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Classics Club

Latin Learners:

The Classics Club has opened with 'Latin Learners'.
Do you regret that you were never able to learn Latin?
Perhaps you were in the "wrong" set or in a school that didn't teach Latin.
Here's your chance to catch up.

We are following a Latin Reading Course on the fourth Friday of the month, interspersed with items of classical interest including visits and videos.
We are using an attractive modern textbook which tells the story of a family living in the south of Italy.
Our aim is to read some of the Classical writers in the original Latin.
If you are interested, please come and join us!

We have two groups: Group 1 at 09.30 to 11 am and Group 2 at 10.30 to 12 noon.

Also, maybe those who have already done a year or two would like to get together for a Latin Reading Group.

Floreat Lingua Latina!.


Classics Club News

• Salvete!
• The Classics Club enjoyed its annual outing on May 20th 2004 in the Maryport area. They visited the Senhouse Roman Museum where they had a guided tour and were particularly impressed by what is the largest collection of Roman altars from a single site in Britain.
  After an excellent lunch in Maryport (Pub Lunch Group please note!), they drove up the coast to Milecastle 21, a Roman 'mile' fort near Allonby. Our thanks go to 'magistra' for the lovely day out.
• Previously, the Classics Club's Latin Learners explored parts of Hadrian's Wall, at the end of May 2003.
  The visit began at the Roman Army Museum at Carvoran. The Group had a picnic lunch at Housesteads Fort and then visited the extensive excavations at Vindolanda. Our thanks to 'magistra' (Nora Fawcett).

Living History

This is a fairly new group and we meet on the third Tuesday of the month at 2.00pm. in Grasmere. See the Newsletter for details.
We share life stories in the context of national and international events reflecting the social, economic and political developments of the 20^th. Century.

Local History

Meetings are usually held at 2.15pm on the fourth Thursday of the month in the room above the Ambleside Library.

Some meetings are addressed by outside speakers, others by members.

We also visit local museums and places of interest.

Suggestions for future meetings are always welcome.

Local History News

Please note that some of the 'older' News will be transferred from the Home Page to this space, from time to time, as below:

