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Please complete the comment form at the bottom of the page if you wish to send us an entry:
I came through Shap when my brother and I did the coast to coast walk this summer. We had a great time at the Greyhound with some folks from Shap. Just wanted to thank yall for taking in a couple of travelers and treating us so well!
Hello. I just thought I'd let you know how much I enjoy your website. I enjoy reading the 'Shap Today' newsletter. The photos are great!
I stumbled on the site while doing a little Narcissurfing, and have returned periodically ever since. I hope to visit, someday!
Shapley Hunter
Thebes, IL, USA
sir thank you for a nice web site...
i worked at Tebay loco for 2 ys in the steam days , i was on load from carlisle upperby 12b , i had some good times at the tebay with men and were good men to work with on the bankers , i was there in 1966 to steam finish , if some of the tebay people read this and you know some of the old locomen say hello for me to them all , i live in the philippines now i am 69 ys old , take care and thank you.
Hello Everyone,
I'm looking for a workshop in the shap area for my woodworking hobby, to either rent or buy, I need at least 30 square metres of floor area. Please contact me at greg@gplm.net
Regards
Greg
After stumbling across this website,
i was wondering if anyone had any old photographs of an old army Willys jeep that was owned by 2 residents of Shap?They had it from 1947-1985, and they used it to get upto their cottage in winter.and regularily around the area. i think their surname might have been moreton.
mag1967@btinternet.com
Hi, we are trying to find our friend Helen who used to be the postlady in Shap. We were also her neighbour at one point in Shap. We think she moved away to study, and we also moved away and hence lost contact. It would be great to find her again and I am sure she would be interested to know how our children are. We live down South now, but her parents may well still live in their bungalow in Shap
I have recently purchased a lovely piece of pottery from a charity shop that had the remains of a sticker on it saying Shap Pottery - can anyone tell me anything about the potters who might have been located at Shap? Thanks
The potter during the 1980s as Bob enwhistle, who then relocated to Bigate Mill at Appleby. Not sure whether he is still making pots.
Hello Jane
There is a rich and continueing pottery heritage in the village of Shap. your pottery is probably from the Fosters Pottery which was based at 3 Brackenber Lodge (the house with the elaborate tower at its centre to the south of the village) several decades ago. The gentleman who made it was Mr Foster who has long passed on. His daughter Mary still owns the house and keeps it as holiday home. My name is Steve Valentine and I have my ceramics workshop and studio based at 6 brackenber Lodge, so continueing the pottering history albeit handbuilt hope that helps
when i was a child i spent many of my summer holidays in shap on my uncles farm, these were very happy times for me and i will never forget them. i try to come to shap at least once a year as i have never found more beautifull country side as you have up there. the people are the most friendly people i have ever met and i always look forward to returning there when ever i can.
john foster
Living in Shap, Wiggins I ain't where did you go? happytwofeet
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
Hi Heather
Someone just mentioned your post. Know it quite a while ago. Hope all well with you and hopefully speak soon.
Ruth
Hi Heather,
Just noticed your comment on the site. Did you manage to get in touch with Ruth?. If not I could possibly put you in touch with her.
Regards, Barry
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.
.
Hi Ann, my name is Geoff Potter i remember you living at stoney gill, iam kits nephew, Bill my older brotther lives at stoney gill now,uncle kit died in 1986 . Ernie another brother moved you from stoney gill to Newcastle , often wondered where you were .
look forward to hearing from you.
Hi There Geoff, Good to hear from you,you must have been at school with some of my kids,who are spread all over the world,in fact one of my daughters who was born at Old Shap Wells but now lives in Las Vegas,USA wants to come over in the summer and spend a couple of weeks in the Lake District with her kids,plus meet up with some of the other children who live elsewhere.
Do you or any one else know where we can rent a place that can sleep 6-8 people around Shap was thinking of asking Doreen Lee if she knows anyone as I will come over to,they could do a swap with my daughters house in Las Vegas complete with pool and jacuzzi. Ask around will you. David who was also born in Old Shap Wells lives in the Isle of Man often comes over your way camping with him son. Where do you live? Look forward to your reply.
Just put a message in somewhere else in this page. To tell you will be coming to stay in Shap at the Brackenber lodge cottage beginning of August and look forward to seeing you all.
Ann
Geoff, this is Maria here, Ann's daughter. Not sure if you remember me. Outside of Kit, the only other Potter I remember is David. He and I were about the same age so everyone used to tease us saying we were boyfriend and girlfriend. Although we were only about 7 at the time so that was the farthest thing from our minds. I've not been back to Shap in many, many years, in fact, I have very few memories of the place. However, I do remember things like grouse hunting (not I, of course), looking for the lambs after a late snow, getting an occasional ride on Churchill and of course, Kit's little Jack Russell. I talked to my Mum over the weekend and told her there was a response from you so you can expect to hear from her soon.
Good to hear from you!
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...
Dear John
I was just reading your comment on Shaps website in August 2009 and I read it with interest as my family who live in South London and Kent used to know an arm of the Mcgenn family, and I wondered if you knew them. My mother was born in Shap Granite works and the family moved south when she was 14 years old in 1946. My grandmother was very good friends with a Dot and Joe Mcgenn who followed them south and settled near them in Catford South London. Dot used to have a sister Elsie Watson who lived at Carleton terrace and we visited her once when we went up to Shap. Just wondered if you knew them?
Kind regards
Elaine Miller
John: I dont know if you remember the Airey's. My Dad was Norman, the postman and he & I also rang the bells at church. I remember well Billy, Tucker and John Iddon. I moved to the States in '68 & have only been back to Shap once when my parents emigrated to NZ, where sister Margaret lives. I did chemistry for a zFrench Pharmaceuticsal co., but retired 5 years ago. Married with 3 children and have 5 dogs! Just got a Saint Bernard puppy last weekend. Drop a line if you ever get a spare moment.
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
Hi, there Chris, long time no speak. Good to see that youre well. We have a site on facebook called "we did or are doing shapwells" and youll find loads of the old faces on there!!
Keep in touch, Zilla x
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.
Hi Elaine - just seen your comment from last year! Good to hear you are both well and surviving down south. If you do pay a visit to Shap you must come and knock on our door, you'll be very welcome.
Your old neighbours, Steve & Bev & kids & dog
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.
to les steadman , i am researching my steadman family they lived at bampton 1840,s wondered if you may be related
hello jenny bomberg as far as i know i am no relation to the steadmans of bampton, in bampton there is a gentleman called steadman bowness who owns a garage he may have had the name passed down. p.s. in shap cemetery there is a seat donated in rememberance of a lady with a surname called steadman from bampton yours les steadman
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
Hi Sheila: I remember the name, but cant put a face to it! Sorry. I was at PQEGS from 1950, so you might remember me. M twin sisters, Margaret, lives in NZ, while Joyce lives in London. I am in the States, since '68 and live just outside Philadelphia. Drop a line if you wish to keep in touch. Best regards, John
hi shelagh just seen your message on shap website. my name is john lowis and my best friendat school was your brother peter we left wreay farm shap in1953 to live at morecambe i moved to sale manchester in 1960 and still reside there. my younger sister dorothy still lives in morecambe and my other sister margaret still lives at shap. i have not seen peter since i left shap we still visit shap about twice a year to see margaret and catch up with news
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