30/4/2009 - Step back in time as Cumbria celebrates local history month : Cumbria County Council

History hunters in Cumbria will have a chance to delve into the past as Local History Month kicks off in May.

Libraries across Cumbria are organising events throughout the month to give people the opportunity to discover the undiscovered in Cumbria.

More than 50 exciting events and exhibitions will be taking place across the county as part of the annual historical extravaganza.

One of the highlights this year includes the opportunity to discover historical Carlisle during a collection of illustrated lunchtime talks with local historian Denis Perriam. He will bring to life what it was like living in Carlisle during the World Wars and uncover the history behind The Viaduct and other local landmarks.

Local History Month is a national event with the aim to increase awareness of local history and promote history in general to the local community. Full details of the events taking place during Local History month are available from local libraries or by visiting the Library Service’s website at www.cumbria.gov.uk/libraries.

* Lunchtime Illustrated talks with Denis Perriam at Carlisle library (tickets available from library reception and cost £1)

Thursday 07th May (12:30 to 1:10pm) - Carlisle and World War l Thursday 14th May (12:30 to 1:10pm) - Carlisle and World War ll Thursday 21st May (12:30 to 1:10pm) - The Viaduct & Junction Street Thursday 28th May (12:30 to 1:10pm) - Eden Bridges

* Meet the Historian - Meet Denis Perriam in Carlisle Library to discuss your local history on Tuesday 12th May (10am –12pm).

* Local History Quiz - pick up your quiz sheet in Carlisle library and return by the end of May. Prize to be announced.

* All Change - Pick up a photo of Carlisle city centre in the 1980s from Carlisle library and spot the changes to win a prize of book tokens.

* Tuesday 5th May (10.30am –11:30am) –Frizington Library Looking at Frizington in Pictures: A slideshow and photographs of Frizington past and present with The Arlecdon Local History Group. Refreshments provided. Ring 01946 810775 to book.

* Friday 8th May (10.30am) Daniel Hay Library, Whitehaven The Western Hadrianic Frontier: An illustrated talk by Clifford Jones. Refreshments provided. Ring 01946 506400 or 506420 to book.

* Saturday 9th May (10.30am) Egremont Library Dave Banks: Old photographs of Egremont, Whitehaven & District.

An illustrated talk and chat. Ring 01946 820464 to book.

* Monday 11th May (6.15pm) Haig Colliery Mining Museum Colin McCourt: A Guided Walk to Saltom Pit followed by a visit to Haig Colliery Mining Museum.

Walk covers steep slopes and uneven terrain, reasonable fitness and stout footwear essential. Numbers may be limited, ring 01946 506400 or 506420 to book. Meet at car park next to Haig Colliery Mining Museum.

* Monday 18th May (6.30pm) Gosforth Village Hall Images and Words with Bill Birkett. Admission £3.50 to include refreshments. Telephone Gosforth Library (019467 25435) or Whitehaven Library (01946 506400) to book.

* Tuesday 19th May (6.15pm) Harrington harbour Philip Ashforth: A Guided Walk Around Harrington’s Industrial History.

Walk covers steep slopes and uneven terrain, reasonable fitness and stout footwear essential. Notes of walk are available at small charge.

Numbers may be limited, ring 01946 506400 or 506420 to book. Please meet at Harrington harbour car park south side (town end of quay).

* Thursday 21st May (10.30am) Whitehaven Library Philip Ashforth: Down among the Red Men: illustrated talk on iron mining. Coffee and biscuits will be provided.

* Friday 8th May (10.30am) Daniel Hay Library, Whitehaven Philip Ashforth: Down Among the Red Men. An illustrated talk on iron mining. Refreshments provided.

* Wednesday 6th May (6-9pm) - Cumbria Record Office and Local Studies Library Barrow Hazel Gatford, Glenn Lang, and Michael Stephens talk to local U3A Group on the resources of Cumbria Record Office and Local Studies Library Barrow. Fully booked.

* Wednesday 13th May (7pm) - Cumbria Record Office and Local Studies Library Barrow Bernard McGuire: Tales of Barrow Past (slideshow)

* Thursday 14th May (2pm) - Cumbria Record Office and Local Studies Library Barrow June Whitehead: Ulverston Workhouse

* Sunday 17th May 2009 (2-4pm)

Alice Leach of Barrow and District Civic and Local History Society will give a conducted tour of Furness Abbey. Bring a picnic if you wish. Permits to enable residents of Barrow Borough to gain free entrance to the Abbey are obtainable from Barrow Town Hall on production of a current Community Charge bill

* Monday 18th May (1-3pm) at Askam Library Ian Lewis: Askam’s War Memorials

* Wednesday 20th May (7pm) - Cumbria Record Office and Local Studies Library Barrow Vivien Hudson: Datestones, People and Places in Low Furness Neil Hudson: Family History and the Poor Law

* Wednesday 27th May (7pm) - Cumbria Record Office and Local Studies Library Barrow Jennifer Snell: Tales of Ulverston Past (slideshow)

* Timeline displays at all Barrow Group libraries throughout the month

* Wednesday 6th May (7-9pm) –Penrith

Your country needs you!’ - WW1 and WW2 in Cumbria, a talk by Stuart A. Eastwood Curator of Cumbria’s Military Museum. The talk will be of interest to anyone interested in both the history of the area and in family history and will show what men in local units and on the home front were doing during these wars. Tickets cost £2.50 telephone 01768 812100 to book or ask in the library.

