Recent Posts
Solway ships in the 1800s
Solway ships and the canal When the Carlisle Canal was officially opened, on March 12, 1823, a flotilla of eleven ships and several smaller vessels sailed its length into the city.The sight of sailing... Read More
Census 2021: and those of old
Census 2021: and those of old Census 2021 is upon us! By now, every household in the UK is likely to have received a letter addressed to The Householder, asking them to complete the details. These day... Read More
Time to catch up
Cumbrian Characters has been taking a break from new posts for a couple of weeks. You can read some lovely old ones in the meantime! For instance (picking a variety of topics): the post on haaf net f... Read More
Wrong certificate: a lesson for family historians
The wrong certificate A death certificate that turned out not to be the person I was looking for isn’t all ‘bad news’. It eliminates that possibility. And this being Cumbrian Characters, won’t... Read More
Breach of promise: a true-life Frank Churchill
A breach of promise case is an odd post for Valentine’s Day, perhaps. But then this Cumbrian Frank Churchill sent a Valentine to the woman he later wronged. Compare and contrast Frank Churchill,... Read More
Sarah Nicholson, no merry widow!
Sarah Nicholson ‘had the misfortune to marry a man 25 years her senior’. This seemingly unlucky accident (!) led to villagers trying to drive her out in 1879. But she was no strange to violence he... Read More
Carlisle 1810: Jollie’s Cumberland Guide
‘Carlisle 1810’ may sound a random date, but thanks to Jollie’s Cumberland Guide and Directory, we have a good (if partial!) idea of what the city was like then. The guide, published in two part... Read More
FP signs – what are they?
FP signs are like street furniture – something most people walk past without really noticing. Yet they could be a matter of life or death in times gone by. For FP signs are the predecessors of fire ... Read More