Last updated at 15:32, Friday, 05 March 2010

TODAY we are taking a look at a couple of aspects of country life in the South Lakes just over a century ago.

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The pictures and details were kindly supplied by Cumbrian author Irvine Hunt.

The top picture shows the Middleton’s swill-making workshop which was at Mill Stile, Sparkbridge, around 1900.

Mr Middleton is on the left. Swills, or baskets, were used by many people – including charcoal burners, farmers and housewives.

The best swills were made from hazel and oak and were very strong.

You could stand on an upturned swill and not damage it.

Swill makers, the Chadwick Brothers at Hyde Park Farm, Lowick, made and sold many hundreds.

They sent many cartloads to Greenodd Station and then by rail to Scotland.

Sometimes newly married couples would receive a swill as a wedding gift.

In the 1920s swills cost two shillings each.

The second picture, below, shows a pedlar calling on Mr and Mrs Tom Revell of the Swan Hotel, Newby Bridge.

He was a familiar figure in Furness.

Mr Irvine said: “A man not unlike him used to visit my grandparents annually. There would be a knock at the door and on looking out, his trunk would already be open and the fairings on display.

“As my gran said: ‘You just had to buy something!’ ”

First published at 13:12, Friday, 05 March 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk