Last updated 19:37, Thursday, 15 May 2008

THEY’RE an enthusiastic group dedicated to delving into the history around the Lorton valley, and this spring sees them taking off in several exciting directions.

In fact, the Lorton and Derwent Fells Local History Society’s mission to preserve local heritage was featured in a recent edition of the BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are? magazine; and it is soon to publish its second book.

Life In Old Loweswater has been written by former villager Dr Roz Southey and will be launched next month.

Publishing is just one of the strands that weave together to form the society, which was founded by Ron George in 1993.

The president is Dr Angus Winchester, originally from Lorton and who is now head of Lancaster University’s history department.

He has written several books about the area and was a pupil of Cockermouth historian Bernard Bradbury at the town’s grammar school.

Michael Baron, chairman, said: “In a way, we fill a gap. Cockermouth had a history society run by Bernard Bradbury, but it petered out and its mantle was taken up by the Kirkgate Museum group, a devoted band who hoped that there would eventually be a museum at the Kirkgate.”

That dream was never fulfilled, but the Lorton and Derwent Fells group has more than 150 members, ranging from retired people to younger folk, who meet every couple of months in Lorton’s Yew Tree Hall.

When not meeting, they organise outings in an area that includes Lorton, Buttermere, Mockerkin, Pardshaw, Wythop and Embleton - villages which roughly formed the ancient manor of Derwent Fells.

Some of their discoveries come about by accident.

Mr Baron said: “At one of our meetings last year, the speaker mentioned that the old guest book for the Bridge Inn was in Birmingham University’s library. One of the signatures was Disraeli’s. We never knew that the Victorian Prime Minister had been in this area, and now we would like to find out why.”

The society has several sub groups, including a house history group and 15 volunteers have just spent three mornings each week mapping fields with archaeologists from the National Trust and the national park.

Mr Baron added: “They have been making a record of the area and trying to find things that people haven’t noticed before, such as charcoal platforms.

“Last month they found a 16th century bloomery for iron smelting, which has been noticed before but never mapped or recorded.

“Thanks to the society it now will be, and will go on a National Trust map and will now be protected.”

The group has also been investigating a ruined farmstead at the foot of Low Fell, and its findings will be on show at an exhibition at the Yew Tree Hall in July as part of National Archaeology Week.

Investigations by Mr Baron identified locations sketched by writer and artist Edward Lear on a visit to the valley in 1836.

Around 150 sketches made on his 10-week visit will be included in an exhibition, Lear in the Lake District, to be staged by the Wordsworth Trust in Grasmere next year.