25 years ago — 1996
Penrith
A bank manager and his staff paid tribute to the help they received in the aftermath of a blaze which gutted their premises in Penrith.
Mr. Howard Bruce, manager of the King Street branch of Lloyds Bank, said particular thanks should go to licensee Tim Judge and his wife Mel, of the Robin Hood, across the road from the bank.
Mr Judge remained open throughout the night so that Mr. Bruce and assistant manager David Wrigley could set up a headquarters and have access to a telephone.
Solicitor Douglas Mellor this week saw a favourable conclusion in the House of Lords to a dispute over land ownership on which he had been working for some 18 years.
Mr. Mellor’s clients, sporting shoot organisers Bracken Bank Lodge Limited, Lazonby, were recognised as owning 3,500 acres of moor land at Weardale. Bracken Bank Lodge had exercised shooting rights on the land since 1937.
Greystoke
The sun shone as Greystoke swimming pool finally reopened after major repair work through the winter.
The pool, now more than 20 years old, had been losing water and needed its concrete lining replaced.
After a coat of paint from Colin Morgan and Ian Corner, the pool opened only a fortnight later than usual.
Sockbridge
Wordsworth House, Sockbridge, a 17th Century listed property once owned by the famous poet is being offered for sale.
Formerly known as Sockbridge House, it was in the Wordsworth family for 200 years.
The house is on the market at £295,000 and is being sold by private treaty.
Eden
Improvements to two of Eden’s council house estates — Penrith’s Pategill estate and Croft Close, at Brough — are to be undertaken, at a cost of £92,000.
50 years ago — 1971
Penrith
The garden created by Penrith Rotary Club in the south-east corner of St. Andrew’s Churchyard is to be formally opened and dedicated.
The area was formerly occupied by derelict buildings which marred the area.
The garden is a joint effort between Rotary and the Urban Council.
The garden completes the ring of green around the ancient church and with the closure of de Whelpdale Lane to traffic makes the whole area a pedestrian precinct.
Ullswater
A 31-year-old Lakeland shepherd, Mr. Dennis Barrow, who hails from Little Langdale has been appointed the new huntsman of the Ullswater Foxhounds.
He follows in the footsteps of Joe Wear, who retired at the end of last season after 47 years with the pack.
The new huntsman is only the fifth in the history of the pack, which dates back to 1873.
Shap
A feature of the annual Shap Rose Fete at the weekend was the undisturbed progress of the procession along the main street.
For years, this convoy of lorries bearing the rose queen and her attendants along with fancy dress competitors has held up traffic on the A6 road.
But this year, with the village bypassed by the motorway, the procession took place in peace and there were no traffic jams.
Stainmore
Extremely keen competition was seen at South Stainmore Sports in the sulky trots, hound trails and motorcycle races.
A large crowd saw the trotting final which must go down as one of the most closely fought in the history of the event.
The verdict went to Mr. A. Slack’s Diamond King, from Hilton, which beat Mr. M. Bell’s Langton Jane, from Appleby.
100 years ago — 1921
Borrowdale
Castle Crag, one of the Borrowdale group of mountains, has been purchased and given to the National Trust to perpetuate the memory of the men from Borrowdale who fell in the war.
The tablet of green slate which bears their names was made and fixed by Mr. W. Bromley, sculptor, Keswick.
Glenridding
John Poole, Glenridding, who is rapidly coming to the fore as a fell and long distance racer, recently ran up and down Helvellyn in 72 minutes.
He ran to the top from Glenridding and returned by way of Swirral Edge.
Milburn
The gala was held in gloriously fine weather and attracted some good entries.
The running high leap was won in style by J. Ward, Appleby, and wrestling events were keenly contested.
150 years ago — 1871
Great Strickland
The church at Great Strickland was officially opened by the Bishop of Carlisle.
The site for the church, together with the adjoining burial ground, was a gift from the Earl of Lonsdale.
After a sermon, the churchyard was consecrated.
