I dont recall actually being in Shap, but do recall me and my Dad driving to Scotland in an Austin 7 Ruby, it must have been around 1952/3, he told me we had to go up Shap Fell in reverse... haha. Well it sure looks lovely so i must try and come back for another look.

Alex Swadling

Perth Western Australia

Hello!

Greetings from Austin, Texas! We will be visiting from the U.S. May 13-15th, 2010 and were wondering how to contact any of the Shap Ramblers. We love walking/hiking and would like to come along if any walks are planned during those days.

I have distant cousins who live in Penrith and the Bampton area whom I've never met and am looking forward to seeing your beautiful country. My grandmother was born in Shap in 1902 but left for America at six months of age. We've kept up correspondence with our Cumbria cousins over the years.

If you would like to contact me please feel free to email me at the address provided.

Many thanks,

Richard Scroggins

I wonder if anyone could help?  I am trying to contact Ruth Barker (I do not knoe her maiden name) - As I remember it, her Dad was a farmer in this area, and she grew up around there.  She married John Barker before moving to Welkom in South Africa.  I need her to contact me - as I have information for her which could be to her benefit.  If you can help it would be appreciated

Hello,

I am part of a group of enthusiasts who collect transfer sets from the 60's, 70s and 80s. My website includes a gallery of such sets. A friend of mine is writing a book on the subject. We believe we may have traced the extremely influential Dennis Knight to Shap (instrumental in publishing the much-loved Instant Picture Books and Activity Books of our childhoods). We would dearly love to interview Mr. Knight, were he agreeable, in relation to the forthcoming publication. Should anyone read this message who knows of Mr. Knight, please could you be so kind as to pass on my contact details and ask if he would be willing to parcticipate in an interview? We would be extremely considerate and respectful. Many thanks for your time.

Dean Munday

Hi my name is Ann Illingworth,for many years I lived at Old Shap Wells then later on at StoneyGhyll Farm ,we had a caravan on Kit Potters farm.  There was Richard,Darryl,Debbie.Maria,Claire and David the last 3 being delivered by District midwife Doreen Lee.   Was just wondering if there is anybody still there who remember us all.  Richard and Claire live in Australia with their respective families,Maria lives in Las Vegas and has 2 lovely sons,david lives on the Isle of Man and has 1 son,while Debbie and Darryl live in England One outside Bradford and the other in Newcastle upon Tyne,which was where we moved to when we left Shap.  I live in Cyprus where I retired to.

Will awai a reply from someone who knew us.

.

My name is Peter Clarkson and I am trying to trace Peter Lewis (or anybody who knew him ) who attended Whickers Gill school circa1954/55 and lived at Wet  Sleddle

Your information will be greatly appreciated

It was a pleasure to see the photos on here. I remember walking up Sleddale and all the way over to Haweswater then we had to phone parents for a lift back. We had been all the way up Kidsty pike and High Street as well so we hadn't done too badly. Its a decent walk - especially without the things anyone would take with them these days like lots of water..

I lived at 9, Carleton Terrace until I was 19 in 1969 and left to join GEC in Coventry which is where I still live with my wife, 2 sons and daughter. I remember many of the names mentioned here and my mother Alice's sister Amy is still in Shap so we visit from time to time. As I have relatives at the wonderful Greyhound we'll be staying there. All much improved since I was a lad sneaking bottles of beer to drink up by the station while we climbed the bull wall or watched the steam trains. It seems strange being there where my dad Jack used to spend a good few hours on a Saturday night.

Nice to see the bowling club is there. Hope there are still bell ringers too - one of my other passtimes due to Billy Dowthwaite, along with Tucker Malinson, Richard Bland and John Iddon. New Years eve was always interesting in the belfry - followed by lots of 'first footing' which southerners seem to avoid for some reason.

I'll be back for more...

i used to work as a chef at shapwells but my best memories are going to the macc lads with john lowis jnr and playing football for shap. i loved the place and now live in hesketh bank and met up again with paddy who is now my postman . i hope everyone is ok and the footys doing well. i played for les steadman and along side his son mark.

 yours chris ashcroft

We are from liverpool and visit shap regularly, the place has a homely feel to it and have always had a warm welcome from all the good folks that live there from the all pubs to the Spar to the chippy and the age concern thank you all, and many more visits to come, have a look at our vid  of our pilgrimmage.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZoMei99reI

Hello everyone in Shap, Dont know if anyone remembers us, we lived in greencroft for a few years but had to move back down south for my husbands work. We will never forget how nice all the people of Shap were to us and we were very sad to leave. We havent been back yet but hope to come and stay for a few days this summer.  Look forward to seeing those wonderful views and friendly faces.

hello everyone,i have just been looking on our shap website & guestbook and thought i should reply to some of the people that have been intouch with the guestbook. i moved to shap in 1948 when i was 6year old from kirby stephen to stepps hall which is a smallholding on the outskirts of shap,in about 1956 my father tommy took over a butching business, i remember michael& stephen howes at the police station,lenny borrowdale john airey from the snooker rooms&barely remember shelagh longstaff but i remember gary who i think was her brother from our cricketing days.
                                                      my regards to you all
                                                                           les steadman  shapite.

