A Collection of Slides
Douglas Birkbeck, a well-known local historian, donated his local slide collection to Upper Eden History Society in Kirkby Stephen, and they have kindly passed on approximately 200 of local interest to us – various views of Ravenstonedale, Newbiggin-on-Lune and Smardale.
We are sorting through them at the moment, and we plan to get at least some of them digitised so we can make them available to RPHG members.
A Collection of Documents
Colin Cowperthwaite recently donated several documents including rent books from local farms in Newbiggin-on-Lune, for example that of tenant Thomas Bainbridge, Intake, Ravenstonedale, from 1928-1948, whose rent (payable half-yearly) was collected first by William Dixon and latterly Dixon Shaw of Causeway End.
There is also a Plan of Estates in the Parishes of Ravenstonedale and Crosby Garrett dated 1879, which is in a poor state, so we have photographed it. The photographs will be kept with the catalogue in the archive box, so that it is not necessary to view the original for information.