Farnhill Village Web Portal
FARNHILL AND KILDWICK
HISTORY GROUP HOME
MAJOR ARTICLES
& SERIES
SHORTER PIECES
SLIDESHOWS
ANECDOTES
& SNIPPETS
??? MYSTERIES PAGE ???
100 YEARS AGO IN
FARNHILL AND KILDWICK
GROUP PHOTOS
PROJECT
REFERENCE MATERIALS
& BOOKS
OTHER LOCAL HISTORY
GROUPS & RESOURCES

Select year
1925
1924
1923
1922
1921
1920
1919
1918
1917
1916
1915
1914

100 Years Ago in Farnhill and Kildwick

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.

April 1925


Still measles at the school

The school started the month still with 30 pupils absent with measles. Most of those affected did not return until after the Easter break. One of the pupils in the infants' class died.

Source: Kildwick school log book, April 1925


Easter in Farnhill

The following account, which appeared in the 17th April edition of the Craven Herald, describes what Easter was like in the village in 1925:

The Easter holidays passed off very quietly in the village. The mill closed down on Thursday evening and opened again on Wednesday morning. The shops were closed for varying periods. Very few people spent the weekend away from home, but a number availed themselves of the opportunity of a day's excursion both by rail and by motor coach. There was a sprinkling of visitors on the moors, and a number of allotment holders commenced the season's work in earnest.

Source: Craven Herald, April 17/4/1925


W.A. Brigg re-elected as chairman of Farnhill Parish Council

At the first meeting of the newly constituted parish council, W.A. Brigg was elected as Chairman for the 23rd consecutive year and thanked for his previous years of service to the council. Other officers were also elected to various positions.

The only item of note discussed was damage caused by Mr. Throup's horse on the allotments. It was decided that Mr. Throup should be instructed to keep his horse tethered if he wanted to keep it on his allotment.

Source: FPC minutes, 23rd April 1925


National and International news

6th - In-flight movie - What was billed as the world's first in-flight movie, "The Lost World", was shown on a flight between London and Paris.

8th - Emigration - The British and Australian governments announced a scheme to encourage up to 450,000 people to emigrate by offering them low-interest loans and skills training.

25th - The Trial - Franz Kafka's novel "Der Prozess" (later translated into English as "The Trial" was published posthumously. Kafka had died nine months earlier.

28th - Art Deco - The "International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts" was opened in Paris. This would lead to the Art Deco movement - a name derived from a contraction of the exhibition's French title.

Sources: "1925 in the United Kingdom"; "April 1925"

March 1925


'Flu and measles at the school

As in January the number of pupils attending school was much reduced due to continuing influenza and a outbreak of measles. The number of pupils absent increased rapidly from 29 on the 2nd, to 42 on the 13th. The whole school was closed for a fortnight on the 16th.

Source: Kildwick school log book, March 1925


Land for a new graveyard

St. Andrew's Parochial Church Council agreed to buy half-an-acre of land on the opposite side to the canal from the church to provide for an extension to the existing graveyard. Rather strangely, because the land in question was glebe land (i.e. the property of the church), the purchase was from the vicar, Rev. C.E.V. Hodge.

Source: Keighley News, 14/3/1925


Drinking after hours at "The Ship"

On Saturday 14th, Skipton magistrates heard a case brought by the police against Joseph Whitaker, licensee of the Ship Inn Farnhill, and his wife for serving alcohol after hours; a number of other people were also charged with consumption of alcohol on a licensed premises after hours. The case was farly straightforward and amounted to "whose story do you believe: the police skulking in the bushes and peering through gaps in the curtains, or the people who were inside having a good time ?".

Perhaps not surprisingly the magistrates believed the police reports. Joseph Whitaker was fined £10 and his wife £5; two local men were fined £2 each.

Source: Craven Herald, 20/3/1925


Poor year for the Brass Band

At the Kildwick Brass Band's AGM, held on Monday 16th in the Parish Rooms, it was reported that the band had failed to perform once in the previous year and that its finances were at a low ebb. It was decided to elect a completely new committee, with a view to returning the band to some of its former glory.

Sources: Craven Herald, 20/3/1925; Keighley News, 21/3/1925


Election of Farnhill Parish Councillors

On Tuesday 17th a meeting of Farnhill Parish Council was held to elect parish councillors. There were 8 nominations for the 7 seats available. The results were very close and after the announcement several of those present called for a full poll of the village.

