YANWATH - An extraordinary affair occurred near Yanwath Hall. Mr. Chris. Bird, son of Mr. Thomas Bird, and others were engaged in farm work when they saw a strange gentleman nearby. When approached by Mr. Bird, the stranger pulled out a five-chambered revolver and said, “If you interfere with me, I’ll blow your brains out”. After a struggle, he was disarmed and it was found that four of the five chambers were loaded. The man, who was staying at Sockbridge Mill, was later arrested by police and was to be put before Hackthorpe court.
27th August 1898
Ullswater Sports - These annual sports held on Saturday attracted a large number of people in spite of unfavourable weather in the morning. The yacht race was won by Mr R.W. ARMSTRONG'S Cherub, and the single sculling races, by J. BARDGETT and J. BENSON, Pooley. J. BENSON and W. THOMPSON won the double sculling race. In the heavy weight wrestling W. STUDHOLME of Broughton was thrown in the first round by J. ROBINSON, Sunderland.. STEADMAN and LOWDEN were not competing and BOWMAN of Penrith effected a surprise by throwing Hexham CLARK in the semi-finals. BOWMAN, however did not give J. STRONG of Brough difficulty and the latter won. The winner of the light weight wrestling was H. FISHER of Harras Moor, who defeated J. BLACK of Carlisle, who was second last year, in fine style. FISHER disposed of T. GRAHAM, last year's winner, in the fourth round. There were weight entries for the hound trail which was won by W. HIND's Gleaner, Threlkeld, the second and third being J.J. BELL's Royal and Towler, with RAYNOR's Ruler fourth. The winner of the guides' race was TAYLOR of Skelwith, who won at Grasmere, and in the absence of T. CONCHIE he had no difficulty in being first. The two mile bicycle race fell to W. NEWTON, Shap, 150; BORROWDALE, Penrith, 20; and JACKSON, Penrith, 250, being second and third. The half-mile and quarter-mile flat races were won by C. THOMAS of Lasswade, and in the running high leap W. BIRKETT, Keswick, who cleared 5ft. 4in., was first, with R. TYSON, Keswick, second and C. CONCHIE, shap, third. The pole leaping was divided between Kendal competitors.
December 1898
EAMONT BRIDGE - The annual pigeon shooting, promoted by Mr. John Swenson, Crown Hotel, Eamont Bridge, took place. The handicap for a fat pig was won by A. Graham, followed by several sweepstakes. Competitors were given an excellent spread.
March 1899
POOLEY BRIDGE - A new yacht was launched on Ullswater by Mr. E. Bardgett, Pooley Bridge, who had made the craft to the order of Mr. F. Calvert, Preston. He was congratulated on his workmanship.
August 1901
TIRRIL - Almost all the inhabitants of Tirril and Sockbridge turned out on the village green - there not being a room large enough to hold them - to witness the presentation of a gold English lever watch to Trooper J. T. Siddle, of the 24th Company, Imperial Yeomanry, by Mr. G. Bird, chairman of the parish meeting. Siddle, in acknowledging the gift, said that, although they had had some rough times in South Africa, there was not a member of the company who would not go back there if it was necessary.
October 1901
EAMONT BRIDGE - On a great and impressive day in the history of Eamont Bridge, the memorial to John Hindson and William Todd, who were killed in action at Fabers Put during the South African war, was unveiled and dedicated, with speeches by General Sir Charles Warren and Lord Lonsdale. Work on the monument was executed at Mr. W. Grisenthwaite's Victoria Monumental Works, in Penrith, and the site was given by Lord Brougham and Vaux. A detachment of 150 Yeomanrymen attended, along with many distinguished guests, but, sadly, a heavy downpour of rain robbed the event of much of its impressiveness.
October 1901
EAMONT BRIDGE - When would the Kemplay Bank wall, above Eamont Bridge be repaired? The present condition was a source of danger to the public. During a gale, a large quantity of material became detached and fell into the roadway. The Rev. Starkie-Starkie, who was on his way home from Tirril, had a narrow escape.
November 1901
YANWATH - A correspondent wrote: "Music hath charms! I hear that the school at Yanwath is about to be furnished with a long-felt want in the shape of a piano. Mr. Jones, the painstaking schoolmaster, who is ever looking to the edification of his scholars, has collected something like twelve guineas from his friends and supporters towards the instrument."
EAMONT BRIDGE - George Nixon, aged 11, of Eamont Bridge, was playing with fireworks when a cracker caused what seemed to be a slight injury to his cheek. However, a few days later tenatus set in and the lad died, despite the skilled professional care of Dr. Edington, Penrith.
April 1903
EAMONT BRIDGE - Eamont Rovers claimed the championship of the Penrith and District Football League, as they could not be overtaken by the other teams - Penrith Working Men, Keswick Red Rose, Appleby, Blencathra Rovers and Patterdale. Eamont Rovers lined up as follows: Jameson; T. Bell, Carlton; C. Warwick, Pearson, Hutchinson; F. Bell, William Warwick, Smith, Wilf Warwick, Dodd.
