Last updated 15:24, Tuesday, 18 March 2008

From the Files

150 Years Ago

SHIP LAUNCH: On Monday a beautiful and highly finished clipper barque of about 300 tons was launched from the north building yard of Messrs L. Kennedy and Co, Whitehaven. The vessel has been specially built for William Nicholson Esq, of Melbourne, who is well known in this locality and who intends her to trade between Melbourne and Ceylon.

As the vessel was relieved of all her supports she started for her destined element after being named, by Mrs William Burnyeat, the ‘Hannah Nicholson’ in honour of the late respected mother of the owner. We understand she will leave Whitehaven direct for Melbourne about the end of the present month, under the command of Captain Joseph Rook, with a general cargo on board, including a quantity of valuable furniture, manufactured expressly for Mr Nicholson’s mansion.

125 Years Ago

GOING TO LET HIM HAVE IT IN TWO MINUTES. At the Workington Police-court on Wednesday, Joseph Smith was charged with having been drunk and disorderly in Harrington-road.

PC 188 proved the offence, stating that he found the prisoner with his coat off, eager to fight anybody who came in the way. He said he would ‘let him have it in two minutes’. Prisoner’s face was much disfigured, and showed that his fighting proclivities had caused him considerable injury. Fined 12s, including costs, or 14 days in gaol.

OFF TO AMERICA. On Friday morning, Mr T Tyson, accompanied by his family, left Moor Row for Liverpool, where they will embark on the Earuria for New York when, on arrival, they will proceed to Orange, New Jersey. Mr Tyson is a son of Mr Jos Tyson, engineman, Moor Row, and having resided in the village for many years is well known. He was in the employ of the Cleator and Workington Railway Company for upwards of 19 years and for some time before leaving was in the goods department at Workington.

100 Years Ago

ONE of the heroes of the 1910 Wellington Pit disaster, when 136 men and boys lost their lives, has died in Whitehaven Hospital. Mr Thomas Birkett, of Front Row, Newhouses, was one of the first to volunteer for rescue work and was awarded the King Edward Medal for his gallantry.

75 Years Ago

THE Beckermet institute players have been awarded first prize in the Cumberland Women’s Institute Drama Festival held in Carlisle. The women who performed The Mixer of Rogatford were Miss Adair, Miss Harrington, Mrs Harrison, Mrs Langstaff and Miss Robley.

A NEW club for unemployed people in St Bees has been formed, with its headquarters in Band Room.

A horse and cart lent by a local farmer went around the village collecting articles to be distributed to the unemployed by the organisers of the club.

THE third reactor at Calder Hall nuclear power station has become critical.

Building contractors completed their work on this installation, the first of two being built on the Calder Hall B site, and handed over to the UKAEA for commissioning.

But it will be about two months before this reactor begins to put electricity into the national grid.

50 Years Ago

THE potholes in some of Millom’s roads are a “positive danger” according one resident who spoke out at the recent meeting of Millom Parish Council.

He added that a number of roads in the area require urgent attention and a letter will be sent to Cumbria County Council.

THERE was excitement this week among the girl workers in the Whitehaven factory of Margaret Gray Ltd, manufacturers of girls’ dresses and blouses.

They attended in force the film The Story of Esther Costello, shown at the Queen’s Cinema in the town, because the dresses for the girls’ choir in the film were designed and made in their factory.

WHITEHAVEN carnival, which originated in 1927, is in danger of not being held this year.

Unless more people volunteer to be on the committee, the popular event will not take place as planned on August 13.

25 Years Ago

PRIMARY schools in Distington, Moresby, Lowca and Parton should be retained, county councillors have agreed. But cash will have to be spent remodelling and up grading them.

THE RAF’s famous Red Arrows air acrobatic team will fly over St Bees School on April 30 as part of the school’s 400th anniversary celebration.