100 years ago in Farnhill and Kildwick

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The aim of this page is to provide a monthly summary of events in Farnhill and Kildwick 100 years ago, as reported in the local newspapers of the time: the Craven Herald, Keighley News, and West Yorkshire Pioneer.

We begin our diary in May 1914, three months before the start of WWI.

If you have any additional material please email the web administrator.

Note: The Farnhill and Kildwick History Group would like to thank the staff at Skipton and Keighley libraries for their help with this project.

December 1920

School reopens

Kildwick School reopened on December 6th, after swabs taken from 88 children showed only one positive test for diphtheria. However, on the 14th, one of the pupils was sent home with a serious lung complaint.

Source: Craven Herald, 10/12/1920; Kildwick School Log Book (1907 - 1922)

"Winter Carnival" at the Institute

Throughout the month a series of "Winter Carnival" entertainments were staged at the Institute; including concerts, suppers, and dancing.

Source: Craven Herald, 10/12/1920; Keighley News, 4/12/1920 and 11/12/1920

Problems on the canal

During the weekend of the 11th and 12th a canal barge laden with coal sank while tied up at Kildwick wharfe. The coal was off-loaded on the Monday and the barge re-floated in the afternoon.

Source: Keighley News, 18/12/1920

Xmas celebrations for children

Before the school closed for the holidays, the Xmas tree was stripped and presents given to the pupils. Fruit and sweets, provided by the children, were also distributed.

A few days before Xmas the boys of Kildwick Church choir wer treated to a pie-and-peas supper, followed by an evening of games. Sweets and fruit were distributed.

Source: Keighley News, 1/1/1921

Parish Council meeting

At the monthly meeting of Farnhill Parish Council, held in the Institute on December 29th, it was decided that:

The lamplighter would be paid in three installments of £8.

All the lamps in the village should be lit throughout the lighting season.

A letter would be written to Mr. Whitaker, asking him to keep his hens out of the wood in Middleton.

The Council would agree to the Institute's request for an increase in the charge for renting the Committee Room for their meetings to 2s 6d.

Source: Farnhill Parish Council minutes, December 1920

A sad epilogue to the war

In the final issue of the year, dated 31st December, the Craven Herald reported that the body of Farnhill man, Private Arthur Whitaker had been exhumed from a temporary field grave and transferred to the British cemetery at Harlebeck, near Courtrai.

This news came almost exactly 2 years after the Whitaker family had been told first that he had been killed in action, and then that he was alive and a PoW - the latter notification being reversed some time later.

Sources: Craven Herald, 31/12/1920; Keighley News, 1/1/1921

National and International news

5th - Greek royal family - A referendum in Greece voted in favour of the restoration of the Greek monarchy.

11th - Fairies - Photographs of the Cottingley Fairies were shown for the first time in the Keighley News. In the caption text, serious doubts were cast on the validity of the photographs.

13th - Haribo - Confectionery company Haribo was founded in Bonn, Germany.

23rd - Partition - The Government of Ireland Act received Royal Assent, leading to the partitioning of Ireland into Ulster and Eire.

Sources: "1920 in the United Kingdom"; "1920"; Keighley News, 11/12/1920

November 1920

Kildwick Conservative and Unionist Club

A series of social events over the week 6th - 13th raised over £40 for the club funds. The events included an afternoon tea and a whist drive.

Source: Keighley News, 13/11/1920

Remembrance Service

On the 11th, a Remembrance Service was held at Kildwick Church. Rev. C.E.V Hodge led the service and, in his address, deplored the lack of the spirit of unity which had been shown during the war.

At the end of school, pupils were given a pie-and-pea supper. A bonfire was lit on the recreation ground and fireworks were set off.

Sources: Keighley News, 13/11/1920; Kildwick School Log Book (1907 - 1922)

School closure

On November 22nd Kildwick School was closed for one week, due to an outbreak of diphtheria. Prior to the closure, one of the teachers had been absent for a total of 4 days out of 7 due to a sore throat.

The school re-opened on the 29th but immediately closed again after the Medical Officer of Health took throat swabs from the pupils who had managed to turn up.

