Solway dangers. The Solway firth – or frith, on old maps – is a beautiful waterway, with stunning views from both sides and a great place to watch wading birds foraging for food. Or to forage for ...Read More
Irving – Simpson arms. When I wrote my book, Port Carlisle, a history built on hope, I drew up a rough idea of the Irving-Simpson arms. That is, the coat of arms accorded to Peter Irving and his...Read More
Port Carlisle baths – a puzzle solved Port Carlisle baths – or Victoria baths, to give their full name – opened in 1844, as an attempt to make the village ‘the most-popular of all the bathing ...Read More
Fishing rights may not sound an exciting topic, but for people researching their family history, they can be an unexpected source of ‘treasure’. Signs saying ‘no fishing’ are a familiar part o...Read More
Thomas Watman of Newton Holme had three daughters called Mary, and one Gretna Green marriage, so for sure qualifies as a Cumbrian Character. In my book, Port Carlisle, a history built on hope there ar...Read More
William Robinson Martindale isn’t buried at St Cuthbert’s, Carlisle, but he is ‘name-checked’ on a gravestone. Which is how I came to take a photo of the latter and write a blog piece on the f...Read More
Port Carlisle – a history built on hope is my book, written because it’s something I wish I’d been able to find in bookshops in the past. There are some excellent books about aspects of life a...Read More
Merchant Navy apprentices in the 1850s Like an eagle cag’d I pine On this dull unchanging shore Oh give me the flashing brine.. (The full lyrics are here). A life on the ocean wave may have been...Read More
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 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