Recent Posts
A timid vicar, manslaughter and a reiver connection
A tragic case of mistaken identity in Walton in April 1851 ends (in the Carlisle Journal’s account) with a reminder of our reiver forebears. For the victim was William Elliot Armstrong of Sorbietree... Read More
Need-fire – a Celtic tradition that lasted till the 1840s
The need-fire – a Celtic response to cattle disease – might not mean much to people today. But, it’s only 160 years or so since desperate farmers finally abandoned it. And it seems to have been ... Read More
Snow in March – beware of low-flying sheep!
With the UK gripped by snow this first day of March 2018, here’s a look back to some rough weather in 1881. Low-flying sheep isn’t a popular search on Google! But, it does make a fun headline.... Read More
Window tax – a tax upon light and air
The Window Tax was introduced in 1696 and repealed in 1851 and was used as a means of assessing which households were liable to pay church and poor rates. It was soon mocked as a tax upon light and ai... Read More
Job titles old and new
In days of yore, people had job titles that seem quaint (and sometimes incomprehensible) to us now. Like swingler (someone who beat flax) and feather dresser (who cleaned them for sale). The industria... Read More
Beware the ‘wp.service.controller’
The pesky wp.service.controller.WCjQy has tried overnight to log in to my blog – again. Think security, bloggers: hacks can happen to anyone. Cleaning up after hackers have infested your site with w... Read More
Wood burning stoves – pollution today and in history
Wood burning stoves or coal fires, it can be a toxic way to keep warm Wood burning stoves are a Must Have in interior design these days. House-hunters in property programmes on television all want the... Read More- 30 of 30
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