Source: Kildwick School Log Book (1907 - 1922)

Marriage of Kildwick war hero

At the end of the month the local press reported the marriage of John Spencer Whitham of Kildwick, which had taken place in Leicestershire. J.S. Whitham had served as a stretcher bearer throughout the war and had been awarded the Military Medal. Before the war he had been a member of Sutton Athletic Club and a trainer at Silsden Bethesda Church Athletic Club.

Source: Keighley News, 27/11/1920

National and International news

8th - Rupert - Rupert Bear made his first appeared in a cartoon strip in the Daily Express

10/11th - Unknown Soldier - The body of The Unknown Warrior arrived from France, prior to a state funeral in Westminster Abbey.
15th - The Planets - The first complete public performance of Gustav Holst's suite "The Planets" was given by the London Symphony Orchestra.

29th - End of rationing - WW1 rationing ended when sugar became freely available.

Sources: "1920 in the United Kingdom"; "1920"

October 1920

Institute AGM

At the Institute's AGM, held on the 11th, the President W.A. Brigg stressed the need for the establishment for the creation of a library, as part of the Institute, and indicated that he would be pleased to provide financial support towards any effort in that direction.

The Treasurer, Mr. Harry Roe, announced that the Institute had had a very successful year; and a committee of 12 was elected to manage the Institute's affairs.

Sources: Keighley News, 16th October 1920; Craven Herald 15th October 1920

Extra holiday for half-term

The half-term holiday at Kildwick School was extended by a day as a "thank you" to the pupils for their efforts on behalf of the War Savings movement.

Source: Kildwick School Log Book (1907 - 1922)

Football Club presentation to Peter Slack

At a meeting of the members of Kildwick Old Boys Football Club, held in Kildwick Conservative Club, the club treasurer and former player Mr Peter Slack was presented with a silver cream jug and sugar bowl on the occasion of his marriage.

Sources: Craven Herald 22nd October 1920

National and International news

3rd - The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe horse race was run for the first time in Paris.

16th - Polish-Soviet War - Following a string of Polish successes, a ceasefire was called, effectively ending the Polish-Soviet War which had been going on since early 1919.

16th - Strike ! - Miners went on strike (until November 3rd). On the 18th a march of miners and the unemployed, through London, was broken up by police. 50 marchers were injured.

Sources: "1920 in the United Kingdom"; "1920"; "Polish-Soviet War"

September 1920

Workers' outings

On the 1st, workers from the Farnhill weaving shed were taken on outings paid for by their employers. The men were taken by charabanc to Doncaster races; and the women and children went by train to Morecambe.

Source: Craven Herald, 10th September 1920

WEA visit

On Saturday 4th, members of the WEA (Workers' Education Association) from Bingley and Shipley arrived in Kildwick by train and were subsequently entertained by Mr. W.A. Brigg at Kildwick Hall. He delivered a history of the Hall and the group then moved on to the Church.

Source: Keighley News, 11th September 1920

Vicar's appeals

Writing in the St. Andrew's Parish Magazine, the vicar, Rev. C.E.V. Hodge, appealed for an additional £100 in order that the planned War Memorial could be completed. He also appealed for a further £50 towards the completion of the wall to the new school recreation group.

At around this time, the pupils started to use the recreation ground for sports lessions, the first record being of a Netball class for girls, given by the vicar's wife, on the afternoon of September 10th. On seeing this, the boys asked if they could also be taught to play.

Sources: Keighley News, 11th September 1920; Kildwick School Log Book (1907 - 1922)

Sports and Sale of Work

In the middle of the month a Sport's Day and Sale of Work was held in the School and on the new recreation ground. The event was well attended and raised £70 for the recreation ground fund. Amongst the winners in the various sports categories, the vicar's wife, Mrs. C.E.V. Hodge, won first place in the "Ladies kicking the football" competition.

Sources: Craven Herald, 24th September 1920; Keighley News, 25th September 1920

Football Shield Presentation

Towards the end of the month, members of Kildwick Old Boys' Football Club held a dance in the school at which they were presented with a shield for winning the 1919-20 Keighley and District League second Division. The presentation was made by the President of the local Football Association who congratulated the team on their success, noting that it had been achieved by playing local talent only.

