Transactions of the Cumberland & Westmorland Antiquarian & Archaeological Society 22 (series 3)

Volume details with Officers of the Society and Abbreviations used in the publication.

Contents List.

During July 2011 and August 2012, Lunesdale Archaeology Society undertook their inaugural excavations immediately to the south of Low Borrowbridge Roman Fort in Tebay Gorge. Past investigation of the site had revealed a Roman structure formerly interpreted as the bathhouse serving the fort. This paper summarises the LAS excavations, of a high-status building, demonstrating at least three periods of construction and remodelling undertaken during Roman occupation. Evidence suggested the use of the building may have changed over time, one former purpose having been as a possible mansio, providing accommodation for Roman officials visiting the fort.

This article sets out the results of an archaeological and historical survey of the sites of two potential bloomeries in Witherslack Woodlands within the manor of Witherslack. The survey confirmed that both sites were at one time bloomeries which probably supplied iron for use within the manor. Samples of charcoal were extracted from both sites and submitted for dating and a date range was obtained for both sites spanning the late medieval and early post-medieval periods. This is later than the dates obtained for most other bloomery sites within the Lake District National Park and suggests that this form of iron working continued for longer than previously thought. The survey also revealed that Witherslack Woodlands continued to contribute to iron working in South Westmorland through the supply of slag and charcoal to local blast furnaces for long after the bloomeries had ceased operating.

This article explains that a late 14th-century copy of Ranulf Higden's Polychronicon now at the University of Illinois contains previously unknown evidence about the history of Furness Abbey. This includes the dispersal of the monastery's community in 1316 as a consequence of the Scottish raid in that year and the death of 42 monks and 15 lay brothers in 1349 due to the Black Death.

Born into a well-connected Kendal family, John Archer exemplifies how in the late 17th century an intelligent young man set about forging a career. His uncle and early role model, William Nicolson, later Bishop of Carlisle, encouraged him to apply to his alma mater Queen's College Oxford in 1690, with the initial aim of studying medicine. There he was taken under the wing of Edward Lhwyd, keeper of the Ashmolean Museum, who fostered Archer's interest in fossils and plants, a passion shared with Nicolson. Archer moved to Cambridge where he completed his medical degree before seeking practical experience in London. While at Oxbridge and in London he rubbed shoulders with many of the celebrated scholars of his day and witnessed their doings during the early period of the Enlightenment. He later returned to Kendal where he settled at Oxen Holm, the family estate, to practise medicine. He became embedded in Westmorland society, serving as JP and mayor of Kendal. He married twice and acquired influence and wealth. He died in 1735 and an endowment benefitted Kendal Free School and the 'deserving poor' of Kendal. His memorial is in Kendal Parish Church.

This article focuses on the history and key members of the two Carlisle-based photographic societies founded in the years before the Great War, namely the Carlisle and County Amateur Photographic Society and the Liberal Border City Camera Club. Before doing so a brief outline is provided of the improvements in photographic processes that contributed to the proliferation of amateur photographic societies and clubs throughout the country, a record of early amateur photographic activity in and around Carlisle and a flavour of the early amateur photographic societies in the country, which predated those improvements.

Desk-based assessment and geophysical survey of land at White Ox Farm, Penrith, identified features of potential archaeological interest, principally a substantial curvilinear ditch. These were further examined by archaeological evaluation and 'strip and record' investigation. A small area of pits/postholes revealed during the evaluation was ultimately found unlikely to be of any archaeological significance. The large ditch was investigated in several areas and the strip and record identified an apparent entrance, suggesting that it had formed part of a large enclosure. No finds were recovered from the ditch but radiocarbon dating provided a middle-to-late Iron Age date.

The possible use of the Ilam Pan in ritual ceremonies is considered and a reason offered for the absence of the name of the Roman fort at Burgh-by-Sands, Aballava, from the vessel, namely that the soldiers based there were part of a unit whose headquarters was at Drumburgh, Coggavata, leading to that fort being named on the Ilan Pan.

Roger Bristwald is one of three 12th century men mentioned in the foundation charter for Furness Abbey and represents one of the earliest named landholders within Furness. However, almost nothing is currently known about him and he has largely escaped the attentions of local historians. By looking again at the contemporary evidence for Roger and his descendants, this article aims to uncover a little more about this enigmatic man and his family. It is suggested that he may have been a Norman administrator in Furness, perhaps brought here in the service of one of the early lords of Lancaster and rewarded for his service with lands in Marton.

The Bell-house in the churchyard of Kendal parish church is shown to have had a long history of use by itinerant bell-founders, casting bells for Cumbrian and north Lancashire churches. The original five bells at Kendal, now known to have come from Furness Abbey at the Dissolution in 1537, formed an exceptional peal and are still represented by two of their immediate successors, recast in 1631.

This note examines population and occupational changes in Brampton in the Victorian age. The small market town of Brampton in the north east of Cumberland, experienced a decline in population in contrast to growth in the county as a whole. This analysis makes use of census enumeration schedules for the urban area of Brampton parish taken from the 1841 and 1901 censuses. The analysis includes consideration of age and gender structure; changes in numbers of workhouse residents; social class; and occupational changes among males and females. The note concludes that the town retained its function as a rural service centre, accompanied by an increase in functions, notably transport and commerce. However, its population decline was associated with a lack of industrial development and the loss of domestic production, particularly hand-loom weaving and associated employment, as well as a decline in numbers of those employed in agriculture.

The bibliography is arranged in five sections for Book and Chapters in Books, Theses, Journal Articles, Local Societies and organisations: Journals and Website Publications. Only items which are specifically related to Cumbria or which appear to contain a substantial amount of Cumbrian material are cited, with the exception of studies of Hadrian's Wall where themes related to the whole structure are included. Please let me know of any other publications which could be listed: membership

A full listing of all trustees and officers of the society and members of committees.