Today 26th February, David Ramshaw, writer, publisher and local historian joined us at Prism Arts, Carlisle where we met up again with participants from the Creative Conversations group. David told us about transport in the early part of the 19th Century as part of our research in uncovering the history of Carlisle's Textile Industry. We learned that factories in Carlisle were powered by water initially - there was a large furnace for example under Dixon's Chimney turning water into steam and energy to power the factory. This was the biggest in Europe at the time. Although as we know from our research into Whitehaven and the Lowther family there was plenty coal in West Cumbria, there was no way then of bringing this to Carlisle's factories - roads were poor and pack horses were used to carry goods relevant to local trade. This problem had been resolved in other parts of Britain by the use of canals. A plan in 1795 looked at building a...
The Courtyard at Lowther Castle On a snowy winter’s day, we travelled from school to Lowther Castle and met the Creative Conversations group again. Cassie gave a short talk about the history of the Castle and Lowther family. She told us that the Lowther family has been on-site since as early as the 12 th century. A man named Dolfin, who is believed to be of Viking descent was the first to build on this land in 1150. He chose the area for its beauty and wildlife. The name Lowther comes from Old Norse meaning ‘foaming river’. The building was then renovated and improved in 1691, making it Lowther Hall. This was a much grander home with beautiful gardens to compliment it. Unfortunately, the building did not last long as it burnt down in 1718 due to the chimneys not being swept. It remained a charred shell and when the then owner Richard Lowther died in 1751 without an heir, the estates passed to his cousin James Lowther (known as Wicked Jimmy), which included the coal fiel...
Our school today, 6th November was all decorated with fabulous art, before we held a remembrance party in the afternoon for the community to celebrate 100 years since the end of the first world war. Staff and children had worked really hard to decorate the school and prepare and were dressed - as nurses, soldiers, pilots and looked fabulous! In the morning we did some peg loom weaving for the first time. Anesha joined us today and tried weaving for the first time and did really well. Our inspiration was the poppy fields and soldiers and we chose colours to reflect this.
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