From Our Files

50 YEARS ago, at the height of the depression, a young Kendal factory employee left his family to seek his fortune in Australia.

Now paying his first ever return visit to this country, 78-year-old Sid Leather is amazed at the changes in Kendal.

"The traffic is now enormous and there are lots of new houses - particularly on Jenkin Rise, which was all green fields when I was last here.

But Stramongate and Finkle Street remain the same." He was also impressed by the improvements to Gooseholme and along the River Kent.

For a time after the war he worked in the K Shoe factory and it was a spur of the moment decision that he joined many of his fellow countrymen at the time in leaving for Australia.

Asked what he missed most about England, Mr Leather said it was mainly family and friends, but he and his wife are still trying to get used to our climate, for Barham where they live is situated on the plains and is very hot - hot enough even for rice, oranges and grapefruit to grow.

50 Years Ago-April 26, 1952-Roman dig

IT IS hoped to start an excavation on the Roman site at Burrow, near Kirkby Lonsdale, by kind permission of Lord Temple of Stowe.

Very little is known about this important Roman settlement.

There was a fort approximately where the present Burrow Hall stands, but Camden and Leland both mention the remains of a large civil station there and say many Roman remains were constantly being turned up and that the inhabitants of the village said that it had sometime been a great city.

This tradition they received from their ancestors, delivered as it were from mouth-to-mouth by them.

There is a fine top pillar in the grounds of the hall, which must have come from some important building.

At least three Roman roads passed near it.

The road from Chester, Ribchester and on up the Lune Valley to Old Penrith and Carlisle passes east of Burrow Hall.

A second road from Bainbridge must have crossed the first road between the Greta and the Wenning running to Lancaster, and there was probably a road from Lancaster running up near the Lune.

100 Years Ago-April 26, 1902-Station eyesore

KIRKBY Stephen is moved to its depths.

It has discovered that Stenkrith is in danger of defacement for the North Eastern Railway Company is putting up a generating station there in connection with its electrical plant.

Now Stenkrith is to the people of Kirkby Stephen as the pet lamb was to Mary.

They have nothing else to show by way of cave or chasm.

With Stenkrith despoiled, Kirkby Stephen will become desolate indeed in its own eyes and unattractive in the eyes of strangers.

The acuteness with which the danger is felt was reflected in some of the speeches made at the parish council meeting.

Old people who have known the spot all their lives would grieve to see it change.

Others with a business side to their heads look upon it as a valuable asset, the worth of which may easily be depreciated.

All of them, however, seem to recognise that it is hopeless to stop the railway company.

The most they expect is that by an appeal a " respectable" if not an ornamental building may be put up; and surely the company, touched by the paths of such an appeal, will violate Stenkrith as tenderly as possible.

150 Years Ago-April 25, 1852-Jimmies' pranks

THE queen of the lakes is now having an exceedingly great attraction added to its long list of beauties.

A pair of herons have built their nest on Ramps Holme or Berkshire Island, between the Ferry Hotel and Storrs Hall.

Though the proprietor may not know there is such an interesting addition to the island, a few individuals are taking good care that no evil disposed persons intrude upon the now sacred spot.

The name by which a heron is known in the Lake District is 'Jimmy' and the writer hopes to spend a profitable hour in watching the pranks of the youthful 'Jimmies' in the course of a month or six weeks.

While talking about birds, we have another piece of interesting information to naturalists.

A couple of fine old buzzards, the last of their race, have built a nest in the Heald, and they too, like the herons, are being cared for.

And should any strolling vagabonds wish to become a candidate for the treadmill, let him just go near the place.