Broughton in Furness History Group

Events and Happenings and Visits and Talks

Latest News

The R2R project book launch on Wednesday 24th March - Among the principle guests was Richard Leafe Chief Executive of The Lake District National Park who applauded the efforts of the project team members, saying that the joint venture between the LDNPA and the DVLHG carried out with the cooperation of the local farmers had been a great success and showed what could be achieved with close teamwork and cross community involvement. He added the benefits were immediate and would greatly assist in the land stewardship initiatives that were currently being progressed.

The principle guest was Julian Richards a renowned and much respected archaeologist, Julian had spent the day in the Duddon looking at some of the recorded historic sites and said he was amazed at the richness of historic evidence and impressed by the diligent approach taken by the survey teams and that he had been caught up in the excitement and enthusiasm that had sustained the group over the four year life of the project.

Having spent a day looking at some of the monuments and features recorded in the R2R survey I can well understand the desire of the group to find out more, the concentration and quality of the recorded sites is amazing and I would love to come back and be involved in future projects should the opportunity arise.

Quote from Julian Richards

The Duddon Valley History Group

Since its formation in the late-1990s the Duddon Valley Local History Group has been committed to sourcing and presenting to members and visitors a variety of speakers relevant to its Constitution, aims and aspirations.

Consequently, and in view of this broad brief, it has been possible during this last ten years to maintain and stimulate the enthusiasm of both recent and longstanding guests by the presentation of talks covering a range of local and topical subjects of historical interest. These have included archaeology; geology; industrial heritage; vernacular architecture; agriculture; local crafts, skills, lifestyles and interests; personalities, entrepreneurs, artists, writers, poets, philosophers, historians and ‘thinkers’; transport and infrastructure, and oral history.

A number of talks have been given by our own members – they have included topics as varied as Broughton Tower history; Swinside stone circle; ‘Cumbria Wool’ (of local source, design, processing and manufacture); Wonderful Walker; Stephenson Ground history and ‘dig’; Seathwaite school poetry, and compilation and presentation of a local history quiz.

During this time the Group has been fortunate and privileged to have presented speakers of national and international standing, many of whom have written publications of real significance in their own fields; it would be perhaps inappropriate to list all those here, but it is certainly worthy of note that we were honoured many times by the late Mike Davies-Shiel, who as one of our regular speakers, was considered to be a friend by many – the Group will, amongst many, sorely miss him.

The Group and some of its individual members have also been associated with, written or been responsible for, the publication of books of local and general historical interest, most of which have formed the basis of talks, eg: Wonderful Walker; Field Names of the Duddon Valley; Swinside Stone Circle and the Archaeological Survey of the Duddon Valley.

Many speakers generously distributed ‘handouts’ relevant to their talk (and MD-S was particularly prolific in this respect!), and examples of these are attached. In many cases they are not only a dissemination of knowledge but also of hitherto unacknowledged artistic talent!

Group members have also been given the opportunities to develop their own skills by demonstrations of, amongst other things, swill making, drystone walling, hedging and archaeological recognition and surveying.

Many of the above presentations naturally whetted the appetites of those attending and consequently a number of visits were arranged to further and satisfy this interest. Again too numerous to mention here, trips have been made, amongst others, to Florence mine (Egremont), Laal Ratty (Eskdale), Duddon Furnace, Barrow Records Office, Common Wood quarry (Ulpha), Cartmel, Kendal, Millom Castle, Wordsworth House (Cockermouth), Boot Cornmill (Eskdale), Low Wood gunpowder works (Haverthwaite), Furness Abbey, Windermere Steamboat Museum, RAF Museum (Millom and Haverigg), Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway and Swinside stone circle. Further visits are planned.

The Group has, over the years, collected and developed a comprehensive archive of photographs and documents relating to the Duddon Valley, and we have taken many opportunities to present these to members and guests within the Group's programme of activities, and, in particular but not solely, at the annual Easter Exhibition. This has generally been themed (eg, 'Navvy riots' of 1904, people and places, R2R project, etc) and has proved to be a popular attraction during this holiday period.

28th June 2011	Romans in Furness Daniel Elsworth Seathwaite Parish Room - 7.30pm
26th July  2011	The History of Millom Castle Tom McCafferty Seathwaite Parish Room - 7.30pm
23rd August 2011	Joseph Ritson Wallace - His Life and Museum Harry & Margaret Fancy Seathwaite Parish Room - 7.30pm
27th September 2011	Pack Horse Days Janet Niepokojczycka Seathwaite Parish Room - 7.30pm
25th October 2011	Woodland Crafts & Industries Andy Lowe Seathwaite Parish Room - 7.30pm
22nd November 2011	The Industrial History of South Ulverston Rob McKeever Broughton In Furness, Victory Hall, Rankin Room - 7.30pm
24th January 2012	Bluebirds over Coniston Vicky Slowe Broughton In Furness, Victory Hall, Rankin Room - 7.30pm
28th February 2012	Plants and their historic uses Ian MacNicholl Broughton In Furness, Victory Hall, Rankin Room - 7.30pm
27th March 2012	Dalton Castle  Angela McCreath Broughton In Furness, Victory Hall, Rankin Room - 7.30pm
24th April 2012	Walney Island  Walter Johnson Seathwaite Parish Room - 7.30pm
24th May 2011	Annual General Meeting and Open Discussion Seathwaite Parish Room - 7.30pm