Sources: Craven Herald, 1st October 1920; Keighley News, 2nd October 1920

New Clerk for Farnhill Parish Council

At the Parish Council meeting on the 23rd it was agreed that Mr Joseph Robson would become the new Clerk to the council. He was the only applicant.

Source: Farnhill Parish Council minutes, September 1920

National and International news

5th - City of Birmingham Orchestra - The City of Birmingham Orchestra (later the CBSO) performed its first orchestral concert.

22nd - The Sweeney - The Metropolitan Police Flying Squad formed - using cars instead of horse transport.

Sources: "1920 in the United Kingdom";

August 1920

August was frequently a quiet month, with the school on holiday and the local mills closed for their annual maintenance, many families took the opportunity to have a holiday at the seaside - typically in Morecambe. August 1920 was no exception, and very little happened in Farnhill and Kildwick.

Another case of speeding in Kildwick

On the 15th, there was another case of a vehicle speeding in Kildwick. A motor-cyclist was subsequently fined £2 at a court in Skipton for driving round Kildwick corner at high speed, estimated by a witness to have been about 25 miles per hour, without sounding his horn. The motor-cyclist, who was from Cleckheaton, was reprimanded by the Chairman of the court who said that even a speed of three miles per hour could be dangerous.

Source: Keighley News, 4th September 1920

Wet weather

The weather wasn't too good, and the Keighley News published this photograph of flooded hay fields in the Farnhill-Kildwick area.

Source: Keighley News, 21st August 1920

Early morning train services

There were a number of complaints being voiced throughout the area about railway companies failing to return train services to their pre-war levels. A particular case highlighted in the press was the absence of a train heading to Keighley and Bradford that stopped to take on passengers Kildwick station at any time between 8.30 and 10.30am. It was noted that the situation could be easily rectified if the 9.05 service from Skipton was made to stop at Kildwick.

Source: Keighley News, 21st August 1920

Street lighting in Farnhill

At the monthly meeting of Farnhill Parish Council there was a discussion about a tender for the next season of lamp-lighting. A councillor expressed the opinion that the lights should be lit every night and should not left unlit on a couple of nights either side of a full moon, which was the current arrangement. He noted that even at full moon it was often too dark to see without lights.

The tender of £24 to light the lamps for the coming winter was accepted, and it was decided to leave the question of whether the lamps should be lit or not to the discretion of the lamp-lighter.

Source: Keighley News, 28th August 1920

French school children

No sooner had the school reconvened, at the end of the month, than it was playing host to a group of school children from France. The children, who were staying in Keighley as guests of the Town Council, arrived in Kildwick by motor launch on the canal and were met by 10 boys from the school, Mr Appleby the headmaster, and Miss Dorothy Sharpe of Kildwick Hall.

The party spent the day on the moor before returning to Kildwick Hall for tea and a game of football.

Sources: Craven Herald, 3rd September 1920; Kildwick School Log Book (1907-1922)

National and International news

Throughout the month tension increased in Belfast, with Catholics rioting at the continued presence of the British Army on the 3rd; the passing of a law to counter the increasing popularity of the IRA, and a separate Firearms Act; and the month ended with street battles that resulted in 11 deaths and forty people injured.

13th to 25th - Battle of Warsaw - Attempts by the Russian Red Army to take Warsaw, as part of a larger USSR-Polish war, were defeated.

18th - Bus services - London introduced its first Night Bus.

28th - Third Division (South) - The football league introduced a Third Division, geographically split into South and Nprth. The first games in Third Division (South) were played in 1920, with the Northern league starting the following year.

Sources: "1920 in the United Kingdom"; "1920"

July 1920

Librarians at Kildwick Hall

About 40 members of the Yorkshire branch of the Library Assistants Association visited Kildwick and were given a tour of St. Andrew's Church and the moor, before being given tea at Kildwick Hall.

Sources: Craven Herald, 9th July 1920; Keighley News, 10th July 1920

Kildwick War Memorial

The final arrangements for the erection of a War Memorial at Kildwick were announced. The stonework was to be produced by a company in Derby, based on a design created by architects in London. The bronze tablets were to be produced by a sculptor from Bradford.

