Cumberland History with Denis Perriam
Life at the Victoria Hotel, by Charles, aged six
Published 9 May 2008
In response to a photograph published in The Cumberland News in February 1957, Charles Armstrong of Cliburn wrote to say “how pleased I was to see a picture of the Victoria Hotel in English Street”.
Carlisle’s under cover bowlers
Published 1 May 2008
The State management Scheme, set up in 1921 to help control the drinking habits of an influx of munitions workers from over the border, introduced some popular social activities into pubs, including table bowls.
A6 road engineer unearths a lavish Viking burial chamber
Published 1 May 2008
In 1751 a turnpike trust was formed for a road from Penrith to Carlisle. Today this is the A6 and it follows the line of the turnpike, except where improvements have been made.
Women with bottle put the fizz into Carlisle’s soft drinks
Published 24 April 2008
Advances in technology meant that with glass bottles and screw caps it became easier to manufacture aerated water in the late 19th century.
Whiling away World War One in an enemy internment camp
Published 20 April 2008
Newspaper accounts give some indication of the harsh treatment of British prisoners of war in Germany during World War One but there are also good descriptions of internment camps for civilians.
Flashback: Your're in the army now (almost)
Browse our gallery of pictures to take a nostalgic look at The Army Cadet Force which has long been active in Cumbria.
The hoodies our Celtic fathers revered
Published 20 April 2008
Sculptures of three small hooded figures can be found on sites along the line of Hadrian’s Wall and in some of the Roman settlements nearby. Archaeologists call them the ‘Genii Cucullati’ – which simply means ‘hooded gods’.
A long history of lawlessness
Published 20 April 2008
Such was the state of lawlessness in Shaddongate in 1826, the Carlisle Patriot despaired: “This is a most woeful state of society.”
Trainee medics leave a grisly mess
Published 20 April 2008
In 1818 the Carlisle Patriot advertised Mr Brookes’s ‘Theatre of Anatomy, Blenheim Street, London’ , but this was no Gunther von Hagens experience open to the public.
Ye gods! I left my purse behind the emperor’s wall
Published 17 April 2008
Losing your purse or wallet is a pain. At least these days your money is safe in the bank provided you cancel your cards quickly.
Mayor of Upperby? Any daft-like sort of a fellow will do
Published 17 April 2008
In her book Popular Leisure in the Lake Counties Lyn Murfin said: “Mock mayor-makings in Britain are generally held to be reversal rights,” and she gave a number of Lake District examples.
Great Scott! Sir Benjamin scooped every honour going
Published 17 April 2008
Sir Benjamin Scott (1841-1927) was one of Carlisle’s most eminent Victorians, and made a great personal contribution to the life and work of the City.
A stroll around Chatsworth Square, built for the city’s elite
Published 17 April 2008
Signing himself simply ‘JW’ a citizen of Carlisle made a perambulation of the Warwick Road area in 1881. This was a period of rapid development in the city and in his letter to the Carlisle Journal JW expressed his surprise at what he found.
Frostbitten, sunburnt, and witnesses to a horrific massacre
Published 3 April 2008
A report in the Carlisle Journal in November 1930 described the funeral of Sergeant John Wilson aged 89, thought to be the last survivor of the 34th Regiment of Foot.
Dressed in the best for the day Princess Louise opened her ward at the infirmary
Published 27 March 2008
Lady Dorothy Howard, daughter of George Howard (ninth Earl of Carlisle) and wife of Lord Henley, wore this dress. She was lady-in-waiting to Princess Louise, artist and daughter of Queen Victoria.
Dead man walking was a Cumbrian genius
Published 20 March 2008
Some confusion has arisen over the date of death of certain Cumberland land surveyors. Take for instance, James Clarke, who produced in 1787 his Survey of the Lakes, dedicated to the Duke of Cumberland and other masonic Grand Masters.
Pub with a shaky past made way for traffic
Published 13 March 2008
From a number of sources it is possible to trace the history of the Bird in Hand Inn at Stanwix.
Mixed fortunes of city’s foundry fathers
Published 6 March 2008
Among the business interests of Dr John Heysham, a medical practitioner in Carlisle, was “a cotton spinning mill and an iron foundry”, according to his biography by Henry Lonsdale.
Nice bit of stone in that wall. We’ll have it for the canal
Published 28 February 2008
The Carlisle Patriot reported in December 1818 that, while digging clay for making bricks on the line of Carlisle Canal, remains of Hadrian’s Wall had been uncovered a mile east of Bowness-on-Solway.
Ye gods! Save me from the slings and arrows of the Brits
Published 15 February 2008
In the ancient world it was not just metal armour that was needed to keep swords and arrows from doing their worst. The help of the gods was also required.
