th Bulletin 75 – 25 Anniversary Edition - Winter 2017
Askam & Ireleth Local History Group and History of Kirkby hosted the 2017 CLHF Convention
Chairman’s Chat – Peter Roebuck 2 CLHF 25th Anniversary & CWAAS and the origins of CLHF 2 CLHF Members News - Shap LHS, Cumbria Railways Association, 4 Cumbria Amenity Trust, Duddon Valley LHG, CLHF Members News – Cartmel Peninsula LHS, Orton & Tebay LHS, 8 Cumbria Vernacular Buildings Group. CLHF 2017 Convention & Talk Summaries 10 Cumbria Local History Publications 14 Help Requested 15 Other News from our Members – Speaker & Visit Recommendations 16 Museums in Cumbria – Keswick Museum 17 The Victoria County History of Cumbria Project – Volunteer Profile 17 BALH Local History News acknowledges the new CLHF Website 18 Events Listing December 2017 to March 2018 19 Editors Final Thoughts & Committee Contacts 24
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CHAIRMAN’S CHAT [No. 3] Finally, let us extend a warm welcome to our new Treasurer, John Poland. Having As you may know, I missed this year’s inherited an interest in local history from Convention in Askam because, without his father, John has been working much notice, my son announced the informally with us for some months. same date for his marriage in Barcelona. Now that he is formally installed, he will While I had a wonderful time in Spain, I not only manage our finances but review was also delighted to hear on my return our constitutional arrangements to that the Convention was very successful. ensure that the Federation is well run. We are grateful to the many involved in We already enjoy working with him. organising it, particularly Charles Prior to John’s appointment, Liz Kerrey Rowntree and his colleagues in Askam, did a splendid job as Acting Treasurer. In Ireleth and Kirkby. We will continue to addition to being Membership move about the county for our annual Secretary, she will now also co-ordinate Conventions and to collaborate with our website operations. other organisations in arranging them. Peter Roebuck We have worked hard to let as many people as possible know about the The CLHF 25th Anniversary refurbishment of our website. Reactions have been very positive. We are The Cumbrian Local History Federation particularly pleased to have had was established across the summer of requests for additions to our Directory of 1992 by Jill Wishart, the first Chairman, Speakers. Instead of refreshing the list and several of her colleagues, with the every two years or so, we will amend and first formal meetings taking place in the add to it as the need arises, which seems early autumn. a more effective way of managing this service.. We are not an organisation which goes in for razzamatazz but it seemed In August at the dinner with our founder, entirely appropriate to find some way Jill Wishart, she said that a constant of marking this anniversary. So on the rd difficulty in her time was obtaining evening of Thursday 3 August the Committee self-financed a dinner party feedback from members. Despite at the Stoney Beck Inn, just off the M6. regular efforts via our Bulletin, we have had the same experience. So your Committee plan to go in search of feedback about our operations, and will be visiting a number of groups for this purpose. If any of you wish to be added to our timetable, please get in touch. We believe that the results of this exercise will benefit our future efforts on your behalf. 2
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To our delight Jill Wishart, who lives not Winchester), industrial history (led by far from there, was able to join us as Michael Davies-Shiel) and Carlisle (led our guest. We were also joined by by Dr Marshall), the CWAAS’s Research Derek Denman, one of Jill’s former Committee agreeing to fund the group colleagues on the Committee, who leaders’ travel expenses. Meeting on more recently has helped us Saturday afternoons at various enormously in setting up the new locations in the County, the parish website. Jill has retained her history research group received reports membership of the Federation over the on its members’ areas of interest. At a years and eagerly looks forward to the half-day conference, ‘History of Local thrice-yearly appearance of the Bulletin. Communities in Cumbria’, held at We spent a very pleasant evening of Carlisle under the auspices of CWAAS in reminiscence with both of them. Jill March 1991, the presentations told us that it was difficult to generate included that of Caldbeck Local History feedback in her day too; she admires Society which had indexed the parish the re-designed website and feels that magazines 1911 – 79 and had it will help us to get closer to our conducted a series of ‘reminiscence’ members throughout the county and, sessions, the more recent being taped indeed, beyond. ‘with varying success’. Writing at the time to CWAAS’s General Secretary, Peter Roebuck Angus Winchester advocated a form of Cumbria-wide co-ordination, to support ~~~~~~~~~ the work of local historians, who could feel quite isolated, as also to help CWAAS and the origins of CLHF confirm the Society’s commitment to local history, overcoming the view of In a memorandum, ‘Historical research some local historians that the Society topics for interested members of the was biased towards archaeology; first Cumberland and Westmorland steps could be the compilation of a Antiquarian and Archaeological register of local history societies and of Society’, circulated in early 1988 by Dr research being carried out by groups John Marshall (Reader in North-West and individuals in Cumbria, with the Regional History, University of Society organising or sponsoring one or Lancaster, and a Vice-President of two Saturday conferences each year CWAAS), it was noted that ‘one of the aimed at getting local historians great problems besetting local history is together and giving them guidance in that its many practitioners are often the regional historian context and in unaware of the research that has been research methodology and use of done in a given area’; in contrast to sources. archaeologists, ‘historians seem condemned to working in the dark at On her arrival in Cumbria in 1989 from the local level’. One solution that was Oxford, where she had experienced a adopted was the institution of a series county-wide co-ordinating and support of seminars for the promotion of the network for local historians, Mrs Jill study of local history, three working Wishart became a member of the groups being established, covering CWAAS’s Kendal-based affiliated parish histories (led by Dr Angus regional group. The results of a 3
www.clhf.org.uk questionnaire, she issued in early 1991 soon overtaken by a further meeting of on behalf of the group to local groups the Working Party and the decision to and associations with an interest in launch a federation, the inaugural their environment, their interest in the meeting of CLHF being held at formation of a larger group organisation Ambleside on 17 October 1992. was recorded. In response to Angus Winchester’s own paper advocating In January 2007, a meeting was held that CWAAS’s Research Committee between Richard Brockington, chairman explore developing a county-wide co- of CLHF, and Professor David Shotter, ordinating and support role, in July President of CWAAS, for a general 1991 the Society’s Council agreed that review of the relationship between the the Society should hold a Local History two bodies, Richard Brockington later Forum each year for three years but writing to reaffirm ‘our view that in a that so far as possible a unified general sense we have the same approach should be adopted, involving objectives and that we are not in Cumbria’s record offices, the newly competition but on the contrary could established Friends of Cumbria each give significant support to the Archives, and Lancaster University’s other’. Noting that both bodies were Centre for North-West Regional Studies; supporting the Cumbria VCH project, he Mrs Jill Wishart was invited to continue observed that ‘it may well be that her register of local history societies working together we can promote and groups and report to the Research successful comparative research, Committee. At an Open Meeting held combining the individual expertise of under the auspices of CWAAS’s CWAAS members with the enthusiasm, Research Committee in November knowledge and experience of our more 1991, it was pointed out that the local advanced member societies.’ In societies tended to see CWAAS as just succession to Richard Brockington, another local society and might not Jenni Lister (a member of CLHF’s think it appropriate for it to ‘control’ Committee) now represents the any umbrella organisation. In turn, the Federation on the Outreach Committee Local History Working Party set up after of CWAAS. the Open Meeting was ‘wary of too Adrian Allan close an association with the Society’. While in March 1992 the Research ~~~~~~~~~ Committee endorsed the need for the CLHF Members News. Society to take ‘a prominent role in Local History matters’, for the present it doubted the wisdom of another new News from Shap Local History body in this field, accordingly Society recommending a further meeting with various representatives ‘to consider the The Society has had a good summer, development of local history activities members and friends have enjoyed in Cumbria, the need and scope for co- visits to Appleby Castle, Warcop Hall ordination, the activities which different and village, and the Mayor’s Parlour in organisations might undertake, and the Kendal. The Mayor’s Attendant, with constraints of geography and Councillor Tom Clare (Mayor in 2000 personnel’. This recommendation was and 2014), gave a very interesting talk on the history of Kendal and the various 4
www.clhf.org.uk items on display – of particular interest gift to Miss Jane Foster, the last school were the two silver maces dating from mistress at Mardale School. 1645 and the Sword of State presented by Charles 1 which are still used on Following the success of our Mardale formal occasions. Book, published in 2011, we are also in the early stages of planning a book on Shap, with chapters written by different people. The Society is in a strong position financially, however, like many other local history societies, we continue to struggle to find people willing to join the committee.
Liz Amos
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Liz Amos with Mace
Another interesting item was the silver bound prayer book owned by Katherine Parr, the sixth wife of Henry V111. In size it is not much bigger than a The Cumbrian Railways Association matchbox, the pages are all (CRA) travelled to Barrow for its handwritten by her and it is described Autumn Conference on Saturday 11th as a girdle book. Only the Mayor’s of November at the Abbey House Hotel. Attendant is allowed to handle it but Widespread advance publicity and a there is a transcription. strong speaker programme meant that there was another extremely good Indoor meetings resumed in September attendance of around 70. We were also with a talk in St Michael’s Church delighted to welcome members of the ‘Walking with St Michael through Cumbria Industrial History Society who Cumbria’ and in October Eric Hall, who had a stand at the event. with his wife Marjorie, has been a member of the Society for several The event proved, once again, to be years, gave a fascinating talk about ‘My another enjoyable and interesting day Great Grandfather’ – a local farming of presentations, discussions and legend of the late 1800s. friendly fellowship as people gathered round the display stands, listened to the Our Heritage Centre in the Market speakers and enjoyed a convivial lunch. Cross Building was open every weekend It was good to see some new faces and during July and August and we we even recruited some more members managed to help several people with on the day! their family history research. During the winter months it will be open on The conference was introduced and led the first Saturday of the month, 1 – by Vice Chairman Mike Peascod - long 4pm. The Society has also been given a standing founder member of the CRA lovely tea-set which was a retirement who was standing in for Association 5
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Chairman, Philip Tuer who couldn’t be with us.
To start off, delegates were treated to a round the world photographic railway journey by Dr Les Nixon one of the best- known railway photographers in the country. His photographic odyssey spanned over 50 years and took us to such far flung locations as Sri Lanka, CRA Membership Grows: As mentioned India, Peru, Canada, Egypt, China and above, we were delighted to welcome South Africa, as well as may historic new members to the Association at the shots of railway scenes in the UK. Apart conference. Total membership now from being a visual feast, Les kept us all stands at 469 – an all time high in the entertained with many fascinating 41year history of the Association. anecdotes drawn from his travels. The Cumbrian Railways Association Rob Murray from the Stainmore Autumn Meeting will be held at the Railway Company then gave us a Carus Green Golf Club, Burneside Road, fascinating illustrated talk about several Kendal LA9 6EB. on 7th March 2018 – a carriage and wagon restoration projects date for your diary.Further information that he had been involved in, showing and booking details will be available in how, what looked like rusty due course on the CRA website underframes and rotting wood were www.cumbrianrailways.org.uk. Non- carefully restored into beautiful members are most welcome! examples of restored railway vehicles – Don Jary all with a minimum of resources. One of his stories related to a historic railway ~~~~~~~~~ coach that was brought back into full running order. One of the first Cumbria Amenity Trust passengers to get a ride in the restored vehicle was a 90+ year old woman who Mining History Society - had last been in it many years earlier, Coniston Copper project on her honeymoon, when it was a holiday coach! The final speaker of the In 2016, the Heritage Lottery Fund day was ex footplateman Raymond awarded £450,000 to the Coniston Penn who shared photographs and copper project which was made up of a stories relating to his railway career number of organisations including the based at Penrith and Carlisle Upperby Lake District National Park Authority, locomotive sheds. Cumbria Amenity Trust Mining History Society (CATMHS), Ruskin Museum, A further highlight was the launch of Rydal Estates and Mr Philip Johnston the new CRA publication, “An (land owners), Grisedale Arts and the Introduction to Cumbrian Railways”. YHA Coniston. Written by well-known railway historian The grant was to conserver the remains and writer David Joy. (See later). of various structures at Coniston Copper Mines and the Penny Rigg Mill at Tilberthwaite Mine numbering 150 6
www.clhf.org.uk items of repair, stabilisation and Duddon Valley LHG reconstruction. Also, there is a huge amount of interpretation and public The Duddon Valley Local History Group participation being carried out including have just completed their second working with Coniston primary and excavation of a longhouse after secondary schools. receiving a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and what an exciting time The conservation work has been to a it has been. The dig took place over the very high standard and hopefully will last two weeks in June on the fell close take the Coniston copper mines off the to Seathwaite Tarn. This settlement has at-risk register as it is a scheduled seen a continuation of three different ancient monument. Volunteers in phases with dating evidence to associated with Northern hopefully give occupation over several Archaeological Associates have generations. surveyed various sites in sometimes appalling weather, an archaeological dig The settlement has a number of has been carried out at Penny Rigg Mill structures but we focussed our time on which hopefully will shed light on how it the main longhouse situated inside operated. People have been delving another structure. This was a two- into the archives unearthing new roomed building with cross passage and material which will be produced in a a paved floor with hearth. There was new publication. The school children enough charcoal in the hearth to send have really embraced the project which for dating, all of which was then cleared has included site visits, re-enactments away to reveal a second cobbled floor of some of the stories from the period also with hearth containing charcoal. of mining, practical exercises, etc, which all fitted in with the curriculum. There have been opportunities for people who wish to carry out guided walks both on the fells and in Coniston which will be including trail leaflets. This is just a snap shot of what (but not all) that the project has been about.
