100 years ago

The practice of attending picture halls at nights and the extreme youth of mothers were attributed by Dr Mills, Medical Officer of Health for Ashington, Northumberland, in his annual report, as the causes of the high infant mortality.

The rate in 1913 had averaged over 150 per thousand. Dr Mills pointed out that the practice of taking children to picture halls incurred the risk of colds, resulting in pulmonary troubles, and he also warned mothers against what he described as the alternative neglect of leaving children at home insufficiently or carelessly nursed during the parents’ absence.


50 years ago

Shell Mex and BP Ltd were to take a tenancy of the Old Tram Depot, Fulford Road, York, at an annual rental of £3,000, exclusive of rates.

The term of the lease would be 21 years. This was approved at the meeting of York City Council. Planning consent for a pro¬posed petrol filling station on the forecourt of the premises had been granted, and the approval of the York-West Yorkshire Joint Committee to the letter had been obtained.

Commenting on this, Alderman WT Burke (Lab.) said that from time to time the Council was accused of not attracting industry to York. The truth of the matter was that these premises were advertised locally and nationally in the hope of attracting industry, and there was no response.

The explanation was simple ... the type of light industry the city wished to attract depended largely on female labour, and no one would compete with the existing works which engaged that kind of worker. It was not the fault of the Corporation, just the force of circumstances.


25 years ago

York’s flood protection programme was on target to be completed by 1993 at the latest. By then only the King’s Arms, near Ouse Bridge, and one or two isolated properties downstream of the new Foss Barrier would be at risk.

Work done by the Yorkshire Water Authority and York Council over recent years had cost about £10 million. Major schemes for Leeman Road, Lower Bootham and the River Foss had been completed and the two final projects were included in the draft medium-term plan of the Water Authority which had been recently approved by the Regional Land Drainage Committee. It was planned to start on work in the North Street area the following year.

The cost would be £300,000 and it was due to be completed in 1990-91. The scheme for South Esplanade, due to cost a further £500,000, was planned to start in 1991 and finish in 1992-93. When those two schemes had been completed flood protection would have been provided for all the parts of York it was economically viable to protect.