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!

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