Continuing down we came to another cobbled floor this time extending out to the walls of the wider structure with substantial walls of around 5 courses. Outside the wall of this wider structure close to the cross passage was found
Part of the flagged floor unearthed at our first piece of pottery which almost the Penny Rigg Mill during the dig- had the archaeologist dancing a jig. th Sumer 2017 “15 century Silverdale/Arnside Ware” he declared. We then set to with Warren Allison renewed vigour and before long Chairman of CATMHS another piece of similar pottery was discovered on the other side of the 7
www.clhf.org.uk site. This, together with a small remaining signs showing where this horseshoe and 2 other pieces of industry had been and the second horseshoes were discovered by the looked at the vernacular buildings of metal detectorist, along with several High Newton. Both trips were other metal fragments, from different oversubscribed and so there were two parts of the site. tours of each.
Unfortunately the 2 weeks flew by with The first walk started at High Newton, many questions still unanswered and where the weaving sheds were located we were soon backfilling, having first on the edge of the village, and covered some sections still to tackle continued towards Barber Green. En- next year. Another longhouse adjacent route, the retting ponds were pointed to these two buildings was tantalizingly out, one of which is used today to out of touch. The settlement is collect run off rainwater from the A590. enclosed with low boundary walls Retting is the process where the snaking up and along the fell, with a harvested flax was immersed for 10-14 stock pound set into the wall in one days. In Barber Green the group visited corner. the engineered water-course that provided the power to the fulling mill, a This has been a des- res for some place where the bleached cloth was medieval folk in a relatively sheltered beaten to flatten the fibres. Then, just area with some grazing for their stock outside Barber Green, the fields where and a homestead across the valley can the flax was grown were identified and still be seen at around the same height. the amazing “consumption wall”, We now await the report from Oxford created from the process of clearing the Archaeology North. fields. Afterwards the group walked to Low Newton, viewing more retting Sue Lydon ponds and the engineered water course. ~~~~~~~~~ Newton was mentioned in the Cartmel Peninsula Local Domesday Book of 1086 and the second History Society: Two field trips walk looked at two vernacular buildings in High Newton. The road through the in High and Low Newton villages, between Lindale and Newby High Newton and Low Newton villages Bridge had been turnpiked following lie towards the north east of the the 1818 Act, with a new section of Cartmel Peninsula. A road bypass built road through High Newton. One of our in 2008 took the A590 away from the researchers advised that by 1850, post villages and this returned them to a for Grange was left by the mail-coach in more peaceful existence. Two members "Newton -in -Cartmel” and addressed as of the society had researched the flax such. The first house visited was the industry which disappeared at the Post House. The earliest features are at beginning of the 19th century in this the rear of the house, where there is a specific area and this summer two field west-facing, previously external wall trips in and around the two villages that is approximately five feet deep. took place. The first trip discovered the Contained in this wall is an unusual flat 8
www.clhf.org.uk arch fireplace, with a beehive oven west gable is a feature which may inside on the right. A room at the front represent a former bread oven. To the of the house, with a floor of black slate, rear, a gabled wing with small-paned has a tie beam with roll moulding fixed glazing, with opening lights. A similar to a house in Field Broughton room at the rear is open to the rafters and also Cartmel Priory. Wood used in with a tie beam still in position and the house is some oak and in addition empty mortices for floor joists, now possibly some chestnut or elm. There is removed. Both properties show that a evidence of re-used timbers, several front facade even with a datestone is possible halvings, and curved principal not always to be relied upon in rafters upstairs. The Jackson family interpreting a building. With regard to appear to have occupied the building the datestone on Newton Hall, A I D from the 1840s and generations of the 1754, it is now so worn that it is not family were described as postmasters in readable. Timothy Askew married the census with Thomas Jackson Dorothy Seatle at Cartmel in 1753. described as postmaster dying in high Could theI have been a T? Askew Newton in 1965. Timothy Dorothy 1754. Timothy was described as yeoman of Newton.
The two trips enlightened members to the history of High and Low Newton in a specific period of time.
