GENERAL EVENTS
Please be aware that events may be cancelled so do check before travelling...
CLHF Annual Convention and AGM 2026
Saturday 10th October 09.00 – 16.00
North Lakes Hotel, Clifford Road, Penrith CA11 8QT
£35 to include lunch, tea/coffee etc.
“Aspects of Life in 18th Century Cumbria”
09.00 Doors open - Register, Set up displays, Tea & Coffee
10.00-10.15 Introduction – Les Gilpin CLHF Chairman
10.15 – 11.00 Paul Hindle – Tourists and Turnpikes in Eighteenth Century Lakeland
11.05-11.50 Chris Craghill –The Winners & The Losers – Cumbrian Farming Practices in the 18th Century
11.55-12.25 CLHF Annual General Meeting 2025
12.30-13.30 Lunch
13.30-14.15 Trevor Grahamslaw – Times of Change, Solway Life in the Georgian Period
14.15 – 14.35 Tea & Coffee
14.35 -15.20 David Cross – Cumbrian Lives of 18th Century Beyond the Canon
15.20-15.40 Summing Up & End of Convention
Paul Hindle – Tourists and Turnpikes in Eighteenth Century Lakeland – Paul brings together early travellers and tourists, descriptions and depictions of the landscape, turnpikes and maps. He has compiled a unique talk for the Convention on two of his main research subjects, the beginnings of tourism in the Lake District and the routes to travel to reach a destination.
Bio: Paul was Senior Lecturer in Geography at Salford University. His PhD was concerned with the road system of medieval England and Wales. He continued to specialise in the study of historic roads and old maps more generally, taking a particular interest in 18th century county maps and the creation of turnpike roads. He took early retirement in 2000. He was Hon. Secretary of the Manchester Geographical Society for 35 years and is now its President.
Chris Craghill – ‘The Winners & The Losers – Cumbrian Farming Practices in the 18th Century’ – An assessment of some of the major Cumbrian manorial estate owners and their tenantry in a time of national change in agricultural practices. How did Cumbria compare and who were the winners and the losers?
Bio: Qualified local historian Chris Craghill is a long-term researcher on Cumbrian farming families and the buildings in which they lived and worked. In the past she has concentrated on the Northern Fells area ‘Back o’ Skidda’ but at present is working on the N.E. area of the county and the Barony of Gilsland.
Trevor Grahamslaw – ‘Times of Change. Solway Life in the Georgian period’. – A talk inspired by letters discovered in Carlisle Archive Centre sent by Jane Matthews of Wigton Hall to a friend, which reference institutions, work, leisure, politics and hardship for the people of the Solway area from the 18th Century into the early 19th.
Bio: Carlisle born Trevor Grahamslaw has been photographing, collecting and publishing images of the Solway for over 40 years. His latest publication “Wigton & the Solway. Times of Change” is his first book on a more in-depth history of the area.
David Cross – ‘Cumbrian Lives of the 18thCentry: Beyond the Canon’ – A talk that covers both familiar and less familiar figures who contributed to the affairs of the county during the 18th century. The names are drawn from a wide range of occupations in the arts and the sciences.
Bio: Barrow born, David Cross is both a Durham and Lancaster University graduate, an ex global teacher of English and Drama as well as being involved in the Ruskin Studies program. In 1998 he became a co-founder of the Cumbrian Lives project. www.cumbrianlives.org.uk during Covid.
Booking Form can be downloaded below
https://www.clhf.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/booking-form.pdf
LDNP ARCHAEOLOGY CONFERENCE
Saturday 14th November 2026.
Details to follow.
Claiming dates
Cumbrian Railways Association
Autumn Conference Saturday 14th November 2026
Spring conference and AGM Saturday 20th March 2027
Cumbria Family History Society
Conference 6th - 8th November 2026 Crookland Hotel.
Cumbria Industrial History Society
Spring Conference Saturday 13th March 2027
Member Group Events
N.B. All talks start at 7.30pm unless otherwise stated.
Please be aware that events may be cancelled due to illness - or the weather!
