after the death of five cattle in a field which the stream passes through. The canister was thought to be more than 25 years old and used in the gassing of rabbits.  

BUG PLAGUE: Lime trees in Tyne Green at Hexham were damaged by a plague of caterpillars eating their leaves. A long spell of dry weather was blamed for the outbreak.

75 years ago

BOOGIE NIGHT PROTEST: Half of the villagers in Riding Mill crowded into a public meeting to protest a ban on dances in the hall. The decision was taken by the management committee following allegations of drunkenness and rowdiness at a recent dance in the village hall.

WATER EVERYWHERE: Hexham Rural Council considered plans to build six reservoirs in the district to help water supplies in Slaley, Hexham Low and Middle Quarters, Dilston, Corbridge, Sandhoe, Oakwood and Acomb.

BANK WORK: Measures taken to halt river erosion at Wylam were hailed a success. The work, sanctioned by Hexham Rural Council, was believed to have cost £1,363.  

100 years ago

SAY CHEESE: At a meeting of Hexham Rural Council it was announced that a photograph would be taken to commemorate 30 years of the authority.

BIASED THINKING: Haltwhistle Tradesmen's Bowling Club opened the new green at Eden's Lawn.

125 years ago

SNAKES ALIVE: A monster adder, almost a yard in length, was caught near Bywell Bridge by two youngsters from Stocksfield.

OWN GOAL: At the annual meeting of Cockshaw Rovers AFC, in Hexham, it was announced the club had a membership of only seven and funds of 9s7d.

150 years ago

COLD SNAP: Frost damaged plots of potatoes in Acomb and their tops had to be cut down to almost ground-level. The cold snap also affected dahlias and grass pastures.

REVIVAL TWIST: The revival movement in Hexham took a new twist with a series of open-air summer evenings meetings on the Sele, addressed by ministers of various denominations.