question to any Cumbria experts out there

[RedFox]

Will coincidences never cease.  My great, greatgrandfather was supposedly born in Newcastleton in 1799.  According to the census records; last name ROBSON.   It is a beautiful area.  I spent a week in the Scottish borders (including Edinburgh and Glasgow) for a week before returning to Carlisle.  That's why the 12 nights. 

I was fortunate to have someone drive my car about the Newcastleton area the first day.  Plus it was very nice (it rained the rest of the week), so I got a chance to see the scenery.  Bruce is very knowledgeable.  We took in Heritage Castle.  Would have gone to the historical office in Newcastleton, but it was a Sunday.  He crossed back and forth over the border, just as the reivers would have.  We also went to the site where Castleton was.  That's quite a story. 

If you'll write me a personal message; I'll give you the address where you can find you can find the pictures I took last year.  I put them on a yahoo.com site.

It may be a few hours before I answer you.   Need to call it quits for now.  RedFox

[kena]

Hi, I will be spending 5 nights in the Borders, staying in Newcastleton and Hawick, probably spending every waking moment searching out my ancestors in the Borders and Cumbria. That is the first part of the holiday, the second part will involve keeping the parents content on a visit to some Scottish Islands (nothing against them but not completely my cup of tea, I was a bit overloaded with them as a kid)  .

Will send you a pm regarding the kind offer of the photos.

Thanks

Anna

[kena]

Hi Redfox, if you need any lookups doing regarding your great great grandfather Robson I have the 1841 to 1861 Castleton censuses in bookform and also the Castleton MI's in bookform.

Just let me know

Anna

[RedFox]

Hi, Kena.  Was just re-reading the messages on Brayton and Newcastleton.  Too bad you can't go to both, but can understand how that happens. 

I hope to go back to Newcastleton and the Liddledale Museum.  It's only open in the afternoons four days a week.  There area several hotels in town.  But if I had a car I'd drive to the Horse & Hound Country Inn which is about 20 miles away in Boncaster Bridge, Hawick.  It's an old coaching inn opened in 1700.  The en-suite bath was the best of my whole trip.  Granted there was no elevator/lift.  But there is a great dining room and bar with a wonderful fireplace.  I stayed there in 2005 and will get back this trip (2008) or the next. 

There is also a hotel in Aspatria.  If you stayed in Carlisle, it's an hour drive to Newcastleton (you're only 8 miles from the Border) and about one-half hour to Aspatria-Brayton.  I would love to go to the Islands and hope to include that on the trip after 2008.

I swore I would never drive in Hawick again.  Also in the area and where I did drive: Lochcarron is a great woolen mill that was in Galashiels and a glass blowing shop in Selkirk.  There is a beautiful abbey in Jedburgh and I've heard the other ones are great as well.  Would love to hear about your trip.  I assume you went in 2006.    RedFox

[kena]

Hi RedFox, I eventually got to Newcastleton May this year after having broken my leg the previous November which I am still recovering from. We stayed at the The Grapes (a lovely familyrun hotel which I can very much recommend) and at the Mansfield House in Hawick (not so much my cup of tea). Went to Bewcastle, Stapleton, Lanercost, Kirkandrews on Esk in Cumbria. Bellingham, Elsdon, Falstone in Northumberland and Teviothead, Roberton, Peebles, Traquair, Manor and Yarrow in the Borders, a big trip. We also met one of my late grandad's cousins in Newcastleton which was lovely. Next May we are going to the Lakes when we will be paying a visit to Carlisle which I can't wait for and of course will definitley be going back to Newcastleton sometime in the future.

Anna

[wodell]

 ;Dhi, dunno if this will be any use to you, but brayton domain was a coal mine at aspatria, some of the workings can still be seen, there is a site for old pits if any one was hurt or killed at work the durham mining museum site will list them as well as photos of the pits,. wodell

[RedFox]

wodell, do you know where this is, is it a museum?  I plan to go back to Aspatria area in 2008 and will have a car again.  Or do I need to be in the Durham area.  I also had ancestors who were miners there and in Yorkshire.  Some in Aspatria were miners, but some were farmers.

I have learned this year that  Mr. Lawson was a major mine owner.  So he was not only a MP, but at one time he was knighted and became a Sir. There may be a statue of  him in Carlisle, but I'm not sure,  The Lawson family and their servants lived at Brayton Hall and Brayton farm.  I've found them on several census records.  RedFox

[wodell]

 :Dhi, there isnt a museum at aspatria, just some old mine ruins, i do recall a seeing some photos of the miners somewhere, i,ll try to remember where at,
the mining museum is on line its quite interesting if you have mining connections, but if you need to know any local geography i worked in the villages surrounding aspatria,
due to work i am only on line at weekends(i wish it could be more),
the lawsons were quite a powerful family at one time, there still is a lawson street in the town,
i know how genealogy can be a pain but our local dialect will make it worse,we call aspatria, speeyatree,dunno why.

[wodell]

 :Dhi, its me back again, the site is  www.dmm.org.uk.
it lists all shafts sunk dates productivity, and a number of employees names and addresses, as well as a photo of the pit, and links to sites where you will find details of the owners, hope it helps, wodell