Category: social history
J&J Graham of Penrith and the water closet furore
Water closet – by any other name Water closet; toilet; privy; lavatory; loo; bog, ty bach in Welsh (‘little house’), khazi, netty… Brits have a LOT of words for what other English-speaking nat... Read More
Electrotherapy and complimentary mourning
Electrotherapy and complimentary mourning aren’t terms that go naturally together. Unless the former goes horribly wrong. But they were both on the front page of the Carlisle Journal 150 years a... Read More
Invitation to a funeral: a Cumbrian custom
Cumbrian custom, or Solway custom? The following Cumbrian custom may not be unique to Bowness-on-Solway – or indeed be a uniquely Cumbrian custom. But in 1974, one elderly Bowness-on-Solway resident... Read More
Beds through the ages, comfort and joy
Beds through the ages: most important piece of furniture? Spoiled for choice when considering a new mattress? Puzzled by the claims for memory foam, pocket springs, toppers, zoning, cores… When you ... Read More
New decade, familiar issues
Out with old, in with more of the same? On the eve of a new decade, here’s a post inspired by the Penrith Observer of December 30, 1919. Which looked at the realities of life in the aftermath of the... Read More
Winter solstice & fashion tips 1893
Winter solstice and curious questions ‘Winter solstice 2019 in Northern Hemisphere was at 04:19 on Sunday, 22 December’. So Google informs us. Bringing up with it such puzzling questions as: ‘... Read More
Old maids, a tedious courtship, and dating advice
Old Maids – not just a card game Old maids – it has never been a kind phrase, has it? And there is no equivalent for men. ‘Left on the shelf’ – has that ever been used towards a man? There... Read More
Bonfire Night 1855, in Cumberland
Bonfire Night – a quick history Bonfire Night is two days away – although ‘Bonfire Night’ is always dragged out across at least ten days, when it comes to people letting off fireworks! For any... Read More