Sources: Craven Herald, 9th July 1920; Keighley News, 10th July 1920

Women's Guild Picnic-Conference

Poor weather interrupted a picnic-conference due to be held on Farnhill Moor by the Airedale District Cooperative Women's Guild. Tea was instead taken in the Farnhill Primitive Methodist Schoolroom, before delegates returned to the moor for addresses by members of the Committee.

Source: Craven Herald, 16th July 1920

"Craven's Part in the Great War"

It was announced that a souvenir copy of the book "Craven's Part in the Great War" would be presented to every man in the Skipton area who had served in the war and the families of all those men who had been killed.

The book, which had been commissioned by Mr. Walter Morrison, extended to almost 400 pages, many with photographs of the veterans. 10,000 copies had been made available for distribution.

Source: Keighley News, 17th July 1920

Charabanc outings

About 30 members of Farnhill Methodist Chapel's choir had their annual day out, and enjoyed a charabanc trip to Blackpool. Later in the month, 56 members of Kildwick and Farnhill Institute went by charabanc to the Lake District, starting out at 6am and returning home at about 11pm.

Sources: Keighley News, 17th and 31st July 1920

Dangerous driving

Towards the end of the month, local police responded to Home Office calls for a clamp-down on dangerous driving by monitoring traffic in the Kildwick area. On the 24th two cases of excessive speeding were heard at a court in Skipton Court:

Fred Ward, a chauffeur from Bradford, was fined £5 for driving a charabanc at speed on Keighley Road near Kildwick and a further £2 for failing to stop when instructed to do so by the police. Two police officers claimed that he covered a distance of 1300 yards in just two minutes.

Harry Greenwood of Sutton claimed he did not know what speed he was driving at, and was fined £3.

Sources: Keighley News, 31st July and 7th August 1920

Paxton Society Annual Exhibition

On the last day of the month, the local branch of the Paxton Society held their ninth Annual Exhibition of plants, flowers, fruit, vegetables, eggs and bread, at Farnhill Institute.

Source: Craven Herald, 6th August 1920

National and International news

3rd - Roller-coaster - The UK's first roller-coaster was opened at an amusement park in Margate.

13th - Foreign workers banned in London - The London County Council banned almost all foreigners from Council jobs.

21st and 23rd - Trouble in Belfast - Protestants expelled Catholic workers from the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, leading to rioting two days later in which 14 people died and over a hundred were injured.

30th - Scouts - The 1st World Scout Jamboree opened at Olympia, in London.

Source: "1920 in the United Kingdom".

June 1920

Man injured at Kildwick station

Early in the month, the Keighley News reported a serious injury to a Crosshills man after he fell between the footboard and the platform while attempting to board a train that was already in motion. The train was quickly halted by the guard and the man transferred to Victoria Hospital, Keighley, after receiving preliminary treatment at the scene.

Source: Keighley News, 5th June 1920

School re-opens

On the 7th, Kildwick School was re-opened, having been closed for the previous fortnight due to an outbreak of mumps. Attendance was much reduced as there were still 12 cases and a further 11 children excluded because they had brothers or sisters who were infected.

The outbreak did not finally subside until well into July, with one of the final victims being one of the teachers, Mrs. Fort.

Source: Kildwick School logbook, 1907 - 1922

Film company prepare to depart

By the middle of the month the company filming an adaptation of "Wuthering Heights" were preparing to leave. The filming, which had been expected to take three weeks, had taken more than two months. This was largely down to the poor weather and particularly high winds which had seen one actor blown over and the camera having to be held down.

Mr. A.V. Bramble, the director, asked the press to convey his thanks to the local people for the kindness they had shown the company during their time in Yorkshire. He offered special thanks to Messrs. W.A. and J.J. Brigg of Kildwick Hall for their assistance.

There had been considerable local interest in the film, with the copies of "Wuthering Heights" held by Keighley Public Library in great demand.

Source: Keighley News, 12th June 1920

Institute donated to the village

At the meeting of Farnhill Parish Council on Thursday 10th, the Chairman, Mr. W.A. Brigg announced that he and his family had decided to gift Farnhill Institute and its contents to the village; for use without regard to sex, creed or politics. In future, the Institute would be run by a committee of 10 trustees, of which at least three would be women. It was his hope that the committee would have representatives from the Church, the Chapel, and Farnhill Parish Council. He, his three brothers, and his sister would be life members of the committee.

