Recent Posts
Joseph Timperon and his jilted love
Joseph Timperon broke poor Sally Simpson’s heart, in a tale that brings to mind the old song: O soldier, soldier, won’t you marry me, with your musket, fife and drum? Oh no, sweet maid, I cann... Read More
John Tweddle – unlucky in business and politics
John Tweddle, of Alston, may not have been born in Cumbria, but his story definitely qualifies him as a Cumbrian Character… Looking at some old postcards with a Cumbrian angle, I spotted one of ... Read More
Quack medicines and ‘miracle cures’
A further look at the discomforting world of Victorian ‘cures’ for illness In July 1863, a former Carlisle weaver named Thomas Hetherington was fined £5 by magistrates in Hartlepool for selling q... Read More
The Solway viaduct – a bridge too much for Port Carlisle
The Solway viaduct was an amazing concept – it was also the final nail in the coffin of Port Carlisle as a working port. The following is an extract from my book, Port Carlisle, a history built on... Read More
Armistice Day centenary
A post for Remembrance Sunday, with a reminder of a just a very few First World War Cumbrian casualties. The ever-poignant commemorations of Remembrance are upon us in the UK. As a child, it was seei... Read More
Bankruptcy: a boon for family historians
Bankruptcy in the family may mean you weren’t born into luxury, but it does mean there’s a wealth of information to look for, tracing your ancestors. In the late 1780s, a man named George Fawell, ... Read More
Haaf net fishing at Port Carlisle
No book on the overall story of Port Carlisle would be complete without a mention of haaf net fishing. As I write this, it is possible for visitors to have a go, courtesy of the Highland Laddie Inn at... Read More
Scarlet fever in the 1800s
Scarlet fever in the 1800s was a common disease among children – and a deadly one. And sadly, cleanliness and ventilation were either a luxury for poorer households, or maybe not appreciated as impo... Read More