Recent Posts
Victorian burials, a grave and unhealthy issue
Victorian burials may conjure up images of widows in black, and brooches containing hair. They were also a major public health concern… In a previous post on the ‘connection’ between tempera... Read More
John Bowstead, held in wide esteem
John Bowstead (or Boustead) of Beck Bank Great Salkeld, was so respected that people from far an wide contributed to a memorial after his death. Though a Scottish judge probably didn’t contribut... Read More
Carlisle Museum gifts – gee, thanks for those!
A look around Carlisle Museum in 1844 may have astounded and amazed visitors – possibly not entirely in a good way! I’ve not dug into who the donors were: maybe someone will recognise a name a... Read More
James Irving of Blackwell House – an unusual will
The will of James Irving (baptised 1835 Bowness-on-Solway, died 1877 Switzerland) suggests he was worthy of the description Cumbrian Character… Elsewhere on this site, you can find a general inf... Read More
Temperance – and drains – in Carlisle
November 1849 saw a lengthy inquiry into the state of sanitation in Carlisle. From a social history point of view, it gives all sorts of insights into a number of aspects relating to living conditions... Read More
Victorian Botcherby – and a load of old rubbish!
Botcherby has been part of Carlisle for just over 100 years. It’s not an area I know, really. It seems it gets its name from a Flemish man called Bochard (the Norman version of his name) who was... Read More
Victorian jokes – contain your excitement
Victorian jokes, to borrow a phrase, are no laughing matter. Ok, I’ll re-word that. Victorian jokes are no laughing matter to 21st century ears. There are many obvious things that have changed dow... Read More
Annetwell Street – resort of thieves
Annetwell Street, Carlisle, isn’t much of a street today. Running alongside the Radio Cumbria building, it seems sidelined by the busy A595 Castle Way that slices through the city in front of the ca... Read More