Source: Keighley News, 12th June 1920

Washing of vehicles

Also at the Parish Council meeting, it was decided to ask Skipton Rural District Council to intervene in order "to require certain persons to cease from washing Motor Cars at the well at Farnhill Spout". It seems that this was washing away the (unmade ?) road surface.

Sources: Keighley News, 12th June 1920; Farnhill Parish Council minutes, June 1920

Institute to admit women

One of the first decisions taken by the newly formed Institute committee, was to admit lady members. It was further reported, in an article headed "A Step in the Right Direction", that the Institute would subscribe to a number of women's magazines and that the Reading Room would be set aside for 1½ days per week for the sole use of lady members.

Source: Keighley News, 26th June 1920

Kildwick wife desertion case

At the end of the month, Thomas Windle of Kildwick was summons to appear before Skipton Police Court to answer a claim of desertion brought by his wife, Margaret. She claimed that they had been unhappily married since 1890 and the recent arrival of another woman on the scene had obliged her to leave the family home with their son. Since that time she had not received any money from him.

Thomas Windle admitted desertion and was ordered to pay maintenance of £2 per week. The wife was granted sole custody of their son.

Source: Keighley News, 3rd July 1920

A solution to the housing problem ?

In the same issue of Keighley News it was reported that an ex-serviceman, who had been unable to find anywhere to live, had resolved the problem by buying an old railway carriage, relocating to a point near the river in Kildwick, and converting it into a dwelling

Source: Keighley News, 3rd July 1920

National and International news

9th - Imperial War Museum - King George V opened the Imperial War Museum at the Crystal Palace.

13th - US parcel post restrictions - The US Post Office introduced a rule that children could no longer be sent via parcel post.

20th/24th - Trouble in Ireland - Troops were sent to reinforce garrisons in the north of Ireland after rioting broke out in Ulster, killing five people.

Sources: "1920"; "1920 in the United Kingdom".

May 1920

Scenes for "Wuthering Heights" filmed at Kildwick Hall

On Tuesday 4th two external scenes for the forthcoming film of "Wuthering Heights" were recorded at Kildwick Hall. The Hall was used to represent the fictional Thrushcross Grange, after the film company's original plans to use Ponden Hall - believed to be Emily Bronte's inspiration for the Grange - were found to be unworkable.

Source: Craven Herald, 7th May 1920

Awards to members of Kildwick Old Boys' Football Club

Around 60 members and players of Kildwick Old Boys' Football Club were given dinner at the Kildwick schoolroom. During the evening the following members of the 1919-20 championship winning team were awarded medallions:

T. Hargreaves (capt.)
A. Hargreaves (vice-capt.)
J. Kitson
C. Barrett
A. Bower
H. Kitson
N. Thompson
J. Brown
J. Harwood
C. Johnson
A. Barrett
S. Lister
R. Inskip
C. Brent

The captain thanked the organisers and presented Mr. T. Appleby with a "souvenir gift" as a tribute to his work for the club. The evening ended with a concert.

Source: Craven Herald, 7th May 1920

Sudden death of Parish Council member

Member of Farnhill Parish Council, Mr. Peter Baldwin, collapsed and died suddenly near to St. Andrew's Church, Kildwick, on the morning of Friday 7th. In addition to being a Parish Councillor, Mr. Baldwin was also a Trustee of Farnhill Methodist Chapel, a director of Farnhill Water Company, and a Trustee of Kildwick and Farnhill Institute.

His funeral, attended by a large number of relatives, friends, and members of the local organisation with which he was associated, took place at St. Andrew's Church, on Monday 10th. A memorial service was held the following Sunday, at the Methodist Chapel.

Sources: Craven Herald, 14th and 21st May 1920; Keighley News, 22nd May 1920

School closed due to mumps

On the 18th, Kildwick School was closed on the order of the Medical Officer of Health due to an outbreak of mumps. There were 13 confirmed cases, nine pupils excluded because they had brothers or sisters who were infected, and a further six with sore throats.

