Last updated 15:54, Wednesday, 14 May 2008

SIR – Regarding last week’s letter by John B Garraway asking about Edward Kinsella and fell ponies, I enclose two photographs that should be of interest.

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James Kinsella: Used pony and cart to deliver fresh fish

One shows the fishmonger James Kinsella of Whitehaven (brother of Edward) with the pony and cart used by Mr Kinsella to make home deliveries of fish around the district. Unfortunately, I do not know exactly where this was taken.

The other shows (left to right): Edward Kinsella; Edward’s cousin Michael McCrink; and Edward’s sister, Eva Kinsella (later Mrs O’Fee). It was taken outside Kinsella’s fruiters and greengrocers shop in Whitehaven Market Place, and probably dates from the mid 1930s. At that time the Kinsella’s store was run by the parents of James, Edward, and Eva, Patrick and Elizabeth Kinsella (née Wear).

Edward Kinsella was given the same first name as his paternal grandfather.

This earlier Edward Kinsella migrated to Whitehaven from County Down, Ireland, in the mid-1850s and in 1857 married Elizabeth Hancock who had been born in Staffordshire. Elizabeth was the daughter of a family of confectioners. Subsequently, Edward and Elizabeth Kinsella (née Hancock) lived mainly in the Quay Street area of Whitehaven, near the harbour.

Since the mid-19th century, several descendants of Edward and Elizabeth have operated businesses in West Cumberland. The use of carts, pulled by ponies as in the enclosed photograph, or the use of hand carts in earlier times, was a way of getting fresh fish, fruit, vegetables etc to sell directly to customers near their own homes.

Carts drawn by hand, pony or horse are a rare sight in modern times but it is within living memory of many that carts drawn by ponies were a welcome sight, especially for children who liked to see the ponies and for housewives wishing to buy fresh, wholesome food for their families.

J RITSON

Valley Park

Whitehaven