FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - Woollen Tam O'Shanter hats are a special feature at Jaques and Jaques Ltd, of Darlington. November signifies the height of the Autumn season, when every department is crowded with goods. The shop's windows are one of the sights of Darlington and a true reflex of Dame fashion's demands. The millinery department has an extensive range of Tam O'Shanter hats. Children's wool tams, in all colours, sell at 8 d each. Children's tams in tartans and mixtures are 10 d each. The noted Shilling Tams have a patent elastic rim and come in scarlet, maroon, strawberry, sky blue, fawn, light and dark greys, white, tartans and heathers. The Fascinating Tam for ladies or children comes with a side buckle. The Perfect Tam is thick and fleecy, and has all that could be wished for to justify its name. The Lady's Golf Tam always keeps its shape, with a thick fleece, patent wire edge and lovely shades. It is 2s 6d.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. - Royal British Legion delegates at the annual North Riding conference demanded bigger prisoner of war awards and pensions. Meeting at Northallerton Town Hall, the conference unanimously supported a resolution deprecating the "niggardly award" paid to ex-POWs held by the Japanese during the war. Members asked why British ex-POWs received just £15 while Canadians received £500, Americans over £1,000 and Australians £32. The government should state clearly how the fund operated and why payments were so small, they said.

From this newspaper 20 years ago. - A magnificent 13th century mosaic which was once discarded under rubble and leaves, will be displayed in St Nicholas' Church, at Guisborough. The mosaic was originally in Guisborough Priory. However, since the middle of the last century, it lay in pieces and provoked little interest. In the 1970s, a team of six people led by Guisborough woman Shirley Knight set about cleaning the tiles, researching the history and piecing them together. This type of mosaic is quite rare and examples are generally only found from the period between 1220 and 1313. The expense of using individual patterned tiles soon overtook fashion. The tiles were catalogued and stored at Mount Grace Priory, until a proper home was found. Mrs Knight, of Staindale, said: "We're very pleased to have them back in Guisborough. People will be glad to have a piece of their history back."