• Local History Meeting February 2007
• The February meeting of the Local History Group was fortunate not only to have as the speaker Hugh Wright, author of the biography on Stanley Webb Davies, but for it to take place at Gatesbield, Windermere, the home Stanley had built for himself and his wife Emily.
  We were able to examine in detail the furniture made and still in use. With Hugh Wright's knowledgeable explanations about the making and carving of the tables, chairs, bookcases, cupboards etc., the group was able to appreciate the quality of craftmanship and the artistic simplicity of the designs.
• Local History Meeting 23rd March 2006
• Local consultant geologist Iain Williamson gave the group an introductory talk on Mining in Cumbria - Ores of Cumbria - the theme for part of this year's programme.
  He explained with the help of samples, geological maps and slides how such a variety of minerals came to be found in the fault lines of the rocks. For example, if you ever wondered why there are Limekilns south of Ambleside by the A591 it is due to streaks of limestone passing through Ambleside to Coniston tucked in between Borrowdale Volcanic to the north and Coniston Slate to the south.
  Such was the wealth of information and knowledge of his subject and the numerous questions that followed it was decided to postpone the second half of the meeting, a talk on mining by Shirley Hill, to later in the year.
• Following this theme there was a visit on 27^th April to mines on the West Coast of Cumbria.
  Pictures of this visit appear on the Tenth Anniversary Page.
• Local History Report, February 2006
• In February there was a visit to the Jerwood Centre, Grasmere where the curator, Geoff Chowton showed the group some of the priceless treasures held there including original diaries of Dorothy Wordsworth, the many rewrites William had made of his poetry throughout his life and the recently acquired Turner etching of The Lakes.
  Also shown were photographic records of Grasmere both buildings and inhabitants collected over time and now for the first time put together as reference material.
• Local History and Lakeland Poets
• The January 2006 meeting of The Local History Group drew together 30 members to hear Susan Axford talk on the wives and sisters of the 'Lakeland Poets', concentrating for this first talk on the Wordsworth women.
  She emphasized how much he depended on his women, how busy their lives were, constantly visiting their friends, likewise constantly entertaining, and how frugal and careful had to be their management of the household economy.
  She particularly emphasised what hypochondriacs were both William and his sister Dorothy and their strange relationship, Dorothy often referring to William as 'her beloved'.
  Mary, his wife appears to have accepted this with equanimity for theirs was a love match.
  The group look forward to another talk by Susan next time on Samuel Taylor Coleridge, his wife and their relationship.
• Local History on Windermere
• Dr. Roger Sweeting of the Freshwater Biological Association, an independent organisation and registered charity, gave the Group a very interesting and stimulating talk in June 2005 on the changes to Lake Windermere.
  He concentrated particularly on the last 60 years when water quality worsened through to the 1980's and since then gradually improved as less pollutants were added from land drainage and sewage.
  During this period the water temperature has gradually risen a little every few months as had the quantity of rain. The Association has also noted change in types of fish, birds and plants, particularly the loss of the massed reed beds.
  Dr Sweeting would be very interested to find photographs of the Lake, particularly of the foreshore of islands and mainland taken over the last 50 years. If there is any member who has such records could you please let either of the coordinators know.
  Likewise if anyone would consider becoming a member of this scientific freshwater association further information is available from their website www.fba.org.uk or from the co-ordinators.
• Local History at Sizergh Castle: A crowd of over 30 members met at Sizergh in April 2005 for a guided tour of this 'Castle'.
  Having enjoyed the previous month's meeting when volunteer National Trust guide Dick White told us of its history and all about the Strickland family who owned the castle until 1950 (they still live in one of the wings) we were able to see all of this first-hand.
  The history came to life as we were shown round the richly furnished rooms, with their 16th century wooden panelled walls from which hung many of the family portraits. We were reminded of some of the more colourful members of this family with their strong Catholic faith which led to exile, and their return to continue building and adapting the house, removing one floor to create a medieval banqueting hall.
  They even sold some panelling to the V&A in 1890. Fortunately this was carefully restored to the house 100 years later.
• For the Meeting 25th November 2004, the upper room of the Ambleside library was full to hear The Rev. Doreen Harrison give her talk on life as a vicar of three rural parishes - Colton, Rusland and Satterthwaite.
  She began by showing slides of the churches, their interiors and windows, and told us a little of their history, including tales of important burials both in the past and present day.
  She continued with illustrations of the villages, farms, the life of her farming parishioners, the church halls and the local school now down in numbers to barely double figures. She told us of the difficulties of commuting to and from Ambleside in all weathers along narrow, winding roads not built for modern tractors and trucks.
  Of particular interest was her account of her role in helping farmers cope with the 2001 Foot & Mouth epidemic already an important part of our local history.
  Doreen Harrison last spoke to the Group two years ago so hopefully she will be willing to give another talk in the future.
  Thanks must go to Don Elliott who helped set up the equipment and to those who helped with the refreshments.
• The September 2004 meeting of the Local History Group was a talk by group member Susan Axford entitled The De Quincey Dilemma - was he Victim or Villain?
  What was heard was a superb, memorable account of De Quincey from birth to death. His difficult tragic childhood with the early death of three of his closest siblings followed by that of his father and a dominating mother who undermined this small, delicate but highly intelligent boy, all his life.
