The Hexham Courant headline news up to 150 years ago

10 years ago

VINTAGE FASHION: More than 30 vintage wedding dresses, some dating back as far as 1880, were due to go on display in a fundraising fashion show in Corbridge. From intricate beadwork to decadent silks to war-time gowns made when fabrics were in short supply, the dresses and accessories were to be modelled at St Andrew's Church to form the centrepiece of a wedding festival weekend. The outfits were a small part of the collection amassed over the last 25 years by Hexham grandmother Gaby Sutton. 

PASSIONATE PLEA: Haltwhistle county councillor Ian Hutchinson claimed unless the A69 trunk road was made into a dual carriageway throughout its length, the town would die. He said the A69 not only provided an important link between Newcastle and Carlisle, but was the only cross-country route in the North should the transpennine A66 - which was dualled - be closed by an accident or bad weather.

ERA'S END: The rattletrap Pacer trains which operated on the Tyne Valley line were to potentially be replaced by sleek modern electric trains. The possibility of the line being electrified between Carlisle and Newcastle came a step closer, following a House of Commons exchange between Hexham's MP Guy Opperman and Harrogate MP Andrew Jones, who chaired the Government's electrification task force.      

25 years ago 

NEW JOBS: Sixteen new jobs were to be created by the opening of a pub and restaurant at Hexham's old Forum bingo hall. The £1.25 million pub, also called The Forum, was due to open, with bar and kitchen staff recruitment underway. The developer, the JD Wetherspoon chain, said more jobs could follow if the 400-capacity venue proved as popular as the Watford-based company hoped. 

After three decades of early morning starts, Catton newsagent and former postmistress Vera Henderson finally called it a day in 1999 (Image: Tony Iley)

HUMAN CHAIN: Corbridge residents were being asked to form a human chain around the Chains allotments in the latest attempt to fight off the threat of housing there. Protest organisers hoped at least 1,000 people would line up arm in arm against proposals to turn the 150-year-old allotment site into a housing estate. 

READ MORE: Popular Slaley Show in photos over the years

BAN LIFT: The lifting of the ban on British beef exports received a mixed reaction from Tynedale's embattled farming community, with one local prime beef expert saying it would make little difference to low market prices. Prime stock manager for Hexham and Northern Marts, Robert Whitelock, said the industry would take a long time to recover from the crisis and that the lifting of the ban would be of no great benefit.  

50 years ago

ROAD TO RUIN: The South Tyne Valley could have been ruined by a proposed 'all-weather' road planned to replace the Alston railway, a Haltwhistle public inquiry heard. It was claimed the new road would open the valley to streams of thundering tracks, noisy picnickers and dirty pollution.   

PANIC BUYING: Sugar had to be rationed in a number of Hexham shops and stores because of unnecessary 'panic buying' by householders. 

75 years ago

TALKING TURKEY: A turkey hatched on a farm at Alston, which according to the Courant's Hextol column, had four beaks, three eyes and four legs. It lived only for a few minutes.

PARKING PROBLEM: A councillor asked for approaches to be made to allow temporary car parking in Hexham's Sele Walk. The chairman referred to the 'most fantastic congestion' on the town's streets.

SHOW ATTRACTION: The Tyneside show took place at Tynedale Park, Corbridge. The Tyneside Agricultural Society-organised event enjoyed good weather and attracted 30,000 people. 

100 years ago

GARAGE PLAN: Allendale Parish Council heard that a plan to build a garage at the creamery had been submitted. 

STEAMER TRIP: The Crawcrook Primitive Methodist Sunday School had their annual excursion to South Shields by steamer. 

125 years ago

FATAL FALL: An inquest into the death of a Hexham painter heard he fell 30ft to the ground after a horse collided with his ladder. 

IN FINE FETTLE: Bellingham District Council heard the parish sickness rate was much lower than usual and heard calls for a district nurse to be appointed. 

WHEELIE NEWCOMER: A 'motor tricycle' was spotted in Hexham for the first time. A local doctor was seen riding a similar machine. 

150 years ago

ESTATE BOUGHT: There was a sale of valuable property in the North Tyne. The Humshaugh Estate was bought by John Hope Jr of Hexham. Mr Hope paid £8,000 for the estate. 

BREAKAGE: A well-known man was summoned for destroying four panes of glass at Hexham Workhouse. Hexham Petty Sessions heard that the man had since offered to put the glass back in. He was sent to Morpeth Gaol for 21 days.