At this point the formal minutes of the meeting record that it was decided that the poll would take place on April 4th, at which point the meeting was closed. This information is missing from the Keighley News report which continues with the information that, when the call for a full poll of the village was made, the chairman of the meeting explained that such a poll would be expensive and would require a 2d increase in the rates. At this news the objectors withdrew their demand and the meeting was closed.

Sources: Craven Herald, 20/3/1925; Keighley News, 21/3/1925; FPC minutes, 17th March 1925


Social events

  • 10th -- Whist drive at the Kildwick Conservative Club.
  • 13th -- Jumble sale at the Institute, organised by lady members.
  • 17th -- A large number gathered at the Institute to hear Mr. Thomas Appleby deliver a talk entitled "Wembley 1925". The talk included lantern slides, showing images of the British Empire Exhibition, held at Wembley between 23 April and 1 November 1924, which was due to be re-opened again from 9 May to 31 October 1925.
  • 21st -- A concert was given at Farnhill Institute by the Keighley Victoria Park Veterans' Choir.
  • 24th -- A whist drive with supper was held at Farnhill Institute.
  • 27th -- Kildwick Athletic Football Club held a carnival ball in Farnhill Institute.
  • 31st -- Whist drive at the Kildwick Conservative Club.

Sources: Keighley News and Craven Herald; various editions throughout the month.


National and International news

2nd - Delta Airlines - The company that would later become Delta Airlines was founded as a crop-dusting enterprise.

4th - Inauguration speech - Calvin Coolidge became the first US President to have his inauguration speech broadcast nationally on radio.

18th - Madame Tussauds - A fire destroyed two-floors of the building housing Madame Tussauds famous waxworks, resulting in the loss of many of the exhibits.

25th - Primitive television - Scottish inventor John Logie Baird made the first public demonstration of the transmission of moving silhouette pictures at the London department store Selfridges.

Sources: "1925 in the United Kingdom"; "March 1925"

February 1925


Infants return to school

The infants' class reopened at the school. Attendance was much reduced with just 18 children present from a roll of 28.

Source: Kildwick school log book, February 1925


Feathered success

Mr. Harry Whiteoak of Kildwick scored a number of successes at the annual Fur and Feather Society meeting in Birmingham. A white Wynadotte cockerel, exhibited by Mr. Whiteoak, won the Summerton Challenge Cup for Best Bird in Show as well as the Haden Cup for the best white Wynadotte and the Negus Cup for the highest scoring white Wynadotte.

Source: Keighley News, 7/2/1925


Musical and Dramatic Society

The Farnhill Institute Musical and Dramatic Society reported 1924 as having been a great success with the operetta "Dogs of Devon" having been performed several times to large audiences in both Farnhill and elsewhere in the local area; its success had allowed various items of scenery to be purchased. It was decided that the next work to be presented would be the operetta "Phylidda" which had been performed previously by the group.

Sources: Craven Herald, 13/2/1925; Keighley News, 14/2/1925


Cricket Club meeting

The annual meeting of Kildwick Albion Cricket Club was held in Farnhill Institute on the 10th. The club had performed creditably in the previous season and its finances were in good shape. It was decided that the team would continue to compete in the First Division of the Craven League in the following season. The players with the best batting and bowling verages were each presented with a leather hold-all provided by an anonymous benefactor.

Sources: Craven Herald, 13/2/1925; Keighley News, 14/2/1925


Re-opening of the Conservative Club

On the evening of the 10th a whist drive was held at Kildwick Conservative Club to celebrate the re-opening of the building after redecoration.

Sources: Craven Herald, 13/2/1925; Keighley News, 14/2/1925


School library

Recent donations of books to the Kildwick school library, including some from its old pupil, and son of the headmaster, William Appleby, has brought the total number to 290.

Source: Kildwick school log book, February 1925


Staincliffe Oddfellows

The Loyal Staincliffe Lodge of Oddfellows held its annual meeting at the lodge hall in Farnhill Main Street. It was reported that the lodge was in a good position financially, having turned a deficit in 1917 into a solid profit.

Adult numbers had remained about constant, at about 460, although two brothers had died during the previous year. Juvenile numbers had declined somewhat, from 64 to 53.

Source: Keighley News, 28/2/1925


Fancy Dress Carnival and dance

The men of Farnhill Institute organised a Fancy Dress carnival and dance at the Institute. The Institute had been specially decorated for the occasion. Over 100 people attended, with many people coming along in costumes.

After the costumes had been judged and the winners congratulated, dancing continued until around 1.00am.

The evening raised £10 for Institute funds.

