The Hexham Courant headlines in Tynedale up to 150 years ago

10 years ago

SPORTING CONCERNS: Concerns were raised about the reduction of sporting facilities and access for buses at Prudhoe's brand-new high school. The school was in line for a complete rebuild and Prudhoe Town Council supported the scheme, adding a note of concern over bus access and parking issues. The plans were also criticised for reducing sports facilities.

Eric Pickles in 2014 (Image: NQ) FINAL SAY: The controversial planning application to build 280 homes at Birney Hill Farm on the outskirts of Ponteland was to be personally decided by Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Local Government. 

POLE FURY: Northern Rail found themselves on the wrong track with plans for a giant sign advertising the new retail park close to the Hexham railway station. The 15ft tall internally illuminated totem pole was deemed bad medicine by Northumberland County Council's west area planning committee. Consent was refused after the committee heard the sign described as 'ugly and outlandish' by one objector. 

25 years ago

PLANS ABANDONED: Hexham's taxi drivers won their fight against Tynedale Council's colour bar on new taxis. Councillors voting at the November meeting of the full council overwhelmingly threw out a proposal that the district's cabbies should adopt a corporate image of white taxis only. 

A69 CHANGES: There were mixed feelings about the proposed ban on right-hand turns from the Acomb junction onto the A69 trunk road. Cllr Alex Kerr, of Humshaugh, feared the proposal could have a disastrous effect on the livelihoods of many hauliers who used the junction regularly. Cllr Foster of Newbrough successfully proposed that consideration be given to using the Hermitage bridge over the A69 as a motorway-style gantry to direct traffic into the correct lane when heading west from Hexham.

LAST CHANCE: It was the last chance for the public to comment on Tynedale Council's planning blueprint for the new Millennium. Tynedale Council published its amended version of the local plan, which as expected allocated the Chains allotments at Corbridge for housing purposes - a proposal which was being strongly challenged in the village. 

50 years ago

RECYCLING PLAN VETOED: The Secretary of State for the Environment rejected an ambitious plan to use waste materials from the old Acomb Colliery Pit in the construction of the new Hexham-Corbridge bypass because haulage costs would be too high.  

MARRIAGE LINE: A receipt dating back to the 1830s found in Bellingham purported to be a written agreement of the sale at Hexham Market of a wife to a local farmer for one shilling.

TOUGH COMPETITION: The 'Countryside Camera' section of the Courant printed a picture of two 'fierce-looking' fighting mice. 

75 years ago

COUNTRY LORE: 'Old Tim' from Corbridge commented on the inclement weather blighting the valley. On the plus side, the heavy rains enabled salmon and sea trout to run through the pollution belt of the industrial Tyne and travel to the spawning grounds further upstream.

TASTE OF THE FUTURE: Shoppers at the Hexham grocery branch of the West Wylam and Prudhoe Co-operative Society were invited to participate in an experiment in 'help yourself' shopping. In the popular scheme, after choosing the commodities they wanted from the shelves, shoppers were provided with rationed goods at a separate counter.

BUILDING NEW BRANCH: At their annual meeting, craftsman members of the Hexham British Legion promised voluntary assistance in helping build the branch's first permanent headquarters in the town.

100 years ago

ISLAND RESCUE: Five Hexham youths, stranded on Mill Island by an onrush of floodwater from the North Tyne, were rescued by locals and policemen who rigged up a canoe and hawser to pull them to safety. 

NOT NICE: Hexham's Parish Council hearse came in for criticism for being 'little better than a box' and a 'pauper's hearse'. It was recommended that the Hearse House be moved out of the centre of town where it would be less disturbing to people going about their business.

WRONG ADDRESS: At a lecture in Corbridge, attention was drawn to an Ordnance map mistake which named the Roman Dere Street through the village as Watling Street, and a call was made to the parish council to have the old name restored.

125 years ago

FEWER RESIDENTS: The Hexham Board of Guardian's Workhouse Committee report stated the number of workhouse inmates had fallen from the previous year's figure of 134 to 112.

150 years ago

RECOMMENDED FEED: Livestock food was making the news in 1874 as Hexham butcher John Hope advertised his newly devised 'Concentrated Aromatic Cattle Food' which was rich in stimulating qualities and aluminous matters, and guaranteed as beneficial in maintaining the vigour and robust constitution of the animal. 

CAUGHT REDHANDED: A highway robber operating on the road between Stagshaw and Corbridge was captured by a policeman with £3 and several stolen items on his person.