Source: Kildwick School logbook, 1907 - 1922

Whitsunday celebrations

At the end of the month, the usual Whitsunday celebrations took place in the villages. Members of St. Andrew's Sunday School paraded around the village. They ended up at Prospect House, where coffee and buns were served and the rest of the day spent playing games on an adjacent field.

The Methodist Sunday School paraded to Farnhill Hall and then on to Kildwick Hall, where games were held. A series of special services, in support of the Sunday School, raised over £37 - a record.

Source: Keighley News, 29th May 1920

National and International news

16th - Joan of Arc - 30,000 people attended in ceremony in Rome in which the Pope, Benedict XV, canonised Joan of Arc.

17th - Withdrawal of troops from Germany - French and Belgian troops were withdrawn from cities in Germany occupied at the end of WW1.

18th - Equal status for women - Female lecturers at Oxford University were given equal status with male colleagues.

21st - Car Tax - The government proposed the introduction of a car tax of £1 per horsepower.

30th - Flooding in Lincolnshire - 23 people were drowned in severe floods at Louth in Lincolnshire. One woman climbed a chimney to survive, another was the only survivor from a row of twelve terrace houses, which were destroyed by the flood waters.

Sources: "1920"; "1920 in the United Kingdom"; "Louth, Lincolnshire".

April 1920

Success for a local singer

It was revealed that local singer Miss Dorothy Hill had received a one year's free scholarship to study at Leeds College of Music. Dorothy Hill lived in High Farnhill

Sources: Craven Herald, 2nd April 1920; Keighley News, 3rd April 1920

Funds raised for recreation ground

A concert was put on by pupils of Kildwick School at Kildwick Church, consisting of action songs, recitations and an operetta called "Jack Frost". The event raised £25 towards the provision of a boundary wall for the recreation ground, half the total amount required.

Sources: Craven Herald, 16th April 1920; Keighley News, 17th April 1920

A film of Wuthering Heights

The Keighley News reported that a filming of an adaptation of Emily Bronte's novel Wuthering Heights would shortly begin in the local area, directed by A.V. Bramble.

Source: Keighley News, 24th April 1920

Will Farnhill join Glusburn in an Urban District Council ?

At the annual meeting of Farnhill Parish Council, on the 15th, there was considerable discussion over a letter received from Glusburn Parish Council, inviting Farnhill to join with them in the creation of a proposed Urban District Council.

A final decision was postponed and a public meeting held on the 29th, at which several concerns were raised about the proposal.

Sources: Keighley News, 24th April 1920 and 1st May 1920

Football club's successful season

The annual meeting of Kildwick Old Boy's Football Club, held in the Unionist Club on the 26th reported a very successful season for 1919-1920. The club had come top of the Second Division of the Keighley and District League, having won 18 out of 20 matches with 60 goals for and 30 against.

Members of the team were to receive medallions.

Source: Craven Herald, 30th April 1920

National and International news

Whitby Abbey - The owners of Whitby Abbey, the Strickland family, donated the Abbey to the nation.

20th - Olympic Games - The summer Olympics open in Antwerp, Belgium. A combined Great Britain and Ireland team win 15 gold, 15 silver and 13 bronze medals.

29th - Welwyn Garden City - Work begins on England's second Garden City. The first residents arrive just before Christmas.

Sources: "1920"; "1920 in the United Kingdom"; "English Heritage - History of Whitby Abbey".

March 1920

Recreation ground

A meeting of the children attending Kildwick School and their parents was held to discuss how to raise funds to fence off the land given for use as a recreation ground by Colonel Wilson. The gift had been made on the condition that a proper fence was erected.

Source: Keighley News, 13th March 1920

Names for the war memorial

Throughout the month, the following advertisement appeared in the Local News section of the Keighley News:
"Relatives of all men from Glusburn, Cross Hills, Junction, Kildwick and Farnhill fallen in the war are requested to forward the names for inscription on the Kildwick Memorial to Mr. T. Appleby, Kildwick."

Source: Keighley News, throughout March 1920

Land for ex-servicemen - agreement at last ?

At a meeting of ex-servicemen from Sutton, Glusburn, Cross Hills, Kildwick, Farnhill and Cononley, along with members of Glusburn and Farnhill Parish Councils and representatives of the County Council, preliminary agreements were made to settle the dispute about the provision of land for ex-servicemen that had gone on since the end of the war.