Barbara Copeland
These walks were made possible due to the goodwill of local residents and members of the CPLHS who organised the walks. A special thanks goes to June The second house visited was Newton Hill and other members of the Cumbria Hall, a grade II listed house of 2 storeys Vernacular Buildings Group who shared plus attics, and 3 bays. The entrance their knowledge and expertise with the door is central, with pedimented panel, CPLHS. I can personally recommend with initials and date, A I D 1754. It was working with the specific interest explained that the 1754 date over the Cumbria groups who are able to add a new dimension to local group trips and front door represents the Georgian extension northwards, of an earlier walks. Editor. house, which is evident from the rear. ~~~~~~~~~ The walls are roughcast under a slate Orton & Tebay LHS roof, with gable stacks. The staircase is superb, with a return stair, 5,2,7 steps All Saints Church, Orton up, and open well. The interior windows Memorials to the front are uniform, with sash window to facade, all 2 x 9 panels. About 3 years ago Mary Jenkins and There are no lugs, also known as horns, Heather Ballantyne of Orton and Tebay to the sashes. The glass is old, possibly Local History Society embarked upon original, with thick glazing bars. On the 9
www.clhf.org.uk the job of recording all the memorials in project. Not all headstones were found All Saints’ Orton Churchyard and that had been listed on previous Church. surveys but some were found this time that were not found in 1977. Many Over the years they had many interesting stories have also been found enquiries, from people not living in the about how some of these people died area as well as people visiting the and we hope to find more and link them village, regarding headstones. The to the alphabetical list on the web site. starting point were two old surveys, one by Edward Bellasis in 1887/8 and During this time Orton had been taken the other by Leslie N.S. Smith in 1977 into the Yorkshire Dales National Park Over the last 40 years the memorials and under the umbrella of Orton had deteriorated and many were now Churchyard Conservation Project illegible so they felt as if this needed to supported by Sustainable Development be done . Fund they have been able to get their work published and a copy is now in It was decided that the Churchyard Kendal Archive and All Saints’ Church. should be broken down into small areas and each memorial given a unique identity so that people looking for a headstones would be able to find them easily. They decided to photograph the headstones as well as recording the inscriptions. The very first one had a thick layer of debris on it and they could not read it. They had to refer to the earlier surveys to find out whose memorial it was and the inscription. Headstone 2 was in the same state and The OTLHS website headstone number 5 which had fallen www.otlhs.ukme.com has a copy of the on its face and needed some muscle map of the Churchyard and an power to turn it over. This did not alphabetical list of the names deter them it just meant that the job mentioned on the headstones. If people would take longer than first thought. cannot get to Orton but want to know With the help of people to turn over more about a particular memorial they and re-erect fallen stones (and in one can contact OTLHS via the web site case dig up pieces buried under mud) giving the memorial number and we they made steady progress. Trees and can arrange to e-mail a copy of the bushes were pruned or removed to find photo and a the inscription. headstones that had not seen the light Heather Ballantyne of day for many years and some stones needing gentle cleaning to read them, they managed to get the job finished in CLHF 2017 Convention May 17. The 2017 CLHF AGM and Convention on Maybe if they had realised there were the 14th October was for the second over 600 memorials they would have year jointly organised and hosted by thought twice before embarking on this CLHF Group members and the CLHF 10
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Committee. This year Askam & Ireleth information not to be found elsewhere. and Kirkby History Groups were our A new edition of West’s Antiquities was hosts for what was a very successful produced by the surgeon and polymath, event. Dr William Close (1775 – 1838), whose For the statisticians among you: People own papers, including an unpublished attending – 90, Talks presented 5, Table history of Furness, are to be found in displays 10, Groups represented – 16. Manchester Central Library. Sandwiches and cakes consumed – too many to count! The 1840s witnessed the publication of a rash of books including Thomas Alcock Beck’s Annales Furnesienses (1844) , a history of Furness Abbey, an enormous, lavishly illustrated tome, but it was in the late 19th century that a vast number of antiquarian / archaeological publications were produced, including James Stockdale’s Annals of Cartmel (1872), supplemented by his papers at Barrow Archive Centre, which, for instance, include drawings of urns, Here are a few talk summaries, more in 1837, which have since been lost. In next edition, and reflections of the 1866 the Cumberland and Westmorland event I have received: Antiquarian and Archaeological Society (CWAAS) was founded and through its ‘Antiquarians of Furness’, delivered Transactions, the articles published in by Dan Elsworth. The North Lonsdale Magazine and through the activities and publications A masterly account of the antiquarians of the Barrow Field Club and the North of Furness, of the late 18th century and Lonsdale Club, many articles relating to later, and the continuing value of their Furness were published, with Barrow published work and surviving records Archive Centre also holding extensive was provided by Dan Elsworth. Raised papers of the Field Clubs and the in Ulverston, Dan established his own antiquarians (including Harper company, Greenlane Archaeology, in Gaythorpe of Barrow) involved. 2005. Highlighted as representative of the Following the publication in 1774 of his work of archaeologists and historians in substantial volume on The Antiquities of the 20th century were W G Collingwood Furness, Thomas West (d. 1779), who (editor of CWAAS’s Transactions, 1900 – had studied at the Jesuit College in 25), Marjorie Cross, and Alex Fell (who Flanders and had settled in Furness in produced work on the early iron 1766, produced the first popular Guide industry); also Barrow Archive Centre’s to the Lakes in Cumberland, Furness local history holdings of the Westmorland and Lancashire in 1778; it papers of James Melville (1899 - 1983), was to be reprinted several times up to James Hobbs( 1897 – 1971), and the 1821.The vast collection of his local librarian, Fred Barnes; and, in correspondence, held by Lancashire particular, the large quantity of Record Office, continues to provide publications and papers of the 11