* Sunday 17th May (1.45pm) –Penrith

A walk round Penrith led by Marjorie Smith, meeting at Castle Park 13.45 pm and finishing at Penrith Library about 3pm for refreshments, telephone 01768 812100 to book or ask in the library.

* Tuesday 19th May (1.45 –3pm) - Penrith A walk round Penrith led by Judith Clarke, Curator of Penrith Museum, meeting at the Tourist Information Centre, 1:45pm and finishing at the library about 3pm for refreshments, telephone 01768 812100 to book or ask in the library.

* Wed 20th May (10am –12pm) - Penrith Library Family history advice drop-in at Penrith Library. If you have would like to start researching your family history or have any questions about family history come along to this drop in session.

* Throughout May Penrith library will be displaying Melmerby May Days –an exhibition of photographs from the collection of Mr Geoffrey Falkender. The library will be holding a local history quiz. Pick up your quiz sheet in the library and return by the end of May.

* Wednesday 20th May - Kirkby Stephen

Free walking tours around the town to examine changes since the war. The walk starts at 1pm meeting at the Masonic Hall. Places will be limited, please book at the library or telephone 017683 71775.

* Friday 22 May - Kirkby Stephen Community Cinema Showing of Young Victoria Doors open at 5.40pm for 6.00 pm. Advance tickets priced at £4 are available in Kirkby Stephen shops, Age Concern, Rattan and Rush and Kirkby Stephen Books.

* Saturday 23th May- Kirkby Stephen

Free walking tours around the town to examine changes since the war. The walk starts at 1pm meeting at the Masonic Hall. Places will be limited, please book at the library or telephone 017683 71775.

* Saturday 23rd May - Kirkby Stephen

The Kirkby Stephen Family History group will be having an exhibition in the Council and Community Centre where you will be able to learn how to start your own family history project. Members will be on hand to offer advice and there will be free access to Ancestry.co.uk throughout May.

* Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th May - Kirkby Stephen Exhibition by Stainmore Railway Company at Kirkby Stephen Station East with photographs and memorabilia of ‘Past Railway Workers’ together with their usual small museum, shop, buffet car and new wildlife picnic area, open for the weekend. It is also a chance to see the vast renovations that have taken place at the site in recent months.

* Friday 24 April - Kirkby Stephen Community Cinema Showing Valkyrie, the plot to assassinate Hitler.

Doors open at 5.40pm for 6.00 pm. Advance tickets priced at £4 are available in Kirkby Stephen shops, Age Concern, Rattan and Rush and Kirkby Stephen Books.

* Throughout May Kirkby Stephen library will be displaying photographs of the local area and artifacts concentrating on the period and changes since WWII. Local history research materials are also available anytime during library hours.

* Throughout May the local archives in Alston will be open for people to drop-in.

* Throughout May Appleby Library will be holding a Lady Anne Clifford display.

* Wednesday 6th May (7.30pm) –Maryport Library - Heritage Society talk

* Wednesday 13th May (2-5pm) –Workington library - open afternoon

* Friday May 15th (2-4pm) –Wigton library - Ancestry sessions and local history display

* Throughout May Keswick library will hold a display on Keswick School of Industrial Arts

* Throughout May Cockermouth library will hold a display on Cockermouth, Keswick, Penrith Railway

* Throughout May Silloth library will hold an image bank display

* Throughout May Seaton library will hold a display on fashion through the ages

* Tuesday 19th May (10.30am) –Milnthorpe Library ‘What’s in it for you?/Opening the treasure chest’ - An introduction to the local studies collection at Kendal library.

* Tuesday 21st May (7.30pm) - Ambleside library Bill Birkett ‘A Year in the Life of Buttermere.’ Tickets cost £3.50.

* Tuesday 19th May (7.30pm) - Grange over Sands Library Bill Birkett ‘A Year in the Life of Buttermere.’ Tickets cost £3.50.

* Arnside Library (date tbc)

‘What’s in it for you?/Opening the treasure chest’ - An introduction to the local studies collection at Kendal library.

* Ulverston library will be holding a photo quiz on the hidden corners of Ulverston

* Sedbergh library will be holding a photo quiz on the hidden corners of Sedbergh

* Throughout May Kendal library will be presenting a display featuring Cumbrian scientists and a photographic display of hidden corners of Kendal

* Throughout May Windermere and Ambleside libraries will be holding displays featuring local characters

* Kirkby Lonsdale Library will be holding a display in association with Civic Society and primary school

* Kendal mobile library will be holding a Cumbria quiz

Media enquiries to Gareth Cosslett, News Manager on 01228 226332