150 YEARS AGO

OVERCROWDING IN WORKINGTON:  The town is now overcrowded and every hovel is swarming like a beehive. We are therefore glad to hear that the West Cumberland Haematite iron Company has contracted for the immediate erection of 50 additional cottages upon their property at the North Side.

THE NEW RAILWAY HOTEL, KESWICK: Yesterday the town of Keswick was the scene of great rejoicing on the occasion of the opening of the new railway hotel. The road to the town from the station was spanned with three arches and decorated with flags, and there was a great display of bunting at various places in the town. It was quite a holiday and nearly every shop in the town was closed. A procession of boats took place on Derwentwater, taking several of the shareholders and their friends. The procession was headed by the bands of the Volunteer and Yeomanry Cavalry Corps.

July 6, 1865

125 YEARS AGO

THE RESULT OF WORKING AT A SPIRIT VAULT: George Mitchell, labourer, Whitehaven, was charged with having been drunk and disorderly at Whitehaven. The prisoner appeared during sitting of the court, but was too drunk to be tried and began to sing in court.

The chairman said: “You behaved exceedingly ill, you know.” He replied: “Yes, sir, I was working at a spirit vault.” (Much laughter.) “Well, you will have to pay 15 shillings, or go to prison for 14 days with hard labour.”

GRAND EGYPTIAN BAZAAR AT MILLOM: The County Hall, Millom, has been beautifully transformed into an Egyptian Temple bazaar by the well- known artistic decorators, Messrs J T Reach & Co of Leeds.

On entering the room the visitor is struck by the neat arrangement of the stalls, which are placed in temple fashion round the room, in a most effective manner, and were laden with a bountiful display of articles for sale.

The object of the bazaar is to aid the building funds of St Luke’s Church, Haverigg.

July 3, 1890

100 YEARS AGO

FOUR SONS FROM ONE FAMILY: Mr & Mrs Williamson, of Charles Street, Whitehaven, have four sons serving in the Border Regiment – Jim, Joe and Matt serving with the 5th Battalion, and Jack in the Special Reserves.

Joe has been invalided home from France, and Jack was one of the first draft from Shoeburyness to reinforce the Second Battalion in France. He was invalided home in January, and is now on his way to reinforce the First Battalion at the Dardanelles.

HEARTS UP AND HEADS DOWN: Private J Calvert, son of Mrs Calvert, Scotch Street, Whitehaven, writing on June 15, says: “We have been within 50 yards of the Huns since Friday, so it is all rifle fire.

“What with our beards and black faces we are very rough-like boys, and you would laugh at us if you saw us, only we are a happy lot of boys; it never affects us. Our policy is keep up your hearts and down with your heads. When we come out and have a wash and a shave we are as fit as fiddles again.”

July 1, 1915

75 YEARS AGO

PIT PROPS DESTROYED: A large quantity of pit props were destroyed in a fire at Haig Pit yard in the early hours of Thursday.

Shortly after the outbreak was discovered Mr John Vickers, in charge of the AFS at Kells, was organising the fire-fighting until the arrival of the Whitehaven Fire Brigade. The flames were also attacked by the Haig Pit Brigade.

MINE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT: The secretary for mines has made a war emergency order which comes into force on June 25, 1940, altering the procedure under which the maximum retail prices of coal, coke, anthracite, and patient fuels are fixed. The responsibility for fixing prices in the area of each local authority is now placed upon the Mines Department’s Divisional Coal Officers, who were appointed for each Civic Defence Region when war began.

July 4, 1940

50 YEARS AGO

NO JEANS AT THIS SCHOOL: Three weeks before his school days were over, a 15-year-old boy from Whitehaven has been suspended from Richmond Secondary School, Whitehaven, by his headmaster, Mr E E Medland, for wearing jeans.

For some time past Mr Medland has firmly refused to permit boys to present themselves for lessons in jeans and many have been sent home to change before being allowed in the classrooms.

POOR TURNOUT: Only four members, including the chairman, Mr M Thompson, were present at Tuesday night’s meeting of Cleator Moor Parish Council, and because all are members of the local Working Men’s Club, a letter from the secretary of the club regarding alterations to the premises had to be deferred to another meeting.

July 8, 1965

25 YEARS AGO

AMMO FIND SLOWS DRIGG WORK WASTE: Improvements to the Drigg disposal site for radioactive waste have been delayed because of the dangers of live ammunition from the Eskmeals gunnery range on the West Cumbria coast. It is not the risk of a direct hit by flying shells that has held up work on a £3.4 million contract for a new pipeline into the Irish Sea but ammunition in the ground.

ANOTHER HEALTH CHIEF DEPARTS: Another top figure at the West Cumbria Health Authority is departing this week. After two unit general managers lost their posts, the authority’s director of finance, Mr Peter Gavin, is now leaving to become finance director for Newcastle Health Authority.

July 5, 1990