C Cumbria Armitt Library October Events
The Library events and tickets can be booked at
EVENTS | ARMITT MUSEUM AND LIBRARY
C Cumbria Wordsworth Trust
The Trusts events etc. can be found at
C Cumbria | Monday 28th September
A talk at the school, not just Wordsworth. A look at some of the other pupils. | Speaker Neil Salibury
Hawkshead Grammar School Museum £5 tickets from https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-talk-at-the-school-not-just-wordsworth-tickets-1988268460488?aff=oddtdtcreator
SE Cumbria | Wednesday 30th September
A Virtual Tour of Medieval Lancaster | Speaker Dr Chris Tinmouth
Mourholme Local History Group, Gaskell Hall, 17 Emesgate Lane, Silverdale visitors £2
W Cumbria | Wednesday 30th September
Netherhall School | Speaker David Tromans
Maryport Heritage Society, The Signpost, Curzon St.
NE Cumbria | Thursday 1st October 2026
Wigton and the Solway in Georgian Times. The letters of Jane Matthews of Wigton Hall | Speaker Trevor Grahamslaw
Warwick Bridge And District Local History Group. Downagate Centre, Warwick Bridge £3
SW Cumbria | Thursday 1st October 2026
Brockhole 125 - The Story of Brockhole from the Gaddum Archive | Speaker Kevin Grice
Cartmel Peninsular LHS, Cartmel Village Hall. Visitors £3.
SE Cumbria | Saturday 3rd October 2026 10am - 3pm.
Women of Arnside | Autumn Exhibition, Arnside Archives
Arnside Educational Institute Church Hill entry £3
SW Cumbria | Monday 5th October
Following the Work, his family travels for work and the Poor Law |Speaker John Kedge
Furness family History Society, Barrow Island Community Primary School, Visitors £3
SW Cumbria | Wednesday 7th October
Grizedale Hall | Speaker Dr Suzanne Tiplady
Dalton LHS, At Mary's Church Centre, Dalton-in-Furness visitors £3.50
E Cumbria | Wednesday 7th October 2026
Methodism on Alston Moor | Speaker Mary Elliot
Alston moor Historical society, Alston Masonic Hall.
S Cumbria | Monday 12th October 2026 2.00 pm
Cumbria's First Farmers | Speaker Gill Hay
Cartmel Fell and District LHS, The Parish Hall, Cartmel Fell
NE Cumbria | Tuesday 13th October 2026
Pendle Witches | Speaker Terry Bond
Renwick and Kirkoswald Local History. Renwick Church, Renwick
SE Cumbria Thursday 15th October 2026
Big Ben's Country Cousin - Langdale's Parish Church Clock | Geoff Sykes
Staveley and District History society, St Anne's Church, Ings. LA8 9PY
SW Cumbria | Thursday 15th October 2026
Folklore of the Lake District: Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin | Speaker Stephen Rae.
Askam and Ireleth in Furness HG, Methodist Church, Duddon Rd £3.00
SE Cumbria | Monday 19th October 2026
Sarah Nelson and the history of Grasmere Gingerbread | Speaker Caitlin Whitehead
Upper Eden History Society, Methodist School Room, Kirkby Stephen visitors £5
SW Cumbria | Monday 19th October
Furness Dialect | Speaker John Campbell
History of Kirkby Group, Kirkby Community Centre
SE Cumbria | Monday 19th October 2026
Medieval Forgers? The Nuns of Armathwaite Nunnery | Speaker Harry Hawkins
Burton Holme District LHS
E Cumbria | Wednesday 21st October 2026
More Musings of a Taphophile | Speaker Bev Brummitt
Ravenstonedale Parish History Group, Newbiggin-on-Lune Public Hall Non Members £6
SE Cumbria | Wednesday 28th October
Muncaster Castle's Wartime Secret | Speaker Dr Rob David
Mourholme Local History Group, Gaskell Hall, 17 Emesgate Lane, Silverdale visitors £2
W Cumbria | Wednesday 28th October
Thomas Ismay | Speaker Tom Snaith
Maryport Heritage Society, The Signpost, Curzon St.