www.clhf.org.uk prehistorian Clare Fell (1912 – 2002) to recognise the company was bankrupt and the enormous quantity of slides of and closed in 1909. Mike Davies-Shiel (1929 – 2009), the industrial archaeologist, which Kendal Finance was provided by a small group Archive Centre holds. Attention was of Quakers through the Darlington also drawn to the value of newspaper bank, unlike its rival the Millom Iron articles - a press report reproducing a and Steel Works, whose backers were photograph of a stone head found in mainly from Liverpool, but also included Dalton providing the sole record of an others from around the country. object whose current whereabouts are At its peak it would have been an unknown - and to theses, including impressive site with a 325 feet chimney, Craig Appley’s Sheffield University PhD reputedly the second tallest in England thesis (2012) on the Prehistoric at the time and 4 blast furnaces. The Environment of Furness. From the site had its own railway sidings to aid 1990s onwards, copies of the reports the movement of materials. The plans and records of archaeological units for the village at that time included have been deposited in local record more houses, recreational areas and offices; Greenlane Archaeology’s report various promised environmental (2007) on Sowerby Hall Farm, Barrow- improvements. Drains were installed in in-Furness, providing an example. In the 1878 following flooding problems surviving archives of antiquarians may appeared to be the only recorded be found the only record of past improvement. Sadly none of the plans excavations and finds and of buildings for houses etc. materialised and that which no longer exist. Adrian Allan area today is like a rabbit warren with “Askam Iron Works” delivered by many fields having been used for the slag and in time covered thinly with soil Peter Burt and grass. 25 acres of this land is the Peter gave a very enthusiastic property of the Askham Village Hall presentation of Askam Iron Works. It Committee. To reduce transport costs a was clear from the start that Peter, a pier was constructed, but the strength native of Askam was enthusiastic about of the gales and its exposure to the Irish the history of the village’s largest sea, even within the Duddon estuary employer and yet could recognise that meant that only 1 ship was successful in success eluded the company through this operation. funding issues and the many benefits Operating in a very competitive promised to the village never industry, the comparatively small group materialised. of investors struggled until in 1909, it Peter opened his presentation by was made bankrupt and closed owing passing round a small slug of kidney £103,000. The bankrupt company was iron, which is 56% pure iron and was sold for £100,000 to its neighbour and mined 3 miles south of the hall. He rival the Millom Iron and Steel Works, went on to discuss the various General which itself closed in 1919. At its peak Managers and Boards of Directors, who Askam had a population of close to had steered the company in its growth 5,000, but today it is around 3,000 and achievements, but ultimately had surrounded by the history and topography of its largest employer. 12
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Peter Burt brought together in this I received these reflections from a CLHF presentation his pride in his own member: village’s largest employer, but also there was a disappointment that so “It was a misty day and my first ever much more might have been achieved. visit to Askam-in-Furness, but the clear He has diligently carried out his advance details provided about location research and his records and and car parking, as well as the photographs were of a very high numerous CLHF signs made finding the standard. John Poland venue and parking very easy. A range “Furness Abbey post Reformation: The of displays by several groups provided a Romance of the Ruins”, delivered by great insight into several aspects of Dr Christopher Donaldson . local history, particularly from around Askam but also from elsewhere in Dr Donaldson delivered a talk Cumbria. It was interesting to see the referencing some aspects mentioned by variety in focus that different local previous speakers and discussed the history groups have based on their own Abbey as others would see it or in other unique areas”. words the “spectator’s view” of the Abbey ruins. Dr Donaldson explained that Furness Abbey as a Cistercian house was the second most wealthy of the Cistercian Abbey’s owning vast areas of land and many productive industries.
Post Reformation the Abbey the spectator would have seen the extensive lead removed from the roof, sold and melted down and the local red “Excellent refreshments were available sandstone used in the construction if throughout the day to sustain the local buildings. The ruins situated as participants until we set off home with they were in the Valley of Deadly Nightshade were seen as picturesque books and dates in our diaries for future and the Abbey would have been on the events. As we set off we took the early tourist route for visitors to the opportunity to have a drive around Lake District. It was mentioned in The Askam in the sunshine to have a look for Prelude by Wordsworth and Turner some of the places highlighted in the created several etchings of the ruins. talk on the history of the settlement.
Dr Donaldson gave us a talk of This was only my second attendance at historical context blending this with a CLHF Convention and I came away how a ruin was seen and perceived in from them both with a better art and poetry post the Reformation. knowledge of an area and aspects of Nigel Mills local history I previously didn’t know and enjoyed the very friendly welcome from the organisers and others in attendance”. 13
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Local History Books about Grammar School (CGS) and who had died in WW1. Carlisle Grammar School Cumbria & Cumbrians was later amalgamated with the Creighton School for Boys and The Cumbria’s Industrial Past Margaret Sewell School for Girls to form Mike Davies-Sheil was a local teacher Trinity School, where Linda and I both and lecturer who spent many years teach. After completing our research studying the past industries of Cumbria we wrote "The Stars of Night", which alongside those that were coming to a tells the story of the 88 & 3 other men close. He was never without his camera who had been missed off the original and he recorded all that he saw. A commemoration board, most of the selection of these photographs has been men were Cumbrian. We were amazed drawn together by members of the at how interesting their stories turned Cumbria Industrial History Society with out to be, most were soldiers but a few explanatory text to illustrate some of flew with the fledgling RFC and we had the industries that have been lost from the county over the last 60 years. The industries included are major ones such as coal, lead and iron as well as some of the less well known ones such as brush making and snuff manufacture.
sailors too. They died in 14 different countries and were involved in all aspects of the war; as a piece of social history it is interesting too. The men came from all walks of life and include the son of a diplomat to a blacksmith's son from Kirkbride. The latter was It is 136 pages, hardback and colour awarded the MC and another was throughout. It costs £25 and is available awarded the 'Croix de Guerre'. Our from the Cumbria Industrial History book can be bought for £5 from Trinity Society. Further information can be School reception on Strand Road, found at http://www.cumbria- Carlisle or ordered by emailing myself at industries.org.uk school [email protected].