It was agreed that property purchased by Glusburn Parish Council from the Carleton Hospital Charity be used; with men from Glusburn taking land on the south side of the river, and men from Farnhill being given land on the north side along with additional land which the parish council would obtain for them.

The matter was fully settled when a further 20 acres, currently under the plough, was offered to the Farnhill men during the course of the meeting.

Addressing the meeting, Mr. Norman Hodgson, the County Land Agent said that there had been a good deal of bother about very little.

Source: Keighley News, 27th March 1920

A massive rate increase

At the annual meeting of Farnhill ratepayers, George Bottomley, the village's representative on Skipton Rural District Council said that the rates for the next year would be 7½d, increased from the pre-war 4d.

He also announced that work would soon begin on road improvements in High Farnhill, beginning with the laying of a kerb and gutter.

Sources: Keighley News, 27th March 1920; Craven Herald, 26th March 1920

National and International news

15th - Dissolution of the Ottoman Empire - The Ottoman Empire was formally dissolved following the British Army's occupation of Constantinople.

19th - US Congress and Versailles - The US Congress again refuses to ratify the Treaty of Versailles.

22nd - Fanny Waterman - Pianist, musical educator, and the founder of the Leeds International Piano Competition, born.

Sources: "1920"; "1920 in the United Kingdom"

February 1920

School war memorial

On Sunday 8th the schoolroom at Kildwick school was filled with old scholars, their relatives and friends for the unveiling of a memorial to former boys from the school who had died in the war. It was unveiled by the headmaster, Thomas Appleby, who had taught many of those named.

The memorial was "... a black oak tablet, beautifully carved, with brass plates at each side. On the plates are inscribed the names of 15 boys. Above the names is the text "Unselfishness and Duty cheerfully done may be a lasting example." The centre-piece is a figure of At. George and the sword, worked in mosaic. Along the bottom is a shelf where flowers will be placed on the anniversary of each boy's death."

Note: The memorial is believed lost. If you have any information on what happened to it, or its current location please email Farnhill WW1 Volunteers Project.

Sources: Keighley News, 14th February 1920; Craven Herald, 13th February 1920

Methodist "At Home" concerts

A series of concerts, called "At Home" gatherings, took place throughout the month at the Primitive Methodist Church in Farnhill. Each event was hosted by a different family, and featured a mixed concert and refreshments. Proceeds went to the chapel funds.

Sources: Keighley News, 14th February 1920; Craven Herald, 13th February 1920

"Charles the Martyr"

At St. Andrew's church on Sunday 15th, the vicar of Sutton, Rev. A.R. Light preached a remarkable sermon praising King Charles II to whom, he said, "the Church of England owed much". He went on to say that the king sacrificed himself because he "... was determined to maintain the most holy religion of the Anglican Church because he believed that it was one with the whole Catholic Church". He then compared the "terrorism of the Commonwealth" with the activities of Russian Bolsheviks.

At the evening service, where the collection was in aid of Keighley Hospital, Rev. Light described the donations made to the hospital as a "measure of meanness".

Source: Keighley News, 21st February 1920

Ex-servicemen and smallholdings

The acrimonious, protracted and convoluted tale of providing land for ex-servicemen to use as allotments continued.

At a meeting of Glusburn Parish Council there were protests that land acquired by the County Council at Owlet Hall, at the suggestion of Glusburn Council, had all been occupied by men from Farnhill. It was decided to write to the County Council and arrange for a meeting with Farnhill Parish Council and ex-servicemen from both Crosshills and Farnhill.
Source: Keighley News, 28th February 1920

National and International news

11th - League of Nations - The first meeting of the League of Nations took place in London.

17th - Anastasia - A woman was admitted to a mental hospital in Berlin where she claims to be Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russia, survivor of the murder of the Russian royal family - a claim disproved in 1994.

23rd - End of conscription - War Secretary Winston Churchill announced that conscription will be replaced by the creation of a volunteer army of 220,000 men.

24th - Formation of the Nazi Party - Adolf Hitler presented his National Socialist Program in Munich to the German Workers' Party, which was renamed the Nazi Party.

