In chapter 6 of my book, Port Carlisle, a history built on hope, I tried to disentangle the various Carlisle manufacturers who backed the canal. Including Joseph Ferguson. I pondered that he might hav...Read More
Irving – Simpson arms. When I wrote my book, Port Carlisle, a history built on hope, I drew up a rough idea of the Irving-Simpson arms. That is, the coat of arms accorded to Peter Irving and his...Read More
Christopher Alderson is buried at Beacon Edge cemetery, Penrith, with his wife Isabella. In looking to find out something about them, he turned out to have a story of bravery in his past. The grave Ch...Read More
After taking photos of graves at Beacon Edge, Cemetery, Penrith, I realised that the photo I took of Joseph Dalton’s unusual headstone also shows a good part of the grave of the Blackburn family of ...Read More
This post on Richard Lowry started with an appeal from Martin in Texas, who has an item engraved ‘R Lowry, Stanwix’. He’d like to find any living relatives who might be interested in it*. Should...Read More
Thursby Post Office these days is sited within the Parish Hall, in Matty Lonning (possibly my favourite-ever street name, as it sounds like the name of the hero in a folk song! The original Thursby Po...Read More
Thomas Watman of Newton Holme had three daughters called Mary, and one Gretna Green marriage, so for sure qualifies as a Cumbrian Character. In my book, Port Carlisle, a history built on hope there ar...Read More
The grave of Joseph Dalton and his wife Ann Dalton stands out a little among the thousands in Beacon Edge Cemetery, above Penrith. The stone is black and there is a white, circular plaque inset at the...Read More
The photos I took at Beacon Edge Cemetery, Penrith, last summer, were pretty random. Just a handful or so between the chapel and my great-great-grandparents’ (side-by-side) graves. Some of them turn...Read More