September 1903
EAMONT BRIDGE - Members of Penrith Urban Council travelled to Eamont Bridge for the ceremony of placing on the river a pair of swans, given to the town by Mr. Rowley, Wakefield, brother of Mr. Rowley, Glassonby. A shed had been placed on one of the islands for nesting purposes, and the swans were placed on the water. Cake and wine were provided for guests at the ceremony and the healths of Mr. Rowley and others were toasted.
November 1903
BARTON - At the Carlisle Consistory Court, the Rev. T. Sharp, vicar, and the churchwardens of Barton were granted a faculty authorising them to re-seat the parish church, provide a new holy table and place a screen between the chancel and the Winder Hall Chapel. The cost of the work was about £300, of which £200 had been promised.
EAMONT BRIDGE - At the Scottish Industrial Exhibition in Edinburgh, Griffiths Brothers, Eamont Bridge won prizes for four horseshoes, as well as their patent shoes for racehorses.
December 1903
EAMONT BRIDGE - J. Murray, one of the apprentices at the Eamont stables of R. W. Armstrong, had a brilliant season. Out of 325 mounts, he was first 46 times and second 28. His fees, computed on the lowest scale, would be £1,000.
February 1904
BARTON - Major Parkin, jun. of Lowther, gave a lecture, with acetylene gas lantern views, in Barton School. He described his experiences while in South Africa in command of the Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry during the Boer War.
April 1904
EAMONT BRIDGE - In the replayed final of the Penrith and District Football League Cup, Eamont Rovers defeated Appleby by 1-0, Pearson scoring the only goal. A large crowd gathered round the grandstand to watch Mr. Hamlet Riley, Ennim, present the cup to C. Warwick, the Rovers'captain. Preceded by the town band, playing See the conquering hero comes, Warwick was carried shoulder-high into the town centre.
June 1904
EAMONT BRIDGE - The annual meeting of Eamont Rovers Football Club, held at the "Welcome", was told the total expenditure was £72, the largest item being players' travelling expenses of £22. There was a deficit on the year of £8. C. Warwick was elected captain, with T. Bell vice-captain.
August 1904
ULLSWATER - Wrestling was one of the highlights of Ullswater sports, held at Pooley Bridge. Hexham Clark, Seaton, felled J. Robinson, Cockermouth, twice in succession to win the heavyweight section, T. Graham, Morton, was the successful lightweight, and W. Mossop, Sharrow Bay, threw J. Watson, Patterdale, to win the local wrestling. W. Spooner, Appleby, was the winner of both the obstacle and bucket of water races. I. Rebanks, Great Salkeld, won the one-mile cycle handicap, with T. Webster, Pooley Bridge, second and E. Nicholson, Edenhall, third.
October 1904
TIRRIL - On view in Herd Brothers' window in Penrith was a plate of potatoes of the "Northern Star" variety, grown by Mr. H. I. Turner, Tirril Lodge. The grower planted 7 pounds of the potatoes in a field, which yielded 19 stones. The samples on view were beautiful tubers.
January 1905
POOLEY BRIDGE - Joe Bowman arrived at Pooley Bridge with the Ullswater foxhounds, looking as fit as fiddles, and made his quarters at the Crown Hotel. Saturday morning was ideal for hunting and, punctually at 11 o'clock, the master arrived, accompanied by the Misses Hasell and others, including Mr. and Mrs. Shaw, Edenhall; Mrs. Cowper, Carleton Hall; Miss Bush, Beauthorn; Mr. G. A. Rimington, Penrith; Mr. and Miss Allen, Deepdale Hall. Two foxes were accounted for in the course of the ensuing hunt, which included one of the fastest runs of the season to the accompaniment of ringing "halloas" from the hunters.
July 1905
YANWATH - The annual distribution of prizes took place at Yanwath School. Jonathan and Eleanor Pattinson were given medals for having attended school without absence for four years, while Joseph Dodd, Tirril, received a medal for three years. There were 121 scholars on the books.
September 1905
ULLSWATER - Ullswater sports opened with yacht races on the lake, Mr. Calvert won the silver cup given by Mr. G. Harwood, MP, finishing first in the events for both large and small cutters. Winning wrestlers were W. Mossop, Sharrow Bay (locals); W. Musgrave, Carlisle (lightweights); J. Hutchinson, Tunstall (middleweights); J. Strong, Carlisle (heavyweights), and T. Richardson, Askham (boys). T. Miller, Skirwith, won the obstacle race, with W. Spooner, Appleby, in second place.
October 1905
TIRRIL - Great regret was expressed when it became known that John Hodgson, farmer, Thorpe House, Tirril, had succumbed to injuries sustained when he was kicked by a horse a few days earlier. Aged 40, he was one of the Hodgsons of Strickland Hall and had been at Thorpe House for only a few months. He represented Little Strickland on the West Ward Rural Council. An inquest jury returned a verdict of "accidental death".
December 1905
EAMONT BRIDGE - At Woodhouse Cottage, Eamont Bridge, a two-year-old boy, John Robert Graham, put his mouth to the spout of a boiling kettle, drawing the steam into his mouth, and died from the resultant burns and shock.