The Stars of Night by Linda At Trinity we have three Hodgson and Sarah Lee. commemoration boards. As well as the CGS WW1 board, we have the CGS My colleague Linda Wedderburn WW2 board and The Creighton School (formerly Hodgson) and I researched for Boys WW2 board. We are just the 88 men who had attended Carlisle beginning to collect information about 14
www.clhf.org.uk the men on the WW2 boards and if any also receive comprehensive coverage. of your readers have information about any of these 200 men we'd love to hear The book is priced £9.95 and will be from them! available from November from bookshops or direct from the Cumbrian And finally we have wondered whether Railways Association by visiting any of the women who attended the www.cumbrianrailways.org.uk. Margaret Sewell School for Girls gave their lives in WW2? We have no information about any of them! ~~~~~~~~~ Sarah Lee. Help Requested. Cumbrian Railways by David Joy. If you can help these requests please reply direct or if no contact details given through me. Thank you. Editor.
I represent the Guernsey Society, and we are trying to trace the descendants of a Cumbria man whose skills as an architect are celebrated in the island of Guernsey.
John Wilson was born in 1781 at Cardewlees Farm, Dalston, the son of Robert and Mary. He joined the Board of Ordnance as a mason, which took The CRA is proud to announce the him to Guernsey, Channel Islands. While publication of its latest book “An he lived there, he undertook private Introduction to Cumbrian Railways”. commissions and was the architect for Written by well-known railway historian what are now considered some of the and writer David Joy, this 96 page fully island’s finest buildings. illustrated book, tells the fascinating story of the development of railways in what is now the county of Cumbria. The content spans from the earliest days in the 1830’s to the present – from railway pioneers to rail privatisation.
Each railway line in the County is covered, from the main trunk lines, such as the West Coast Main Line, to the smaller railways that went to make up the network of lines serving local communities and businesses. The However, until recently very little was Industrial lines that served the County known of his origins. He died in 15
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Southampton in 1866 - and left a sum of hear of it. I will be available to give the money to his great nephew, John Wilson talk in 2018, no fee but travel expenses to build a house in Cumbria. We know would be appreciated. that his heir was the son of Rev. Robert Wilson of Maryport - but know nothing of his descendants. In 2018, there are a ~~~~~~~~~ number of activities planned to mark the 200th anniversary of St James Other News from our Church, one of his designs. We would Members like to make contact with anyone who may know any more about this family. Peter McWilliam, an individual member of CLHF, tells me that he has launched a new website which covers local history, If you know anything about this family, walks and much more. For example he please contact Stephen Foote has re-drawn the Tythe Map of Kirkby at stephen.foote@guernsey- Stephen township (1839) and society.org.uk Apportionment Schedule (1842) and a digitised version of the Mallerstang CLHF Member Dr Maureen Bravington tithe map is in hand. The website e-mailed me as follows: address is http://www.westmorland- dales.co.uk and is well worth a visit. I am a writer and am researching for my ~~~~~~~~~ next novel, which will be set in the Lake District. The last time I visited this area, . I was told about the Damson Valley and Cumbria’s Speakers Corner I immediately 'felt a story coming Recommended Speakers on'. My informants told me of a dreadful time when all the damsons “Harry Hawkins was excellent in the talk died and people who depended on their he gave on the Monasteries of sale, plus jam-making and even the Cumbria”. Name supplied. dyeing of leather with their juice, were near to starvation. Perhaps your I am still keen to encourage CLHF members could tell me whether this member groups and individuals to legend is true? In any case, I will recommend to others, through the develop a 'who dunnit?' over the next pages of the Bulletin, the lectures and year. My ancestors came from lecturers that you have enjoyed Crosthwaite, name of Moore, and I have listening to. More recommendations managed to trace them back to and why you recommend the speaker c.1753. I would love to go further back would be appreciated and will be but don't know where the relevant treated as confidential. records might be. Editor. Recommended Visits
A request from Dick O’Brien. West Cambrian Railway Museum, St I'm preparing a talk on the Pilgrimage Bees recommended by Helen of Grace in Cumberland and Cauldwell. Facebook describes this Westmorland 1536-7 and if anyone has museum:- A collection of local any source material I would be glad to Cumbrian railway artifacts and social 16
www.clhf.org.uk history from the 1840s to the present Below the building is a very popular day. It’s a diverse group of items that cafe, where you can sit outside on the should have something to interest patio (weather permitting!) to enjoy a everyone - totems, nameplates, fabulous view across the cricket field in posters, lamps, carriage prints, Fitz Park, and keep an eye on signalling equipment; maps, enamel & children/grandchildren in the nearby cast iron signs and much more. It is children's play area. A meeting room generally open one week per month or seating 40 is available for rent, and by appointment for special interest adjacent there is a small lobby area for groups and it is free although donations displays. are welcome - contact [email protected]. Throughout the year on the first Recommended by Helen Caldwell. Thursday of the month at 1.00pm the Museum holds free lunchtime talks (30 ~~~~~~~~~ minutes plus discussion) on a fascinating range of topics. And the Museums in Cumbria. Friends of the Museum arrange monthly evening talks through the News from Keswick Museum winter on Wednesdays. Check the website for further details: Recently Keswick Museum celebrated www.kmag.org.uk or ring 017687 two anniversaries: 120 years since it 73263. Finally, the Museum is always opened in 1897, and 3 years since it looking for more volunteers, to assist reopened after major refurbishment. It with research projects, to help organize is a very busy place. It still retains its the archives, respond to queries or help Victorian gallery of curiosities, full of at reception – lots of opportunities and treasures and quirkiness, while the a great place to volunteer. fabulous 'art gallery' space displays rolling exhibitions of very high quality. If you are already a member please get The current exhibition (which ends on 4 in touch with me. Editor. January) “Blencathra: life of a Mountain” explores many aspects of ~~~~~~~~ this iconic mountain, and is packed with information relating to landscape, Cumbria County History Trust geology, mining, fox hunting, Threlkeld Victoria County History village life, mountain sports etc. The curator Sue Mackay worked closely with The Cumbria VCH project, now in its the film-maker Terry Abraham on its seventh year, is making steady design. progress, and across the county there are volunteer researchers The next exhibition “Herstory: Women building up specialist knowledge of of Keswick” starting in January will Cumbrian places in history. I have explore the lives of a diverse set of decided to include in each Bulletin a women past and present - writers, short profile of one such VCH volunteer artists, climbers, community leaders, a both to recognise their contribution to suffragist, housemaids, and more. local history and to encourage others to Don't miss it! The Museum is open 7 become a CCHT Volunteer: days a week, 10.00 – 16.00. 17
