Orkney Islands Council Convener Stephen Hagan travelled to the Faroe Islands to unveil a memorial plaque to twenty sailors from Stromness lost in a wreck off the islands in 1786.

Unveiling of the Plaque in the Faroe Islands

The plaque, presented on behalf of Stromness Community Council at a ceremony on Sunday (August 29), is in memory of William Melvin and 19 of his crew of the Stromness seal catcher ‘Rachel’, which was wrecked off the island of Svinoy on November 27, 1786.

Also present at the ceremony was the Mayor of Svinoy and Klaksvik, Gunva vio Keldu.

The ‘Rachel’ was sheltering from a storm in the bay of Svinoy, but its anchor failed to hold. Of the 23 men on board, only three were rescued and subsequently cared for by the people of Svinoy.

Those who were killed in the tragedy were buried in the village. Chair of Stromness Community Council, George Argo, said: “When the Stromness Community Council were first told about this tragedy we agreed it would be a fitting tribute to erect a plaque in the Faroe Islands in memory of those brave Stromness sailors who lost their lives there.

“The motto of the Stromness Community Council is “Per Mare” which means by the sea. Our community has always had a close connection with the sea and many of our town’s folk have made their living from it over the years with some succumbing to its mercies.

“This is a fitting reminder of a crew who perished far from home many years ago and we are delighted that our Island Convener Stephen Hagan could unveil it on our behalf.”

Councillor Hagan said: “I am pleased to have the opportunity to unveil this memorial to the Orcadians who died in this long ago tragedy – and to

Memorial plaque to the crew of the Rachel 1786

remember the care provided by the Faroese for those who survived”.

The following is from the Statistical Account of Orkney 1795 – 1798, United Parishes of Sandwick and Stromness, by Rev. William Clouston;

It was usual for a sloop to go once a year, about Martinmas, to the small isle or rock of Soulsketrry (sic), which lies W.N.W about 10 leagues distant, and there kill seals, which resort to that rock in great numbers. The surge is so great around that rock, that it often happened, they could not effect a landing; or, if the men were landed, they, and the seals, which they killed, could not be got off but with great difficulty, and considerable risk.

In November 1786, a sloop upon this adventure, from the village of Stromness, was driven by tempestuous weather to the North Faro (sic) Isles, and there wrecked with 22 men aboard, 3 of whom were saved, and 19 perished. Since that fatal accident, this perilous fishing had been abandoned.

A very simple raised flower bed is the focal point for this memorial garden in Ravenglass, south west Cumbria.

A long wooden seat with a stone curved back to remember 'Cyril'

Positioned near to the main car park entrance to the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway,
it will be passed by tens of thousands of people every year, but how many notice or ask about it’s history.

The garden consists of a long curved stone and wood seat and a raised flower bed surrounded by grass.

Carved into a small flat stone, at the centre of the seat back are the words ‘ Cyril’s garden’.

Do you know the story about the garden, how it came to be and who, or what, was Cyril?

Let us know via the comments area below or via the contact us form.

Positioned to provide a view of a tree lined vista is this wooden bench in Carlisle.

In memory of Rodney Grindley Aug 2000

A simple carved message, across the rear rail reads:

In memory of Rodney Grindley 28 June 1944 – 22 August 2000 BTCV volunteer

The bench can be found in the north of the city as part of the Kingmoor nature reserve.

Looking out across a tree lined vista in Carlisle

Based in Spencer Street in Carlisle the BTCV locally help improve the local community through the use of volunteers.

Who was Rodney, why choose this place for his memory?

Please let us know via the comments area below or via the contact us page.

Findmypast Ireland is a new website set up by two experts in the field of family history: Eneclann, an award-winning research and publishing house with extensive experience in family history in Ireland, and findmypast, a leading family history website, initially launched in the UK.

Research your family history online with Findmypast.ie

Together, they have worked to bring you a website which will help you to understand your Irish heritage and make amazing discoveries about your ancestors.

Based in Dublin, findmypast Ireland has a dedicated team committed to providing you with the best possible experience when researching your Irish family history but also able to draw on the strength and resources of its two founding partners.

If you’re looking for Irish Ancestors, start your search Findmypast.ie you are able to:

View images and maps of where your ancestor lived

Find out what your ancestors did for a living

Discover which battles your ancestors fought in

Learn about the voyages your ancestors made

Find out more at Findmypast.ie 

The public paths around Cheltenham in Gloucestershire continue to be well marked, thanks to the farsightedness of Cheltenham benefactor Herbert Lucas Bradbury.

Mr Bradbury died in 1959 leaving £1,500 on trust for erecting and maintaining signposts

Mr Bradbury died in 1959 leaving £1,500 on trust for erecting and maintaining signposts on public paths within a six-mile radius of Cheltenham Post Office.

The fund, known as the Bradbury Bequest, is administered by the Open Spaces Society.

The Gloucestershire Ramblers have arranged for the signposts to be erected.

Doug Houston, footpath secretary of the Ramblers’ Mid Glos Group said: “Last autumn the county council’s public rights of way department erected 12 signs for us, showing destination and distance clearly marked.

Mr Houston added: “We are grateful that the original bequest from a local businessman back in 1959 is still providing useful guidance for all walkers in our area”.

The Open Spaces Society, formally the Commons, Open Spaces and Footpaths Preservation Society was founded in 1865 and is Britain’s oldest national conservation body.