Sources: Craven Herald, 6/3/1925 Keighley News, 7/3/1925


Victory at Skipton Music Festival

At the end of the month Miss Violet Spencer, lately of Kildwick but by this time living in Keighley, won both first prize and a special prize for junior violin at the Skipton Music Festival. In his comments the adjudicator said that she was "a violinist of considerable promise who had given a fine musical performance".

Source: Keighley News, 7/3/1925


Social events

  • 3rd -- A recital of gramophone records was held in Farnhill Institute to raise funds for Kildwick Athletic Football Club.
  • 5th -- A large number of members of Farnhill Institute were treated to an evening of music and supper provided by Dr. and Mrs Canter.
  • 7th -- A benefit concert organised by Kildwick Old Boys Football Club was held at Farnhill Methodist Chapel. The event raised £16 to help Mr. Norman Thompson, a member of the club, who had broken his leg in August and had been unable to work since.
  • 22nd -- Local historian John Stell gave a lecture entitled "Notes on Kildwick" to the Bible Class of Farnhill Methodist Chapel.

Sources: Keighley News and Craven Herald; various editions throughout the month.


National and International news

6th - End of the World - The date declared by members of the Reformed Seventh-day Adventist Church for the end of the world. Remind me, how did that turn out ?

11th - Bus service - A scheduled long-distance coach bus service started between London and Bristol and places in between. The 115 mile journey took 4 hours.

22nd - Gary Cooper - American film actor Gary Cooper appeared in his first film, "The Trail Rider" - as a stunt-man.

27th - Nazi party - the newly legalised Nazi Party was re-launched in Munich. It adopted the swastika as its logo.

Sources: "1925 in the United Kingdom"; "February 1925"

January 1925


'Flu at the school

School restarted at Kildwick on the 5th and for two weeks the school log reported poor attendance amongst the infants due to influenza. On the 19th the Medical Officer of Health issued a closure order on the infants' department until February 2nd.

Source: Kildwick school log book, January 1925


Crockery for the Chapel

During a social evening held at Farnhill Chapel, a presentation was made of crockery, cutlery and tea cloths to the value of £30 donated by the ladies of the chapel. After the presentation the gift was immediately put to use to provide a substantial supper at the end of the evening.

Source: Craven Herald, 16/1/1925


Bishop's visit to Kildwick

On Sunday 11th the Bishop of Bradford paid a visit to St. Andrew's Church. He presided over a special service for men in the afternoon and Evensong in the evening. Both services were well attended.

Source: Craven Herald, 16/1/1925


Conservative Club Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of Kildwick Conservative Club was held on the evening of the 23rd. A large attendance were told that the club had had a good year and that present membership stood at 80.

Sources: Craven Herald, 30/1/1925; Keighley News, 31/1/1925


Social events

  • 3rd -- The year got off to a good start for members of the Methodist Sunday School, at the annual tea, concert and prize-giving event. AT the end of the evening 107 prizes were distributed, including 32 for those with a 100% attendance records.
  • 9th -- The Institute held its annual fancy-dress carnival, in aid of Institute funds. The press reported that it was "one of the outstanding social events of the village and quite the best of its kind in the district".
  • 12th -- A lecture on "Insect Life" was given in the Methodist school room. A remarkable feature of the evening was the presentation of lantern slides showing samples at 800x magnification.
  • 13th -- A social evening was held at the Institute. The evening began with a concert and was followed by the presentation of prizes following a billiards competition. Supper was followed by dancing.
  • 14th -- A social evening for members of St. Andrew's Men's Bible Class was held in the Parish Rooms. Supper was followed by whist and gramophone records.
  • 20th / 22nd / 24th -- A series of "At Home" evenings were held at Farnhill Methodist Chapel. The three events raised £28 for chapel funds.
  • 29th -- A musical evening, arranged by the Ladies' Committee was held at Farnhill Institute. The evening included piano pieces and singing, and the performances were followed by supper.

Sources: Keighley News and Craven Herald; various editions throughout the month.


National and International news

1st - Renaming - The capital of Norway, Christiania, was renamed and became Oslo.

5th - Fascists in Italy - Following the resignation of two Liberals, the Italian cabinet became fully Fascist, led by Benito Mussolini.

10th - Rhineland - The deadline for the Allies to cease their occupation of the Germany's Rhineland passed without the withdrawal of French and Belgian forces.

22nd - Diphtheria in Alaska - A state-wide alert was issued warning people about the rapid spread of diphtheria. By the end of the month anti-serum was being delivered to major towns by dog-sled teams.

Sources: "1925 in the United Kingdom"; "January 1925"