Relevant excerpts from the
Cumberland & Westmorland Herald
April 1902
PENRITH - The latest series of picture postcards were issued by Mr. H. L. Sweeten, The Library, Penrith, comprising of six coloured views of Ullswater. The six were made up in sixpenny packets which should have a good sale among tourists.
October 1903
MATTERDALE - Mr. J. Weir, Matterdale, was driving to Patterdale with his weekly consignment of butter and eggs when his horse shied at an approaching motor car. Butter, eggs and driver were all thrown out on to the highway. Mr. Weir was much bruised and shaken, but no bones were broken.
February 1904
PENRITH - Five parents were summoned to appear before Penrith magistrates to answer charges of neglecting to send their children to school. One mother said she kept her 13-year-old daughter at home to work, while another told the court that an epidemic of mumps accounted for most of her daughter's many absences. A Matterdale farmer was said to take his children away from school as soon as they reached 12 years of age. Fines of five shillings and 7s 6d were imposed.
April 1904
MATTERDALE - John Robinson, Matterdale End, who had nearly attained the age of 90, died suddenly. He was a good type of hardy dalesman and a regular attender at the Glencoyne sheep clippings. Up to three years before, he was able to strip a few Herdwicks of their fleeces.
January 1905
MATTERDALE - The death took place of Mrs. Jane Martin, wife of Mr. Joseph Martin, yeoman, Hollins Farm, Dockray, Matterdale. She was the last survivor of the Robinson family of Gillside, Patterdale. Prior to the cortege leaving the residence, her favourite hymn, Rock of Ages, was sung with feeling by friends from far and near.
June 1908
GREYSTOKE - The death has taken place at Greystoke of Joe Dawson, the well-known Lakeland huntsman. Mr. Dawson was over 80 and was the grandson of Mr. Edward Dawson, Troutbeck, who lived to be 96. John Peel and the younger Peel were both well-known to him and he is believed to have witnessed more kills than any other person in the district. For a time Mr. Dawson lived at Matterdale where he farmed High Row. Half a century ago he wrote a hunting song which has now become famous.
August 1911
Ninety-five years ago, the previous record of 96.8F was set at Epsom, but this area of Cumbria also sweltered in extreme heat. As people gasped in the Sahara-like atmosphere, fatalities were reported, one of them at Greystoke. Sunstroke claimed the life of Joseph Robinson Dawson, aged 43, who was overcome by the heat and collapsed while working in a hayfield for Mr. J. Millican. Members of the village ambulance brigade took him to his home, but he never recovered consciousness. He was the son of Joseph Dawson, the Matterdale huntsman [prior to amalgamation of the Matterdale and the Patterdale hunt], and Mary Robinson.
January 1951
PENRUDDOCK - Penruddock lost an old and esteemed resident by the death, at the age of 86, of Mr. George Taylor, Chapel House, who once had a carrier's business, as well as farming at Stoddah. Before the advent of motor cars, he drove a horse-drawn wagonette into Penrith, conveying passengers from Matterdale, Motherby and Penruddock. He had a long association with the village's Presbyterian Church.
July 1951
MATTERDALE - A snowball fight on Midsummer's Day was an amusing interlude for a party from Kendal Natural History Society, on an excursion to Dowthwaite Head, Matterdale, to learn more about the bird population of the valley. They found a massive sheet of snow on a ramble to Tod's Moss, below Great Dod.
September 1954
DOCKRAY - A White Leghorn-Rhode Island Red cross hen, belonging to Mr. Charles Quinney, Bridge View, Dockray, Matterdale, laid an egg which was perfectly round, a little bigger than a golf ball.
July 1956
MATTERDALE - In order to raise funds to replace oil lamps with calor gas lighting in Matterdale Church, parishioners held a sale, which was opened by Miss Howard, Greystoke. She was introduced by the Rector of Greystoke, the Rev. J. Norman, who referred to the possibility of Matterdale having a resident clergyman in the near future.
May 1973
MATTERDALE - The quatercentenary of Matterdale Church was celebrated with special services, at one of which the Bishop of Carlisle (the Rt Rev. David Halsey) was the preacher. For the past seven years the resident priest had been the Rev. David J. Foster, formerly headmaster of the school at Penruddock. A short history of the church had been written by the Rev. H. A. L. Rice, Kirkby Lonsdale (and formerly of Matterdale).
May 1976 PENRITH - Station View House, a 138-year-old building which once served as Penrith's workhouse, [Matterdale and Watermillock were part of the Penrith Workhouse Union 'Jake'] was being demolished, as it had become unsafe. The house was built to accommodate up to 240 poor people and consisted of dozens of rooms and a maze of connecting passages. Fifty tons of slates were removed and it was estimated that there were 5,000 tons of masonry. Tramps and wayfarers stopped at Station House up to 1955 when a reception centre was opened at Merrythought, on the A6. Eden planners turned down a plan to build six houses alongside the Cottage Hospital, on Penrith's Beacon Edge, because of "the almost priceless backcloth" of the Beacon area.
August 1978
PENRITH - Mr. Wilfred Atkinson, who died suddenly at his home in Duke Street, Penrith, aged 64, was well-known for his interest in natural and local history. A native of the town, he taught at local schools before joining the staff of the Carlisle Technical College, where he lectured on antiques, local history and gardening, and he was, also, for many years the curator of Penrith museum. He was survived by his wife, formerly Miss Margaret Wilson, Matterdale.