I`ve recently discovered this web site and love it especially the photographs which bring back many happy memories. Wonder whether anyone remembers the time when there were two schools in the village -girls and boys separate!  One of my aunts taught the girls and another the boys. 
 
 The photographs of the swing bridge at Knipe reminded me of the fun we used have in the river in those days.  My father, John Longstaff, was a native of Knipe.  He was a keen walker so as a child I tramped over many miles of the fells.
 
 Although I have been a bit of a nomad during my life (having been a naval wife) I still think of Shap as my natural home and visit there  at least once a year.
 
I now live in Nottingham and would love to hear from anyone who remembers the Longstaff or Dodd families or who went to Penrith Grammar School between 1943 and 1948.
 
  shelagh.longstaff@ntlworld.com

We recently returned to Shap which we first visited 3 years ago. I had emailed the librarian, Linda, after our first visit and was delighted to hear that the toilets had been saved and I saw this time that the library had also been saved although it was closed by the time we arrived. We were amazed at the wide main street and the large facility for recycling. We met the old lady who lives in a “shed” near the church on our first visit and we were relieved to see that she was still alive and just as fiesty as ever. On our first visit we were shown around an exhibition of old photographs in the market hall by a very kind and knowledgeable gentleman. We both have fond memories of the church and church yard, and the cemetery which had been moved when a town was flooded. We had the best fish and chips ever at the fish shop (even better than those at Whitby) and enjoyed the black pudding as well. We even made some purchases at the “op shop” in the main street and had a pleasant conversation with the volunteers.

Your town will always stay in our memory. I hope the wind turbines will be placed such that they do not interfere with the nature of your lovely town.

Please give my best to Linda.

Adelaide

South Australia

My great great grandmother Fanny Sargison was born in Shap about 1824 and married a Thomas Williamson at Cartmel Fell in June 2nd 1852.

They emigrated to Australia later in 1852 aboard the ill-fated 'Ticonderoga'.

They obviously both survived as I am eternally grateful and so far I have tracked down about 1500 descendants.

My wife and I plan to visit the area later this year and are very excited at the prospect of walking in my ancestors footsteps.

Cheers

I had the pleasure of discovering Shap some 20+ years ago back in the early and mid eighties. At the time I was able to visit and stay on various occasions and for different periods of time while working on some new installations at the Shap Wells Hotel.

Haven't been back since then, and I emigrated from the UK shortly after that, but ever since I've often remembered Shap and the genuine warmth and welcome of the people there.

Glad to see the website and that the village seems to have remained as it was back then.

Hello all, my name is Debbie Perry.

I live and work in Southend, Essex. I am a project worker in a homeless centre.

My wonderful husband first introduced me to Shap many years ago. We have been together 17 years now.

If i get this right, my husbands grandfather originates from Shap. He is a Warren. The lovely Jack and Eddie Warren still live in Shap.

Since my first sight of the cumbrian hills as we came round a bend on the M6, my heart belongs to Shap. I have been ever ready to give up my hectic and chaotic life in over crowded Essex, but need Jeff to want to do this to! I think he wants to, but is concerned about leaving his parents, his mum being Shirley Perry.

Your way of life is so different from anything that we have down here, and i feel as though i have "come home" when we arrive in Cumbria.

And i find true happiness when we go up Haweswater to Smallwater, i am at peace!

Kenny and Kath Warren a big hello!

Hope to find a home in shap and a job to, i dont drive and dont know what your bus service is like!

 Bye for now

that looks like a very nice place indeed, I will have to visit you all one day.

Loved the website, really informative, really professional, sure beats our village website!

My father (Dennis Knight) lives in the village, you should have a feature on "local celebrities" with all the fabulous ancient artifacts he has found in the area.....!

Thanks again, it's made our visit planning much easier, which I guess is the idea!

Shap stills seems the ideal place to live, i lived there in1949/54, left with my family, Police Sergeant Howes,i often wished i had moved back with my wife, maybe someone remembers me! all the best to everyone who lives in Cumbria

Hello from New Zealand, it is great to look at what is happening in the village. Especially nice to see the photographs.