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Jane Penman of Martindale Will) the existence of a Martindale curate in the mid-16th century, 70 years My academic background is in Classics earlier than the first curate previously and Ancient History. I graduated from St known, also (from a sketch in Thomas Anne’s College, Oxford, in 1971 in Machell’s marginalia) that our 17th Literae Humaniores (“Greats”) and church originally had a quite different spent several further years in Oxford configuration, were exciting moments. researching for a D.Phil. in Hellenistic A longer term task is the matching of history. My thesis, on the historian medieval land charters to archaeology Hieronymus of Cardia, was on the ground to form a picture of land tenure in Martindale over the past subsequently published in the series millenium – a painstaking jig-saw puzzle Oxford Historical Monographs by the which constantly absorbs, frustrates OUP. After a series of jobs as a research and rewards me. Contact with skilled assistant and in university teaching I archaeologists has been yet another was appointed Head of Classics at enlightening new experience. Wycombe Abbey School and remained in this post till I retired in 2008. I then returned to the north, to live in the ~~~~~~~~~ family home in Martindale, an upland valley on the east side of Ullswater. BALH Local History News acknowledges the new CLHF Website
I was delighted to hear of the VCH Cumbria project, which offered an opportunity to research the history of the place I live in with the guidance of a first class team of scholars. British history was a new field to me and one I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring. My knowledge of Latin has been an advantage in reading older documents, though palaeography remains a challenge. Currently I am working on the religious history of my township and on landownership. Discovering (from his
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Events Diary 2017/18 Please see www.clhf.org.uk for member group contacts and further event dates. January 2018 3rd Friends of Keswick Museum Crosthwaite Parish Room, Keswick The Derwentwater Disaster of 1898 Ray Greenhow
8th Kendal Historical & Archaeological Society Shakespeare Centre, Yard 76, Kendal The Rise and Fall of the Northumberland Fiona Edmonds Kingdom 8th Cartmel Fell & District LHS Parish Hall, Cartmel Fell Jonas Barber, Clockmaker Tim Sykes
8th CWAAS Penrith Group Friends Meeting House, Penrith AGM
9th North Lonsdale HS Methodist Church, Ulverston From Clay to Shale U3A Furness project on brickmaking
9th Staveley & District HS Staveley School How to study the history of your house Rob David
9th Kirkoswald & Renwick HG Methodist Chapel, Renwick The Pilgrimage of Grace Dick O’Brien
11th Lorton & Derwent Fells LHS Yew Tree Hall, High Lorton The Derwentwater Disaster Ray Greenhow
15th Holme & District LHS Burton in Kendal Memorial Hall Railways and the growth of Arnside Dr Stephen Caunce
15th Upper Eden History Society Kirby Stephen Grammar School Musical Evening for Candlemass Catharine Ashcroft and others
16th Friends of the Helena Thompson Museum Workington Morton Sundour and Solway Dyes John Hudson
17th Sedbergh & District HS Settlebeck School How Water Shaped Kendal Geoff Brambles
18th Levens Local History Group Levens Village Institute Science Superstition & Sorcery Ian Hodkinson
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19th CWAAS Carlisle 7.15 Tullie House The Stainton West site and its importance Fraser Brown
20th South West Cumbria Hist. & Arch. Soc 2-4 pm Egremont Market Hall The Ancient Woodland of Cumbria Forester Edward Mills
22nd Shap LHS Memorial Hall, Shap The Shap Stones Patrick Neaves
24th Duddon Valley LHG Victory Hall, Broughton in Furness Broughton Soldiers in the Great War 1917 Peter Greenwood
24th Mourholme LHS Yealand Village Hall Cumbrian Stone Circles Tom Clare
February 2018 1st Warwick Bridge LHG Corby Hill Methodist Chapel. Cumwhitton Moss David Park
1st Cartmel Peninsula LHS Village Hall, Cartmel For Tortola: Quakers, Lonsdale merchants Mike Winstanley and West Indies 1750-1850. 5th Kendal Historical & Archaeological Society Shakespeare Centre, Yard 76, Kendal The History of Coniston Copper Mines Warren Allison
7th Sedbergh & District HS Settlebeck School The History of Holme Mills Geoff Page
12th CWAAS Penrith Group 2pm Friends Meeting House, Penrith Outside the Law'. Crime and Policing in the Mike Winstanley Victorian North West 12th Cartmel Fell & District LHS Parish Hall, Cartmel Fell Watermill History Charles Rowntree
13th Kirkoswald & Renwick HG Methodist Chapel, Renwick Droving in Cumbria Peter Roebuck
13th Staveley & District HS Staveley School Liverpool Cowcatchers David Joy
13th North Lonsdale HS Methodist Church, Ulverston Having fun in Cumbria Bill Myers
15th Levens Local History Group Levens Village Institute Over Sands to the Lakes; Journeys over Dr Christopher Donaldson Morecambe Bay before & after the Age of Steam 20
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16th CWAAS Carlisle 7.15 Tullie House A 17th Century Time Capsule Chris Craghill
17th South West Cumbria Hist. & Arch. Soc. 2-4 pm Egremont Market Hall The Archaeology of Duddon Valley Stephe Cove Longhouses 19th Upper Eden History Society Kirby Stephen Grammar School. The History of Cross Keys and it's Quaker Alan Clowes connection 19th Holme & District LHS Burton in Kendal Memorial Hall AGM – followed by The Barony of Kendal – Barbara Blatchford from Border Wars to the 21st Century 20th Friends of the Helena Thompson Museum Workington A Museum Miscellany The Pats
21st Sedbergh & District HS Dent Memorial Hall St Helena – a final voyage? Mike Beecroft
26th Shap LHS Memorial Hall, Shap From the Romans to the Restoration Jean Jackson
28th Mourholme LHS Yealand Village Hall Fishermen on Morecambe Bay Michelle Cooper
28th Duddon Valley LHG Victory Hall, Broughton in Furness Jack Kitchen –The Windermere Inventor Diana Matthews
March 2018 1st Cartmel Peninsula LHS Village Hall, Cartmel 300 years of schooling in Satterthwaite and Dr Suzanne Tiplady Rusland.