SW Cumbria | Monday 2nd November
The Rev T Hardy | Speaker Martin Cooper
Furness family History Society, Barrow Island Community Primary School, Visitors £3
E Cumbria | Wednesday 4th November 2026
The Vernacular Buildings of Cumbria | Speaker Paul Lewis
Alston moor Historical society, Alston Masonic Hall.
S Cumbria | Monday 9th November 2026 2.00 pm
The High Road to Dalton | Speaker Suzanne Tiplady
Cartmel Fell and District LHS, The Parish Hall, Cartmel Fell
NE Cumbria | Tuesday 10th November 2026
Benjamin Frankoln's visit to the Lake District in 1772 | Speaker Chris Donaldson
Renwick and Kirkoswald Local History. Renwick Church, Renwick
SE Cumbria | Monday 16th November 2026 2.30 pm
The RAF in Cumbria during WW2 | Speaker Ian Tyler
Upper Eden History Society, Methodist School Room, Kirkby Stephen visitors £5
SE Cumbria | Monday 16th November 2026
Crime & Policing | Speaker DR M Winstanley
Burton Hulme District LHS
E Cumbria | Wednesday 18th November 2026 2.30 pm
The Making of the Stainmore Railway 200 Textile Panel | Speaker Anne Taylor
Ravenstonedale Parish History Group, Newbiggin-on-Lune Public Hall Non Members £6
SE Cumbria Thursday 19th November 2026
Thomas Mawson Gardens in Cumbria | Alison Shaw
Staveley and District History society, St Anne's Church, Ings. LA8 9PY
SE Cumbria | Wednesday 25th November
Field Names in the North West of England | Speaker Prof Angus Winchester
Mourholme Local History Group, Gaskell Hall, 17 Emesgate Lane, Silverdale visitors £2
W Cumbria | Wednesday 25th November
Smuggling in Cumbria | Speaker Tommy Higham
Maryport Heritage Society, The Signpost, Curzon St.
NE Cumbria | Thursday 3rd December 2026
Gravestones of Cumbria - the history, artistry and social significance of Cumbrian Gravestones over the Centuries | Speaker Mark Hatton
Warwick Bridge And District Local History Group. Downagate Centre, Warwick Bridge £3
SW Cumbria | Monday 7th December
Sankey Quiz | Organised by Geoff Holmes
Furness family History Society, Barrow Island Community Primary School, Visitors £3
E Cumbria | Wednesday 9th December 2026
Christmas get-together
Ravenstonedale Parish History Group, Newbiggin-on-Lune Public Hall Non Members £6
SE Cumbria | Monday 14th December 2026 2.30 pm
Standing Pies and Possets: an old fashioned Cumbrian Christmas | Speaker Sue Allen
Upper Eden History Society, Methodist School Room, Kirkby Stephen visitors £5
S Cumbria | Monday 14th December 2026 2 pm
Our Local and National History Through Metal Detecting | Speaker Nigel Law
Cartmel Fell and District Local History Society, Parish Hall, Cartmel Fell.
SE Cumbria | Monday 14th December 2026
300 Years of Schoolin in Satterthwaite and Rusland | Speaker Dr Suzanne Tiplady
Burton Hulme District LHS
SE Cumbria | Wednesday 16th December 2026
Brockholes 125 A Pictorial History of a House and Garden | Speaker Kevin Grice
Mourholme Local History Group, Gaskell Hall, 17 Emesgate Lane, Silverdale visitors £2
NE Cumbria | Tuesday 12 January 2027
Citadel Station | Speaker Bruce Bennison
Renwick and Kirkoswald Local History. Renwick Church, Renwick
SE Cumbria | Monday 18th January 2027 2.30 pm
Members Afternoon | members present their latest research
Upper Eden History Society, Methodist School Room, Kirkby Stephen visitors £5
SE Cumbria | Wednesday 27th January 2027
The History of Coniston Copper Mines | Speaker Mark Hatton
Mourholme Local History Group, Gaskell Hall, 17 Emesgate Lane, Silverdale visitors £2
W Cumbria | Wednesday 27th January 2027
To be arranged | Speaker Nicholas Osborne
Maryport Heritage Society, The Signpost, Curzon St.