In a corner of the grounds of Carlisle Cathedral is a simple memorial to Robert Anderson, the Cumberland Bard.

The Cumberland Bard is remembered in the grounds of Carlisle Cathedral

The inscription on the front of the memorial reads: Erected by public subscription to the memory of Robert Anderson, The Cumberland Bard. Died September 26th 1833. Aged 63 years.

Robert Anderson

Born on the 1st February 1770 in Carlisle,  into a poor family,  Robert Anderson received an early education in a local School.  Some reports indicate this may have been a Quaker school, others that it may have been under the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral.

Life was hard for the young lad and, as was custom in those years, he was sent to learn a trade.

Aged ten years old he was an assistant to a calico printer.

Later he served his apprenticeship as a pattern-drawer.

During 1798 Robert Anderson published his first volume of poetry in London.

This was called ‘Poems on various Subjects‘.

Commentators have since used his assorted works as an insight to manners, customs and general life.

Robert Anderson - The Cumberland Bard

Much of his work was written in dialect.

Further details Autobiography and text of songs and ballads

A life of the Cumberland Bard

Can you add to the history of the Cumberland Bard?  Add your comments below..

A young 18th century Manx smuggler,  Thomas Stowell, is buried at Bowness on Solway church.

Smuggling along the Solway coast was rife during the 17th and 18th centuries, with large gangs of professional smugglers operating on the Scottish coast and to a lesser extent, on the English side.

Many illicit loads were landed between Saltpans and Skinburness by these ‘midnight traders’, including brandy and tea. One of the smugglers’ Ankers barrels, used to transport such goods, is on display in Bowness on Solway church.

His smuggling cost him his life

In 1755, the King’s boast from Skinburness intercepted one of these smuggling ships.  During the chase, a young Manx smuggler, Thomas Stowell, (or stoal) was wounded by gunfire.He was landed, with his cargo of brandy and tobacco, at Bowness-on-Solway where he died.

Thomas Stowell is buried in a marked grave at Bowness on Solway churchyard, situated under a Yew tree where six more smugglers are buried, in unmarked graves.

The smugglers’ grave can be found by walking to the right (north) of the church and locating the yew tree which is about a third of the way down the graveyard.
More information

Smugglers’ Britain – Find out about smuggling in Britain

Wherecanwewalk.com – The Smugglers Route walk – The Bank End Ramble

Situated to the right of the church entrance door to St Michael’s Church, Stanwix, is a much different type of tombstone, dedicated to Richard Saul. Ferguson, M.A., L.L.M., F.S.A., Chancellor of Carlisle.

Richard S Ferguson tombstone

Richard Saul Ferguson was born in 1837 and died in 1900, buried at St. Michael’s Church in Stanwix, Carlisle.

He was elected Mayor of Carlisle on two consecutive occasions 1881-1882 and 1882-1883.

The wonderful replica of a Celtic Tombstone is perhaps a recognition of his lifetime interests in local history and archaeology.

The whole stone is intricately carved with Celtic knots, serpents and figures, giving the memorial a much older appearance.

The inscription around the stone reads;

“Here Lieth the body of Richard Ferguson, sometime Chancellor of Carlisle and Chairman of the Quarter Sessions for the County of Cumberland”.

Richard S Ferguson is noted for having written a number of published texts, including;

Diocesan Histories : Carlisle, Published by SPCK, London, 1889 and The Heraldry of the Cumberland Statesman.

Nestling in a tranquil corner of the Low Gardens of Dalemain historic house in Penrith, Cumbria, is a delightful, small and understated resting place for all the pets of the house since 1931.

Woodland resting place for the animals of Dalemain.

The oldest of the graves belongs to Bunty, the children’s Cairn Terrier 1931 – 1941, with others belonging to Jack the Bearded Collie 1942 – 1956 and seven of the corgis including; Sunny, Bumble, Honey, Tim and lastly Barney all between 1945 and 1974.

Bunty, the children's Cairn Terrier headstone 1931-1941

Buried alongside the family pets are Heather the Fell Mare 1962 – 1989 and the well known black Fell Stallion Dalemain Nettle 1968 – 1989, whos prizewinning stock were renowned for their exceptionally good temperament. Owned and bred by Mrs. McCosh of Dalemain.

The Stallion, Dalemain Nettle on the right, running out with mares and foals

Above image courtesy of The Fell Pony Society

The Gravestone Photographic Research Project is a free genealogy resource that contains an index of the names and relationships that appear on grave monuments. This information is of special interest to anyone reseaching their family history as information on tombstones is rarely listed and it is often hard to find a grave.

Gravestone research project

The database currently holds information from Canada, Cyprus, Engald, Wales, Scotland and Australia.

Genealogical information
The genealogical information on this website consists of names, dates, age and relationships of people who were born before 1900.

The amount of family history information stored for each individual does vary depending on what is written on a monument and its legibility.

The genealogical information within the online database has been extracted from either photos taken by the Gravestone Photographic Resource or by volunteers who have donated them to the resource.

There are still many grave sites not on the database and volunteers are still required to help with this valuable project.  As gravestones decay and collapse, often never repaired or replaced and as old grave sites become reused with space a t a premium, it is vital that we record as much data as possible.

Visit the Gravestone Photographic Resource website