Sources: "1920"; "1920 in the United Kingdom"; Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia

January 1920

Charity event

On the first Saturday of the year the children of St. Andrew's Sunday School put on a concert which raised £8 in aid of St. Dunstan's Hostel for Blinded Soldiers and Sailors.

During the week there was also a social evening organised by Kildwick Church's Women's Help Society, and a Prize Giving concert put on by members of the Methodist Sunday School.

Source: Keighley News, 10th January 1920

Institute AGM

The Institute AGM took place on the 15th. W.A. Brigg congratulated the Institute on a successful year and suggested that some arrangement should be made for the ladies who were involved with the Institute. He was also keen that the Institute should establish a library, and said that he was willing to help its foundation.

After the business had been attended to, there was the first of three successive social evenings based on the theme of a "Japanese Tea Garden", with refreshments supplied by ladies in Japanese attire and the rooms of the Institute decorated appropriately. The three events were attended by record numbers.

Sources: Keighley News, 17th and 24th January 1920; Craven Herald, 23rd January

Death of Robert Sugden

The death was announced of Robert Sugden, one of the oldest and most respected members of the village. A musician since his childhood, Mr. Sugden had been involved with the Kildwick Brass Band for over 30 years, during which time he had been its conductor for several periods. He had also provided the land, in the Arbour, on which the band had built their own practice room.

A number of the hymn tunes written by Mr. Sugden were performed by the choir at his funeral which was held in the Farnhill Methodist Chapel, followed by interment in St. Andrew's churchyard.

Source: Keighley News, 17th January 1920

Kildwick recreation ground

The Kildwick School log book records that on the 23rd the headmaster, the vicar, and the land agent for Col. Wilson, the owner of the Kildwick estate, met to discuss Col. Wilson's proposal to provide land opposite the school for use as "a girl's play-ground and recreation ground". The recreation ground was given in memory of Peggy Wilson, the colonel's daughter.

Source: Kildwick School Log Book (1907 - 1922), 23rd January 1920

Land for ex-servicemen

The New Year saw no resolution on the question of providing land for ex-servicemen to use as allotments. Members of Glusburn, Cononley and Farnhill Parish Councils, and Kildwick Vestry, met with the ex-servicemen at Farnhill Institute. The meeting was also attended by the chairman of the West Yorkshire Small-holders Association, the County Land Agent, and a representative of the West Riding County Council.

What appears to have been an acrimonious meeting broke up with no decisions having been made.

The matter was raised again at the Glusburn Parish Council meeting a week later, when it was reported that land originally supposed to be managed by Glusburn Parish Council had been allocated solely to men from Farnhill, at a meeting organised by the Farnhill ex-servicemen's Small-holders Association where no men from Cross Hills were present.

Members of the council, concerned at what they called a "shady" business agreed to write a letter of protest to the County Council and also to ask the Farnhill ex-servicemen's Small-holders Association to explain what authority they had for their action.

Sources: Keighley News, 17th and 31st January 1920

The return of cricket

At the AGM of Kildwick Albion Cricket Club it was decided to run a first team only, which would be entered in the Skipton League. It was thought that the team had very good prospects in the coming season.

Source: Keighley News, 31st January 1920

Women's Unionist Association

At the AGM of the Kildwick Unionist Association it was decided to form a Women's Unionist Association.

Sources: Craven Herald, 30th January; Keighley News, 31st January 1920

Assault on Cononley Lane

During the monthly meeting of Farnhill Parish Council, a complaint was made about the state of the street lighting on Cononley Lane. It was reported that "a certain person" had recently been molested in that area.

Source: Craven Herald, 30th January

National and International news

12th - Multi-stage rockets and space travel - Physicist and engineer Robert H. Goddard published his work on the possible use of multi-stage rockets to travel beyond the Earth's atmosphere and gravity. The New York Times suggested that Goddard "seems to lack the knowledge ladled out daily in high schools" - a claim they withdrew following the moon landing in 1969.

16th - Prohibition - The 18th Amendment to the Constitution came into force in the USA, introducing prohibition on the sale of alcohol.

16th - Extradition of the Kaiser - The WW1 Allies demanded that the Netherlands extradite German Kaiser Wilhelm II, who sought asylum there in November 1918. The demand is refused on the 25th.

Source: "1920"