By K. Hodgson

What to do on a wet, miserable winter’s day? Why; how about sitting in a nice warm library – like Lancaster’s first floor Reference Room – where you can make Mrs Jean Chatterley happy by reading some 19th century newspapers and helping the Mourholme Society expand its knowledge!

For the first half of the century you can read a year’s papers in about two and a half hours. There is more national news than local; the gossip of the district must have been passed by word of mouth, and it is mainly the adverts that make you get our your biro and start writing. However, the latter half of this period you will be hard put to cope with three months worth of news in two and a half hours, especially as you are more inclined to let your eyes dwell on matters other than Warton’s doings.

So I indulged in the events of 1829 one wet day. I would have preferred the Lancaster Guardian, but I was before its time and had to have the Lancaster Gazette on microfilm. In January various toll gates were to be let, the nearest to us was Beetham Gate at £217.

At the end of January an advertisement ‘To Stone Masons and Stone Getters to be let by ticket. To the getting of stones and the building of a barn, stables, shippons and offices at Borwick.’ Now then, Borwick readers, that should get you interested? Where is that barn now?

February was short of news unless you wanted a coffee plantation in Jamaica or a read about someone setting fire to York Minster.

By March the ploughing match had taken place at Over Kellet and George Townson and William I’Anson of Borwick had won prizes along with John Lindsey of Warton.

April – To be Sold, One-Third part or share of the Rectorial Tithes of the Parish of Warton.

End of May and a sale by Auction at the house of Mrs Jennings at the sign of The Shovel, Warton, of a messuage or dwelling house with Barn, Stable, etc, in Warton, 3/4 of an acre, in the late occupation of Mrs Mary Grey, deceased.

July – ‘To be Sold, a steam engine, 10-12 horsepower with 2 boilers – apply to Waithman & Co., Yealand.’ What does that mean, you Yealand people, any ideas?

September – ‘To be let by proposal for a term of years and entered on at Candlemas and May-day next’ …. a newly erected farmhouse belonging Rev. William Mason, with 173 acres and a limekiln.

What a lot of to be sold adverts. Many more for Warton and I will be late home!

At the house of Joseph Western at the sign of the Red Lion in Warton is to be an auction for 4 valuable Closes – Lower Boon Town, Higher Boon Town or Bracken Bank, Pots Close, and Crooklands.

Also a Close called Byerstead in possession of James Robinson, the last mentioned held under the Lord of the Manor of Warton for 3/6.

To be Sold by Auction. Dale Grove in Warton – Farmhouse etc, totalling 55 acres 2 roods.

‘Contiguous to Canal. ‘ Apply Mr Kew of Dale House.

By October the Dale Grove property is given in 5 lots all detailed.

By October 17th, the Sale of Dale Grove is withdrawn!

I look for more interesting ads but the property market is quiet, no more articles about our locality. So, I wind back the microfilm and I shall be home in reasonable time after all. Nevertheless, it has made me forget the weather, and Mrs Chatterley can cross off another year of the 100 years of newspapers on her list. If you wish to follow in my footsteps and read and make notes of newspapers for our archives, Mrs Chatterley will be pleased to advise you.

[Ed these notes are now in our archives, but can also be accessed at local libraries or a subsription]

Published in Mourholme Magazine Issue 10 Winter 1985