Quirky tales from the past (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Quirky tales from the past

8:20pm Wednesday 26th October 2011 in Nostalgia By Helen Perkins, Reporter

A PROLIFIC South Lakeland writer has penned a book featuring obscure historic facts and naughty anecdotes from Westmorland’s past.

Conservative councillor Roger Bingham, of Ackenthwaite, has unveiled quirky tales after rifling through a vast home collection of texts on Cumbria.

His tenth book, Memories of South Lakeland, offers insight into rude rhymes, witchcraft, previous austerity measures and acts of God.

One chapter on skinny dipping tells of a hot spell in 1839, when there were reports of ‘a set of idle fellows who every evening strip on the canal banks near the town (Kendal) and wash their carcasses without the least regard to decency.’ The Westmorland Gazette reported that ‘consequently respectable females could not get the benefit of their usual walk’.

In another chapter, Mr Bingham’s book recalls Barbon schoolmaster Samuel Gibson’s tattoo in 1697.

“The design consisted of a star above three crowns, four crosses round a bigger cross and two olive branches with Jerusalem printed below.”

Odd instances from the region’s past are recalled within 162 page chapters of short local history articles, originally published in The Westmorland Gazette.

Mr Bingham said Memories of South Lakeland was a light read, with lots of pictures, but had taken months of serious research. “It is aimed at general readers and people who love the Lake District and its heritage,” said Mr Bingham, who is a district and county councillor.

“My father was a local GP and had a wide knowledge of medicine. I like to think I’m a bit of a general practitioner of Westmorland history.

“I like to be able to tell the tales and know the ins and outs of the district – especially my own patch Milnthorpe.”

Profit from sales will go to St Thomas Parish Church, Milnthorpe, where Mr Bingham is a frequent speaker.