Hexham Courant headline news in Tynedale up to 150 years ago

10 years ago

BUS MARCH: More than 300 people took to the streets of Hexham to protest proposals to sell off the town's bus station. 

STARS IN THEIR EYES: Tynedale teens prepared for university life after a bumper crop of A-level results. With a 100 per cent pass rate at A*-E and 83 per cent pass rate at A*-C, all pupils at Haydon Bridge High School were off to further education.

CAR PARK CHANGES: Hexham Town Council was considering hounding out those who worked in the town centre from Wentworth car park to make way room for tourists and shoppers, as the town struggled to come to terms with the impact of free parking which had been implemented several months earlier.

25 years ago

HUNT BILL: The six hunts operating in the Tynedale area were fighting for their future following the threat of a Government ban on hunting with dogs within two years. The hunts had the backing of Hexham MP Peter Atkinson, who vowed to use every device in the book to prevent the ban from becoming law. The Tynedale, the Braes of Derwent, the Haydon, the Border Foxhounds and the North Tyne hunts had been hunting foxes in the area for decades, while the Newcastle and District Beagles pursued hares.

FEATHERED FUGITIVE: A singing parrot which went missing caused a flap in Stocksfield. Max, an African Gray parrot which sang and spoke, left his owners frantic with worry after disappearing from home. His owners were delighted to be reunited with him.

The Manor House Inn after the fire in 1999 (Image: Newsquest)

INN ABLAZE: Terrified guests and a member of staff escaped injury when the Manor House Inn, Carterway Heads, caught fire in the early hours of the morning. Restaurant manager David Hare was woken by fire alarms, finding the corridor outside his room full of smoke. The blaze took teams of firefighters from Hexham, Consett and Prudhoe over four hours to put out. The fire could be seen up to three miles away.    

50 years ago

SCHOOL SHUTS: Haltwhistle Primary School closed after more than a century in service. Its 142 pupils were to go elsewhere, primarily to the South Tynedale Middle School.

FOR THE CHOP: Hexham hairdressing salon Donalde of Mayfair, established 19 years earlier by Donald Adamo, was put up for sale.

75 years ago

IN FLAMES: A Hexham postman discovered part of a hay-drying plant ablaze and contacted the local fire brigade, saving the main drying machines there from extensive damage. The storehouse and the grinding, baling and packing department of the plant were completely destroyed.

CEMETERY SUGGESTION: Some Hexham Urban District council members proposed that land from Hexham golf course could be used for a cemetery extension. This was strongly opposed by other council members.

HEXHAM'S HOTTEST: Temperatures reached 88F in Hexham on the hottest day of the year so far.

100 years ago

FARMING FATALITY: Farmer Robert Ridley, 52, died after accidentally shooting himself while at work at his farm at Elrington, near Hexham. 

ROAD CALL: Calls for a road linking Hexhamshire and Allendale were made again at a meeting of Allendale Parish Council, but went unpursued. 

ABSOLUTELY BAZAAR: A bazaar held at West Wylam Miners' Hall in Prudhoe raised £60 for the local United Methodist church. 

125 years ago

DRIVER HURT: Train driver Thomas Walker sustained a broken arm and cuts to his head after falling between his engine and a platform at Wylam railway station.

CHAPEL ON WAY: Foundations were laid for a new £410 United Free Methodist chapel at Capheaton.

150 years ago

SCYTHE ACCIDENT: William Howman, of Keenley, near Allendale, had to have a leg amputated after falling on his scythe while cutting grass near Langley.