150 YEARS AGO

CHIMNEY FALL

In the early hours of Sunday morning, a policeman who was on duty in the Market Place observed a large quantity of bricks on the chimney of Mr Watson’s shop tumble down.

The bricks had fallen on the roof of a bacon shop kept by Mr Killender, adjoining the Golden Lion Hotel, and the roof was smashed in. It would appear that the telegraph wires attached to Mr Watson’s chimney had lately been tightened, and it is supposed that vibration caused by the wind had shaken the chimney.

June 8, 1865.

JOINERS’ STRIKE

The strike among the joiners of Whitehaven still continues, and now in their seventh week, the masters and workmen have not come to any terms.

Their wages before the strike were 24 shillings per week, and they now want sixpence per day advance. As several of the masters have contracts going on there is no prospect of them giving the advanced wages, and as the men seem equally determined with their employers, there is little prospect of an early termination of the strike.

June 8, 1865

125 YEARS AGO

ACCIDENT AT ESKETT MINES

A serious accident occurred to a miner named Kelly. The accident was caused by the man returning too soon to a hole which had failed to go off at the proper time, and which exploded while he was making an examination of it.

Medical aid quickly arrived and it was found that the sufferer had severe injuries of the head and face, and was unconscious for a time.

FATAL ACCIDENT AT LOWCA

A sad accident occurred to a miner named Thomas Ditchburn, a miner at No 7 pit, Lowca.

He went to work about 6am, and had only been at his work about half an hour when some top coal fell upon him, injuring his left thigh and head, and also injuring him internally. He was immediately attended by Dr Dick, and afterwards taken to the Whitehaven Infirmary, where he died within a few hours.

Ditchburn, who lived at Lowca, was only 22 years of age, and leaves a widow and three children.

June 12, 1890

100 YEARS AGO

GASSED AND WOUNDED

Mrs Hodgson, the wife of Private J H Hodgson, of Littledale Lane, Whitehaven, has received information that her husband, who is in the 5th Border Territorials, has been wounded in the thumb and gassed, and is now in the hospital at Rouen.

Private Hodgson is an employee of the Wellington Pit, Whitehaven, and enlisted last September. He has a family of five.

June 10, 1915

75 YEARS ago

WHITEHAVEN ROAD CLUB

The extraordinarily short tour planned for last Sunday proved quite long enough, for the roads were already liquid tar when the club left Bransty for Seascale. On arriving there the only cool place was found to be the sea, with the result that swimming was the most popular pastime.

HENSINGHAM CYCLING CLUB

The heat necessitated a slight curtailment of the ride on Sunday, which was to have been to Caldbeck. Passing through Cockermouth to Castle Inn, the arduous ascent to the home of John Peel was abandoned in favour of the western flank of Skiddaw.

June 13, 1940

50 YEARS ago

ROYAL DISH

A sturgeon, the royal fish, was landed at Whitehaven yesterday... but it was not sent to the Queen.

The fish was caught in the Irish Sea by the Helga Risager from the T W Dixon fishing fleet. It was offered to the Queen, as is the practice, but a member of Her Majesty’s staff declined to accept– because “there’s a limit to what the Royal household can eat”.

SEASCALE PLAYING AREA OBJECTIONS

Last Wednesday’s meeting of the Millom Rural District Council Housing and Planning Committee re-elected as chairman R G Grice and as vice-chairman Coun E McDonnell.

The committee’s attempts to be democratic had gone too far, claimed Coun L G Needham, after hearing a report on the proposed playing area at Seascale from the assistant county planning officer MR J M Sibbit.

June 17, 1965

25 YEARS ago

LOOK IN ON YOUR FUTURE

An exhibition to show exciting news ideas for the development of Whitehaven Town Centre and Harbour will be open from Monday at Whitehaven Museum.

It follows an extensive report compiled by Edinburgh environment consultants W J Cairns and partners who have studied the town and its potential for improvement.

THE STORM IS OVER

Worshippers were able to return to St Mary’s RC Church, Kells, Whitehaven, at the week end following its three-month closure due to storm damage.

Severe gales ripped off part of the new church roof last February and services have since been held in the Parish Club next door. The electricity supply has also been restored but a smashed window is still to be repaired.

June 14, 1990.