Penrith Archives - Page 3 of 4 - Cumbrian Characters

Walker Tunstall – a name lost in time

Posted on May 23, 2021July 15, 2025 by HarrietP

‘Everyone’ knew Walker Tunstall in Penrith, even long after he died – but this Cumbrian Character didn’t leave much trace of his life for modern readers. ‘It could have been… but w... Read More

Old occupations: the bellman

Posted on April 13, 2020July 15, 2025 by HarrietP

If you see ‘bellman’ on a census entry or certificate as a person’s occupation, what did it mean? Being Cumbrian Characters, this post includes an example with a story to tell. Bellm... Read More

Near riot at a Penrith wedding

Posted on March 29, 2020July 15, 2025 by HarrietP

A near riot, with women throwing things at the bride, isn’t the best start to married life. For Jane Boak, it seems to have been a case of ‘marry in haste, repent…’ well, to some extent immedi... Read More

The Penrith brothel that wasn’t

Posted on March 15, 2020July 15, 2025 by HarrietP

The Penrith brothel that wasn’t, or… who ate all the pies (and shortcake)? ‘Penrith brothel’ is not something I want in my search history, so I don’t know how things are today. And I trust a... Read More

Old Penrith pubs: General Wolfe, Ship and others

Posted on March 8, 2020July 15, 2025 by HarrietP

Old Penrith pubs – an introduction Pubs are a key part of the very fabric of Britain – like tea, and Marmite, only centuries older (!). But in recent times, they have been disappearing at a rapi... Read More

Pigs in Little Dockray

Posted on March 1, 2020July 15, 2025 by HarrietP

Pigs in Little Dockray – who knew? Well, it seems there were some snuffling about for decades (not the same pigs, obviously!) before anyone noticed. Some background: the Richardsons 1882. Feb. P... Read More

After the war is over

Posted on November 10, 2019July 15, 2025 by HarrietP

Today is Remembrance Sunday and tomorrow the 101st anniversary of the Armistice. Here is my final reflection on the men whose names are recorded on just one memorial in one Cumbrian town. ‘After the... Read More

Election riots in Penrith (and other places)

Posted on May 27, 2019July 15, 2025 by HarrietP

‘Election riots in Penrith’ has nothing to do with the European Parliament Elections of a few days ago! But as the UK today digests the results of the EU poll, it’s a timely occasion... Read More

Tom Telford – one more casualty

Posted on April 20, 2019July 15, 2025 by HarrietP

Tom Telford is another of the men recorded on the 1920 Penrith Congregational Church memorial plaque. It’s ‘just’ one plaque among countless tributes to the dead of the First World W... Read More

Nathaniel Dean Lowthian – tasteful adverts!

Posted on March 23, 2019July 15, 2025 by HarrietP

Nathaniel Dean Lowthian may or may not have been responsible for the following advert, but I doubt a firm of Temple Sowerby tailors employed an advertising agency. The advert was in the Penrith... Read More

Cumbrian Characters

Family history is so much more than names and dates

Tag: Penrith