Recent Posts
William Parkin of the L & N W Railway
The gravestone of William Parkin and his wife Elizabeth has an anchor carved into it, above their names. Which suggests some maritime connection – despite Penrith being a long way from the sea. But ... Read More
William Weight : advice on variations
William Weight married in his 40s, died in his 80s, and doesn’t seem to have left much of a mark on the world. But having taken a photo of his and wife Isabella’s grave, at Beacon Edge Cemetery, P... Read More
Lancelot Harrison, gunsmith and truss maker
The gravestone of Lancelot Harrison, is sited near the entrance to Beacon Edge Cemetery, Penrith. It stands out for two reasons: first, it looks ‘too new’ for someone who died in 1880, and; second... Read More
Dalston registers – love and Latin
Dalston registers cover the parish and village of that name in Cumbria. But this post is of general interest to: anyone researching their family history anywhere; anyone interested in Cumbrian history... Read More
Bequests that raise a smile
Bequests that raise a smile Bequests in family wills can often tell us a lot about the person, their status, their priorities, and their relationships. And where there’s a will, there’s an occasio... Read More
Charles Gilder – and hydropathy
The gravestone of Charles Gilder and his wife Hannah Gilder, née Maud, has a bird on the top. Presumably a dove, its wings are outstretched and its head high. The symbolism may not have been intentio... Read More
Handloom weavers – starvation in Carlisle
Handloom weavers – starvation in Carlisle In my previous post, I contrasted the ‘bright lights’ of Christmas 1854 in Carlisle with the plight of families who were dying from starvation and relat... Read More
Christmas 1854 in Carlisle
Christmas 1854 was the starting point for my research simply because I looked at Christmas in Penrith in 1853 previously. What quickly ‘jumped out at me’ was a reminder that poverty and desperatio... Read More