Whitehaven Farthing Token

I'm beginning to get my material together for The Shackletons of Whitehaven sequel which means gathering all the Whitehaven and district notes, emphemera, and objects I hope will inspire me. I have to say it's a labour of love. The Shackletons of Whitehavenamazon.co.uk/dp/B0BCWBF31D I've been rooting around in my shoe boxes and cupboards and I… Continue reading Whitehaven Farthing Token

Digging up the Detail – 19th Century burial fees

My current work in progress, The Shackletons of Whitehaven, has a scene where a mother and daughter - Dolly and Becky - discuss the cost of burial in Whitehaven. The customary fee for a four foot grave was a shilling (1/-) because the gravediggers only had to go down four feet. After that it was… Continue reading Digging up the Detail – 19th Century burial fees

How to avoid C. Spray – getting your names right.

My daughter asked me recently how I came up with the names for the characters in my books. Choosing them is actually something I really enjoy and I have several ways of doing it. Sometimes I just have it to hand and that's true of Stag in "New Beginnings on Vancouver Island". https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1913719383/    My hero was… Continue reading How to avoid C. Spray – getting your names right.

Tracing Mr Whittle of 87 Church Street, Whitehaven.

This receipt is an original one made out to John Whittle of 87 Queen Street, Whitehaven, on July 4th, 1854, in payment of a lamp and paving rate. I assume it's a local lighting and street tax akin to our commercial rates. I thought I would spend a a short while seeing if I could… Continue reading Tracing Mr Whittle of 87 Church Street, Whitehaven.