Looking back through the archives of the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald.
25 years ago — 1998
Eden
Council tax bills in Eden are to rise by 10 per cent. even though the district council are debt free and have £12 million in their coffers. Members of the council agreed that bills for 1998/99 should rise by almost three times the rate of inflation to reduce the need to make extra savings in years to come. Jimmy Chambers, Penrith, said members of the public were “baffled” as to why such a large increase had to be imposed when the council had so much money in reserves.
Milburn
A couple from Milburn and their dog had a miraculous escape when their boat exploded on a canal in Lancashire. Roger and Susan Woodcock had just woken up on their boat at Hest Bank, near Morecambe, and were preparing breakfast. Just as Mrs. Woodcock was lighting up the gas oven a massive explosion ripped the top off the boat and blew Mr. Woodcock into the canal. Fortunately, the couple and their dog, Bill, escaped with burns and minor injuries.
Penrith
The controversial plan to run traffic around the north of Penrith’s Musgrave Monument could be scrapped in favour of a new idea. The scheme to run northbound traffic around the monument ran up against a flood of protests from local people. Now that whole idea could be abandoned in favour of a new plan which would make King Street one-way southbound.
Penrith reached the quarter-finals of the Northern League Cup after a grinding midweek encounter with Stockton at Southend Road. Manger Geoff Byers faced last minute problems when skipper Martin Kirkby had to be left out after damaging an elbow the night before the cup clash. Blues’ favourite Tony Fyfe, now at Gretna, returned to help out his old club in the cup tie and scored the winning goal.
Ousby
One of the most active members of the community in Ousby, Mrs. Irene Metcalfe, died peacefully at her home, Montal, on Saturday. She was involved for many years with the village’s annual show, June Day festivities, community centre and church and was a supporter of numerous local activities.
Bampton
Eden Valley farmer Peter Allen is the new chairman of the NFU’s national less favoured area committee. Mr. Allen was elected at a meeting of the committee after the position became vacant when the previous chairman, Tim Bennett, became deputy president of the NFU. Mr. Allen, aged 47, runs a 2,000-acre hill farm at Bampton, near Penrith.
50 years ago — 1973
Penrith
Radio One’s Thursday Club will be coming “live” from Penrith’s Ullswater School on 1st March when disc jockey Ed. “Stewpot” Stewart will be talking to and playing record requests for pupils from Tynefield and Ullswater Schools. Several members of staff also intend to be present and Miss S. Windle, Head of Tynefield School, said she would probably be there. Mr. C. J. Kirlew, Head of Ullswater School, said he would definitely be “letting his hair down”.
Alston
The news that Northumberland County Council may make a bid to buy the 13-mile Alston to Haltwhistle railway line, which is due for closure by British Rail in 1975, prompted an enthusiastic response from the little market town of Alston this week. Hopes of saving the line were re-kindled when it was announced that the Council may try to buy the line and keep it open, using it for normal passenger traffic and developing it as a tourist attraction.
Lowther
Lowther Park near Penrith is to be the venue for two-day horse driving trials in April when the teams to represent Britain at the European driving championships will be selected. The Earl of Lonsdale offered the park for the trials in view of the interest in horse-driving in this part of the country and the offer was accepted by the British Horse Society, which is organising the event.
Threlkeld
Threlkeld is a divided village — divided by the little Glenderamackin Beck, with Council houses on the Penrith Rural District side, and the quarries, Station houses and Burns houses all on the Cockermouth Rural District side. But the nearest Cockermouth Rural Council houses are away beyond Keswick and there lies the rub! According to the Threlkeld representative on Penrith Rural Council, Mr. T. H. Hewitson, when the Housing Committee in its wisdom and charity allocates a Rural Council house to some needy case from over the Beck, the new tenant is looked upon as an interloper by some folk on the Penrith Rural District side.
100 years ago — 1973
Shap
A new telephone exchange has been opened at Shap. The fee for a three-minute call from Penrith to a subscriber at Shap will be sixpence between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. and 5d from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Bassenthwaite
A male salmon, 4ft. 4in. in length and computed to have weighed 64lbs before spawning time, has been found dead on the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake. It is the heaviest Derwent salmon of which there is an authentic record.
150 years ago — 1873
Appleby
While the market in Appleby was at its height, a man drove a common cart carrying two sick people through the town centre and to the hospital on the Fair Hill. The patients were enclosed in a sheep pen and had travelled from Aisgill Moor in that open cart. Hardly had it left the town when it became known the patients were suffering from smallpox and the townsfolk were greatly roused at such wanton conduct. Had it occurred under the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, the delinquent would have been brought to justice.