5th Kendal Historical & Archaeological Society Shakespeare Centre, Yard 76, Kendal Worlds in Transformation; Celtic Art & Hunter Fraser Roman Conquest in Central Britain 7th Sedbergh & District HS Settlebeck School Discovering a landscape of industry Andrew Lowe
8th Lorton & Derwent Fells LHS Yew Tree Hall, High Lorton The Great War, Ambleside’s Story Judith Shingler
12th CWAAS Penrith Group Friends Meeting House, Penrith The Oral History of Cumbria Elizabeth Roberts
12th Cartmel Fell & District LHS Parish Hall, Cartmel Fell Stone Circles and Burial Mounds Dr Tom Clare
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13th Staveley & District HS Staveley School The Lakes through Victorian Slides Ian Jones
13th North Lonsdale HS Methodist Church, Ulverston Millom, several years of history Dave Kelly
13th Kirkoswald & Renwick HG Methodist Chapel, Renwick Re-enactment of 19th C Poacher trial (using TBA trial transcript) 15th Levens Local History Group Levens Village Institute A Trip to Switzerland in 1916; A little known Tony Foster aspect of WW1 15th Orton & Tebay LHS Orton/Tebay James Bland Sheep Farmer John Sharpe
16th CWAAS Carlisle 7.15 Tullie House The Galloway Viking Hoard Andrew Nicholson
17th South West Cumbria Hist. & Arch. Soc 2-4 pm Egremont Market Hall The Early Maps of Cumbria Dr Bill Shannon
19th Holme & District LHS Burton in Kendal Memorial Hall St Kilda – A Social History Steve Halliwell
19th Upper Eden History Society Kirby Stephen Grammar School The Mining & use of Gypsum in the Eden Graham Brooks Valley 20th Friends of the Helena Thompson Museum Workington Wainwright’s Coast to Coast Walk Norman Godfrey
21st Sedbergh & District HS Settlebeck School From Iron Age track to motorway; Two Graham Hooley thousand years through the Lune Gorge 26TH Shap LHS Memorial Hall, Shap The Shap Fell Road Liz Amos
28th Duddon Valley LHG Victory Hall, Broughton in Furness Settlement and Field Names in Finsthwaite Sophia Martin
28th Mourholme LHS Yealand Village Hall The Arthurian Legend in Lancashire and Dr Andrew Breeze Beyond. April 2018 5th Warwick Bridge LHG Corby Hill Methodist Chapel The Quintinshill Disater Stephen White
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5th Cartmel Peninsula LHS Village Hall, Cartmel If God Permits: Myths and Realities behind Mike and Kate Lea the Stagecoach Era 9th Cartmel Fell & District LHS Parish Hall, Cartmel Fell 8pm Any Old Iron: Fingerposts and Foundries in Mike and Kate Lea Cumbria 9th Kendal Historical & Archaeological Society Shakespeare Centre, Yard 76, Kendal AGM & Guarding the Pass: Low Borrowdale Graham Hooley in Tebay Gorge 10th Staveley & District HS Staveley School AGM & Members Evening
10th North Lonsdale HS Methodist Church, Ulverston The Harringtons of Gleaston Castle Isabel Sneesby
10th Kirkoswald & Renwick HG Methodist Chapel, Renwick Pagans, Ranters, Quakers and other Alastair Robertson Dissenters on Alston Moor 15th Cumbria Family History Society One Day Conference at Seascale
16th Holme & District LHS Burton in Kendal Memorial Hall The Cumbria Monastries Harry Hawkins
16th Upper Eden History Society Kirby Stephen Grammar School AGM & Evolution of Commercial Barnard Carl Dougherty Castle 17th Friends of the Helena Thompson Museum Workington Boggles of Cumbria Alan Cleaver & Lesley Park
19th Levens Local History Group Levens Village Institute The Boundaries of Beetham Peter Standing
19th Orton & Tebay LHS Orton/Tebay A Horrible History of Cumbria Railways Bill Myers
20th CWAAS Carlisle 7.15 Tullie House The Penrith Workhouses and their Peter Lewis connections. 23rd Shap LHS Memorial Hall, Shap Smoke over Shap Jean Scott-Smith
25th Duddon Valley LHG Victory Hall, Broughton in Furness Unearthing the Past Stuart Flett
25th Mourholme LHS Yealand Village Hall AGM followed by 'If God Permits; Myths Dr Stephen Caunce and Realities behind the Stagecoach Era'. 23
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Editor’s Final Thoughts.
Thank you for reading this far! If you have enjoyed this edition of the Bulletin but have not yet contributed please think about doing so. (What I really mean is that whether or not you enjoyed reading this issue please send me a contribution or comment on anything of interest by the end of January 2018). For instance, let me know if you or your Society or Group did anything remotely historical to celebrate Christmas?
Also please send me some historical images for the Bulletin front cover. One member commented that they liked to see an image on the front cover. I just hope that they did not mean they looked no further! If I do not receive any images my previous “threat” to publish one from my own collection may have to be implemented. Here is an example: The Pinfold at Deanscales.
Please have a good Christmas and New Year.
Nigel Mills, Editor.
CLHF Committee Committee members may be contacted by e-mail via our website http://www.clhf.org.uk Chair Peter Roebuck Secretary Lyn Cole Treasurer John Poland Bulletin Editor Nigel Mills Membership & Treasurer Liz Kerrey Website Vacancy Event Organiser June Hill CCHT Trustee for CLHF Richard Brockington Committee Jenni Lister Committee Adrian Allan
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