FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - The heavy rainfall of Friday and Saturday morning caused what proved to be the most disastrous flood which has been experienced in Darlington since 1875. At about ten o'clock the river had swollen to such an extent that it was rushing over Priestgate bridge with considerable force. In fact the bridges at John-street, Chesnut-street, Russell-street, St Cuthbert's and Victoria-road were all rendered impassable, and a severe strain was put upon two of them.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. - From J Fairfax-Blakeborough's Country Diary: Years ago, when returning from hunting on the moors, I occasionally passed farmhouses at which "torrf keeaks" were being made, and one was brought out to me, hot and dripping with butter. I thought then, and think now, I never tasted anything so good in the most famous London or Continental hotels. The swell, highly paid chefs at neither place attempt to make "turf cakes," but they do serve something they call "Yorkshire pudding," - a heavy, leathery, piece of indigestible yellow indiarubber. It is an insulting imitation, which bears no real resemblance to the Yorkshire pudding we get in Yorkshire.

From this newspaper 25 years ago. - A new call was made on Wednesday to keep heavy lorries out of Barnard Castle. Teesdale District Council agreed to press again for weight and length limits on vehicles surging through the town daily. Renewed concern followed another collision last week on County Bridge when yards of coping stones were demolished