  Then his wish to be accepted by Wordsworth as a true friend and poet but only to have similar treatment to that from his mother but now from his hero.
  His overworked imagination, stimulated by his experiences in chilhood further developed by his dependence on opium contributed to this rather sad life. Fortunately he did eventually have a happy marriage but spent his final years in an Edinburgh hostel for the destitute.
  Much, much more was told to us by Susan, so much fascinating information that the only way to fully appreciate her hardwork, research, enthusiasm for the subject was to have been there. Perhaps in the future Susan will be willing to give a repeat performance - It is recommended to all.
• Historic Ambleside June 2004 meeting: The 'On-Location' meeting in June was attended by 17 rather damp members who nevertheless very much enjoyed the Historic Ambleside tour under the very able direction of Pat, Dorothy and Sybil.
  We learned about the importance of the Mills and the Braithwaite family and discussed the possible sites of the Irish-Norse homesteads at How Head. The tour finished at St. Martins College where the enormous contributions to local history of Charlotte Mason and Harriet Martineau were explained in detail.
• Historic Ambleside May 2004 meeting: The 'On-Location' May meeting was enjoyed by some 22 members who looked at the history of the Galava Roman Fort, Ambleside Church and buildings in the nearby streets.
• Offcomers To The Lakes April 2004 Meeting: Sir John Richardson.
  Member Don Elliott gave an excellent illustrated talk on the explorations of Sir John Richardson to Northern Canada, an unknown part of the world in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was deputy leader to the expeditions led by Sir John Franklin and managed to survive in spite of virtual starvation. He was also an important naval doctor and spent much of his life in Portsmouth but after his third marriage came to retire to Grasmere, the home of his wife and her family. He was to be buried in Grasmere church yard and has a plaque to his memory in the church.
• Local History Group Meeting - February 2004.
  This was the first meeting developing this years theme of 'Off-Comers to the South Lakes Area'.
• The first of the two 'Offcomers' introduced to the Group was Henry Schneider, resident owner of Belsfield, the prominent hotel in Bowness. It was bought for £12000 with 8 acres and from here he would travel daily in his own boat (where he would breakfast) and then by train to his Iron and Steel foundry in Barrow. Due to his hard work and prominent position in the town he eventually became Mayor of Barrow and continued to extend his works and buildings in the area. He had hospitals, houses and schools built for his employees, carrying on the tradition of other well-known 19^th Century philanthropists.
• Quite different was the second 'Offcomer' - Kurt Schwitters, the German artist, who was rejected by many but found a home in Ambleside after being interned in England during the early part of WW2 and after a stay in London, came with his companion 'Wantee' to the town. Here he further developed his 'Merz' ideas, creating a wall in a barn in the Langdale valley which was removed to Newcastle Art Gallery where it could be better preserved.
  He also painted portraits of locals and made many friends, one of whom we shall hear next month on the Oral History talk on this same 'Offcomers' theme.
• So, another successful afternoon with a full house and stimulating talks by both our member speakers. Thanks go to them both for all the hard work and research undertaken to make this so interesting. Two further meetings are programmed on 'Offcomers' for April and September.
• The Armitt Museum
  Another full-house at January 2004's meeting when Michelle Kelly, Curator of the Armitt Museum, gave a talk about her work.
  She concentrated particularly on how new material is acquired, the work involved in accepting it, cataloguing and putting it into the archives with all the cross referencing. She also told of how exhibitions were chosen, usually three per year, planned and mounted in the very limited space available. The whole operation requires careful co-ordination as only 2-3 days are allowed between the closing of one exhibition and the opening of the next.
  Mention too was made of funding, always a problem and particularly conscious of at present with the difficulties at both Keswick and Kendal. There are also exciting plans for the future with possibilities for expansion if funding and permission can be obtained.
  If you do have an interest in local history you would find our local museum very interesting as it has a wealth of archives with staff and the many volunteers very friendly and helpful. Please encourage friends, and visitors to pay a visit. Michelle will be only too pleased to welcome you.
• Windermere Ferry
  There was a full house for our November 2003 meeting where the speaker, Dick White gave us a comprehensive talk on the history of the Ferry. The talk was well illustrated with a wide variety of slides, many of which can be found in his book.
• 34 members attended the October 2003 talk given by John Keen on Josefina de Vasconcellas.
  John opened our eyes to the tremendous talent of this local but internationally recognised sculptress and introduced us to her works and her life, much of which was spent in the Langdale Valley.
• At Brantwood
  The September 2003 Local History Group meeting was at Brantwood, Coniston, home of John Ruskin. This was the final meeting in this year's theme: the study of the Arts & Craft Movement in the 19^th and 20^th Centuries.
  19 people came on this visit; some chose to see a video before exploring the house while a few went on a guided tour of the gardens which reflected many of the beliefs held by those in the Arts & Craft Movement. Much of the information reinforced the knowledge gained within our studies. The gardens had received support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and used the £50,000 in an interesting and imaginative way. Plans are now underway to develop the moorland area.
  In the house we were able to see where Ruskin had worked, slept and entertained his visitors and also the plans for painting the exterior more as it was in his time and to blend in with the environment.
  Finally we enjoyed tea and cakes in the restaurant!
  
• In the Past
  On a blazing hot day in July 2003, Caldbeck Local History Group were given a comprehensive tour of Ambleside. Thanks to all who participated in this informative tour.
  A donation was received from Caldbeck thanking us for the tour.