Nice to be able to read about Shap where I was born and bred. Please keep up the good Fareham, Hampshie

Still as beautifull as i remember.

Australia

mosschops@thehouse.net.au

came across this page and was able to see many change's in the village. I have many fond memories of my time there. I moved to Shap when i married in 1963 and spent many happy year's there. Hello to anyone who remember's me.

chips87@aol.com

Ayr Scotland

I like the new photo albums you have put on the Shap site - a great idea

I've never visited your part of the world, but the website is great and it is nice to get a feel for your town

nice to see shap again many changes i lived down there in the summer way my uncle den??? hi to u all

jamieubank@hotmail.com|

Ayr Scotland

I came across this site by accident while planning to do the Coast to Coast walk. Great site I will be passing through next year with luck.

Los Angeles

Congratulations on an excellent website!

As Treasurer of the Shap Memorial Trust I was pleased to see that you have mentioned us and on behalf of all the committee I offer our thanks. It was also pleasing to see you mention our Museum website and the Shap video.

Commercial Vehicle Museum Preston UK

I have a series of pictures taken around Shap, Swindale and Wet Sleddale that may be of interest for adding to the picture gallery on the Shap website. Please advise the best method of getting these downloaded onto your site See Kens pictures here

What a lovely website this is with some great photo's of Shap. We stayed with Margaret and Les Brunskill at their lovely hotel in Shap when we last visited England many years ago. We first met Margaret and Les when they were in Western Australia on holiday. ,

Western Australia

I lived in Shap with my parents and brother and sister from 1952-64 (ish) - it was a lovely place to grow up - so much freedom! Our first home was Rockridge, then we moved to Brookfield but unfortunately had to move away when my dad got moved in his job. Hi to anyone who remembers me either from Shap Primary or QE Grammar. Memories of stranded motorists in the Memorial Hall during bad winters when Shap Fell was blocked, the notorious Jungle Cafe, going out to pick mushrooms at 6 in the morning, and lots of primroses and cowslips in spring

aands@fsmail.net

Milnrow, Near Rochdale

Hi from Victoria Canada, Its great to be able to see the village where our friends are from while they are staying with us.

Victoria B.C. Canada

I was a student teacher at Shap Primary school in 1975 - I lodged with Mr and Mrs Brass at Beech House (she was the school secretary and a great village character) I have many happy memories of the magic of Shap - walks to Keld and the Abbey - and Flass - where the vilage children danced on the lawns of the Manor House. It was great to discover the website - I would love to hear from any ex-pupils who may remember me - they will be in their 40's now!!

pamelatia@aol.com

Manchester

I have enjoyed looking at your website. I have many happy memories of the village and people I knew there in my youth. Now I have discovered my forebears on my mother's side came from Shap. They were the Todd family, who were master blacksmiths in the village in the latter half of the 19th Century. Does anyone know where their smithy was? Could it have been the house now known as the Old Forge, just to the east of the main road near the fish and chip restaurant?

Normann6@excite.com

Heads Nook, Brampton, Cumbria.

hello Shap.... when your as far away from home as i am right now, (Australia) its so good to log on to the web site and keep up to date with whats happening and to look at all the great photos!!!

horrocks1978@aol.com

Perth, Western Australia

So nice to see pictures & news of our other home. Hope everyone is well that knows

audreykirkby@westnet.com.au

Perenjori. Western Australia

We visited Shap and stayed in B&B in the High Street the quiet year of the foot and mouth. We had excellent meals at the Kings Head.

My family came from Keld - Mary Thompson married Joseph Hunter at Shap

dennbar@midcoast.com.au

Near Port Macquarie New South Wales Australia

Hi: Am enjoying your web site. Grew up there and have fond memories of the area. My father was Norman (Nod) Airey, the postman. My parents moved to New Zealand to be with my sister, Margaret. I moved to USA in '68 and now live in Philadelphia area. I saw a message from Len Borrowdale. Would that be Lenard, who joined the Navy at 16? Wonder if there is anyone in Shap who remembers me and our family? Would love to hear from anyone.

AAancientmariner@aol.com

Philadelphia, USA

Hi, The pictures of the walks done by the rambling club are fantastic. I visited the area several years ago and it brings back many memories looking at them. What a great website.

Whitehorse Canada

I am most impressed with community website - I like to do a little research into the area I am leading a walk and it is a delight to see such a brilliant web site.

Many thanks therefore for your excellent web site - pass on these comments to whoever looks after the overarching project.

The Liverpool Group of the Ramblers Association also has a web site if you are interested in visiting it.

Ingrid Donakey

Merseyside & West Cheshire Area Ramblers Association