SW Cumbria | Monday 1st February 2027
Rampside and the Islands | Speaker Peter Laird
Furness family History Society, Barrow Island Community Primary School, Visitors £3
NE Cumbria | Thursday 4th February 2027
Digging Carlisle - An update on the Cricket club Dig | Speaker Frank Geicco
Warwick Bridge And District Local History Group. Downagate Centre, Warwick Bridge £3
NE Cumbria | Tuesday 9th February 2027
Auxiliary Hospitals - Penrith Hospital was one of 22 VAD Hospitals in Cumbria in WW1 | Speaker Richard Pestin
Renwick and Kirkoswald Local History. Renwick Church, Renwick
SE Cumbria | Monday 15th February 2027 6 2.30 pm
The Air Cadets and Kirkby Stephen | Speaker Helen Gerrish
Upper Eden History Society, Methodist School Room, Kirkby Stephen visitors £5
E Cumbria | Wednesday 17th February 2027
To be arranged
Ravenstonedale Parish History Group, Newbiggin-on-Lune Public Hall Non Members £6
SE Cumbria | Wednesday 24th February 2027
Lancaster Quakers and Slave Ownership | Speaker Dr Ann Morgan
Mourholme Local History Group, Gaskell Hall, 17 Emesgate Lane, Silverdale visitors £2
W Cumbria | Wednesday 24th February 2027
Bogs, Barges, and Footboards - The Maryport & Carlisle Railway and the link across the Solway to the Caledonian Railway | Speaker Ann Lingard
Maryport Heritage Society, The Signpost, Curzon St.
NE Cumbria | Tuesday 9th March 2027
Vikings in Eden | Speaker Steve Dickinson
Renwick and Kirkoswald Local History. Renwick Church, Renwick
SE Cumbria | Monday 15th March 2027 2.30 pm
Ring Me - The History of the Telephone in Cumbria | Speaker David Occomore
Upper Eden History Society, Methodist School Room, Kirkby Stephen visitors £5
E Cumbria | Wednesday 17th March 2027
Cattle Droving in Cumbria - the Whys and Wherefores of a Long-Distance Trade | Speaker David Johnson.
Ravenstonedale Parish History Group, Newbiggin-on-Lune Public Hall Non Members £6
SE Cumbria | Wednesday 31st March 2027
Home Sweet Home | Speaker Ambleside Oral History Group, Judith Shingler & Will Steele.
Mourholme Local History Group, Gaskell Hall, 17 Emesgate Lane, Silverdale visitors £2
NE Cumbria | Thursday 1st April 2027
The Border Reivers | Speaker Dr Maksymiliam Loth-Hill
Warwick Bridge And District Local History Group. Downagate Centre, Warwick Bridge £3
NE Cumbria | Tuesday 13th April 2027
analysis of what happened to the Shorthorn Breed in Ravenstonedale | Speaker Steve Fermer
Renwick and Kirkoswald Local History. Renwick Church, Renwick
SE Cumbria | Monday 19th April 2027
Researching your own family history | Speaker Steve Ellis
Upper Eden History Society, Methodist School Room, Kirkby Stephen visitors £5
SE Cumbria | Wednesday 28th April 2027
The Secrets of sizergh Castle | Speaker Janice Wilson
Mourholme Local History Group, Gaskell Hall, 17 Emesgate Lane, Silverdale visitors £2
NE Cumbria | Tuesday 11th May 2027
Lowthers in Politics | Speaker Andy Connell
Renwick and Kirkoswald Local History. Renwick Church, Renwick
NE Cumbria | Thursday 3rd June 2027
Changing Face of Carlisle | Speaker Stephen White
Warwick Bridge And District Local History Group. Downagate Centre, Warwick Bridge £3
W Cumbria | Wednesday 30th June 2027
Cockermouth Grammar School | Speaker Tom Little
Maryport Heritage Society, The Signpost, Curzon St.