Category: social history
The Penrith death roll for 1895
‘The Penrith death roll for 1895’ sounds a dry title, but it has some interesting facts and figures. And led Cumbrian Characters to discover a tale of broken hearts, one of late love, and ... Read More
Carlisle Central School vs the Industrial Revolution
Carlisle Central School, in the early years of the 19th century, was set up to counter ‘the pernicious effects’ of the Industrial Revolution. A worthy (if perhaps self-interested) venture, it also... Read More
Wedding invitations with a Cumbrian twist
Wedding invitations are a mixed blessing for the recipient (I am not alone in thinking this, right?!). You have to set aside a weekend and spend a fortune on accommodation, getting there and back, a n... Read More
Cumbrian superstitions
The Cumbrian superstitions in this post may not be unique to Cumberland and Westmorland, but they were claimed as such by writers in Victorian times. “I’m not superstitious, but…” Friday the 1... Read More
Frances Farlam, a ‘lunatic’ from grief
The sad story of Frances Farlam tells us a lot about bereavement, mental health, and how both were ‘treated’ towards the end of the 19th century. It also shows that infant deaths – so common t... Read More
The telephone: ‘useless for postal purposes’
A 2016 survey by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) asked people what two possessions (non-living things) they’d save from a fire if they had three minutes to do safely. The results were Cr... Read More
First motor cars: a Cumbrian take
First motor cars isn’t a particularly Cumbrian topic, but if you’ve ever driven over Kirkstone Pass, you’ll appreciate the anecdote at the end of this post. First motor cars – or n... Read More
Beer prices in 1959
Beer prices in 1959 may seem a random date, but it’s one I happen to have a record for. Because a battered notebook, handed down to me, records the income and outgoings of a family pub/farm. It gi... Read More