Looking back through the archives of the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald.
25 years ago – 1998
Penrith
Declining sales and fierce competition have led to the closure of one of Penrith’s oldest shops, with the loss of five jobs. Reed’s Limited are closing their retail shop in King Street at the end of the month after more than a century of trading, although their printing business in Southend Road will carry on as normal.
Alston Moor
The North Pennines Festival has been saved. Thanks to the efforts of organisers Sonia Kempsey and Syl Macro, the event, which has attracted hundreds of visitors to Alston and the surrounding area, will now go ahead in June, albeit slightly smaller than was originally planned. The festival, which features arts, music and outdoor activities, has been run since 1995.
Outhgill
A post office’s move to new premises has been sealed, giving local people the opportunity to benefit from a wider range of services. Mrs. Valerie Porter has taken up the position of sub-postmistress at Faraday Cottage, Outhgill, Mallerstang, allaying the fears the facility would be closed down in the village. The post office has transferred to its new base after existing postmistress Rosemary Howard decided to step down from her role after almost six years of handing out pensions and stamps.
Clifton
The inability of smaller businesses to compete with large supermarket chains has again been illustrated by a decision to cut the operating hours at a village post office. As from the first full week in May, shorter opening hours will apply at Clifton post office, which was taken over by Gillian and Michael Bennett four years ago.
Ravenstonedale
Eden husband and wife team David Morris and Caroline Metcalfe-Gibson are staging a joint exhibition at Keswick Museum of paintings and drawing inspired by the area around their home in Ravenstonedale. Both artists are well known locally and this exhibition will allow a substantial number of their highly acclaimed works to be viewed together.
Langwathby
Businessman Jim Peet pronounced himself well satisfied with the opening of his Eden Ostrich World visitor centre at Langwathby Hall Farm, Langwathby. According to Mr. Peet, about 250 to 300 people had visited the centre each day on Saturday and Sunday and this initial impetus had been continued into the week. Mr. Peet said the visitors had been just as interested in the sight of some of his ewes lambing as in the ostriches.
50 years ago – 1973
Cumbria
In the first election for the Cumbria County Council to take office next year, the determined effort of the Labour Party to take control narrowly failed. Of 81 seats, Labour hold 38, Conservatives 31, Independents 11 and Liberals 1. In Penrith, the Conservative contenders — Mr. Richard Shepherd, in the East, and Mr. Ernest Bain, in the West — swept to victory by majorities of more than two to one.
Penrith
Penrith branch of the R.A.F. Association has made history in the organisation by becoming the first to complete a hat-trick of national branch efficiency wins. The Secretary, Mr. J. E. Martin, received the news the branch had been eagerly waiting for on Wednesday.
After delays due to re-planning, work has begun on Penrith’s “Poets’ Walk” shopping precinct, on the site of the old Fish Hotel at the foot of Castlegate. The joint developers, Randol Development Ltd., Leeds, and Anvil Development Ltd., Penrith, have awarded the building contract to Agpak Builders Ltd., Penrith.
Headmaster to some 3,000 youngsters during a period of over twenty years in Penrith, Mr. Cyril John Kirlew retired yesterday from the Ullswater School. A Londoner by birth, Mr. Kirlew came to Penrith in 1952 as headmaster at the Boys’ County School in succession to Mr. I. G. Peak and became the first head of the then Tynefield co-educational school in 1955.
Tirril
A plan for a by-pass road for Tirril to relieve the village of the large volume of holiday traffic heading to Ullswater was accepted as long ago as 1947, but the date of construction of the road still cannot be forecast. Westmorland County Council has now published details of the proposed route but says only that the by-pass will ultimately be needed.
100 years ago – 1923
Kirkby Stephen
Nearly all the inmates of the Kirkby Stephen Poor Law Institute are suffering from influenza. The epidemic broke out about ten days ago and has so far affected about 40 people. Out of 26 women, 23 are receiving treatment and three people have died in one day.
150 years ago – 1873
Alston
The Alston Co-operative Coal Company has commenced operations at Holyfield Mine. The first cart load to arrive in the town was presented to the oldest inhabitant, Sarah Emmerson.
Her exact age is unknown, although it is between 97 and 100, and she managed to get to the door to tender her thanks before being assisted back into the house. She had sat all day without a fire, not having the means to procure one.
