PRESS RELEASE REGARDING THE EXHIBTION ABOUT MARDALE HOMESTEADS.

Shap History Society - Press

Local History Society looks at Mardale Homesteads.

Shap Local History Society will open its summer exhibition in the Heritage Centre at the Market Cross over the Easter weekend. This year's topic ‘Mardale Homesteads' will look at the dwellings in the lost community of Mardale and the families who lived there.

The community consisted of the settlements of Mardale Green, at the head of the valley and Whelter and Measand on the western shore of the original Haweswater. The homesteads included Bowderthwaite, Grove Brae, Flakehow, Goosemire, Chapel Hill, Brackenhow, Slapestones, Rowan Park , Riggindale, Guerness, Colby, Sandhills, Whelter, and there was a Church, two Schools and the legendary Dun Bull, venue for Shepherds Meets and hunts. Some of the old families also feature; Holme known as ‘Kings of Mardale', Greenhow, Edmondson and Kitching with some family trees and wills on display.

This will be an opportunity for visitors to take a photographic tour of the homesteads of Mardale, and glimpse a little of the lives of those who called the valley their home.

The exhibition will be open between 11a.m. and 4p.m. on Friday 2nd, Saturday 3 rd and Monday 5th April and between 1p.m. and 4p.m. on Sunday 4 th April The admission cost is £1.50, Accompanied under 16s free.

The exhibition will then reopen for the summer on Saturday 1 st May, when it will be open every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday, times as above.

Any groups wishing to visit the exhibition at other times should ring 01931 716671, 716244 or 716386 to arrange this.