The History Group archive upstairs at High Chapel is usually open to visitors from 2 to 4pm on Thursday afternoons. Please note we may not be open during January if the weather is bad. The History Group can still be contacted with family history enquiries etc when we are not open if you leave a message on the form on this website – your comment will be moderated, it may be edited for reasons of space, and your email address will not be shown to other website users. There are message forms at the bottom of the About the Group, Family History, and Gifts to the Archive pages.
This is a message for Jackie Wedd – I understand that Jackie is the society’s archivist.
Up to now I’ve been corresponding with Caroline Morris but I gather she currently has more important matters on her mind concerning David.
I’ve been researching the Methodist Centenary Chapel here in Kirkby Stephen and, as well as several of the chapel’s deeds, I now have in my possession original deeds for the chapels in Ravenstonedale and Newbiggin. If you’d like to see them then we need to arrange access for you. I’ll need to talk with Jackie because the Minister has understandable concerns about the documents’ safety and there are provisos. I had hoped to get them to your archives tomorrow (9th January) but gather from your website that the archives won’t be open during January. I’ve got a week with the documents, possibly a fortnight but not more. Over to you.
Peter
0759 548 6146
Hi, I’m planning to travel to Ravenstonedale in January 2024 on the trail of the Jeffrey family which includes Edward Jeffrey who was my paternal grandmothers first cousin. I would like to know whether I can see the EJ notebooks held by the History Group? We have in our possession an early 20C sketchbook that contains a study with features that would later turn up with Toby Twirl. I also have before me here in Melbourne VIC an EJ signed watercolour of what is understood to be his studio in Ravenstonedale.
Hi Philip
Delighted to hear from you and we look forward to meeting you when you come to Ravenstonedale in January. I will get a member of the History Group to email you with further details of what we have relating to Edward Jeffrey and his work and how we can help you.
Hello
I’m looking for information on the history of Midtown Cottages in Ravenstonedale (now bearing the names Honeysuckle Cottage and Oak Cottage). Basically I know very little so any information that is known by villagers would be much appreciated.
Many thanks
Harry
Thanks for your comment – we will check the archives and let you know what we have.
I’d like to come and see what you have on Edward Percy Frankland, hoping to come this Thursday 19th September.
Look forward to meeting you!
Hello I am former evacuee into the village of Ravenstonedale in Sept.1939.Do you have any contact with other evacees which you may know were in the village? If so is it possible to put me in contact with them. I would value your help with this search.
My name is Joan Lidgate and my maiden name was Eltringham.
I was billited at the Post Office which was the house ajacent to High Chapel.
Hello Joan, good to hear from you. As it happens, we have a History Group meeting tonight so I will pass on your request. We’ll also check our archive for information about any other evacuees we have. We’ll be in touch by email as soon as we can – it may not be immediately as we are rather focussed on our commemoration of 1914-18 in the Parish at the moment!
Had a grand afternoon with you, thank you for your hospitality. I’ll dig some of the digitized photos from the album I brought with me today. Give it a few weeks.
regards
Ken
It was good to meet you Ken and to hear about your family’s time in Newbiggin-on-Lune – and to see that wonderful album. We’ll be in touch about the St Oswald’s burial records too. It was quite a hectic afternoon – sometimes it’s like that with several visitors at once but I think we just about coped! We look forward to receiving some digital copies of some of the photos for our Archive. Thank you so much.
I’d like to come and chat with you next Thursday afternoon, I will be bringing my father’s family photo album. There are some photos of my Grandad who worked at Hunter Dixon’s in Newbiggin.
My Maternal Grandfather farmed at the Moss until he retired to Whin Cottage in Newbiggin.
Hello Kenneth – we’ll be very pleased to see you on Thursday afternoon – any time between 2pm and 4pm. Thanks for contacting us.