Clayton Shuttleworth and Co Lincoln had a drawing plough to drain by
steam. The steam engine was fixed at one end and the tiles laid at the other end, made fast
to the plough. The plough drawn by a wire rope about one and a half or two inches in
diameter. Upon the ground was a coulter about three feet long in the ground and the tiles were
fasterned to the coulter by a rope so that the machine drew the tiles in three feet deep. Then
they pulled the rope out and left them and then they made an excellent drain.
Luck here for steam. Horses, Cattle, Sheep and Swine they could not be equalled. And for
impliments and a machine sower by steam power to dress, measure or weigh, grind and
everything you can mention.
I think I may say, with stretching a little, that it could be
baked in the same time and, if I am not mistaken, they use one machine to eat it or, at least
to move peoples jaws. If, by chance, it could not be swallowed, there were turners rose to press
it down.
One horse 21 hands high they called it Goliath from America. Poultry were
numerous but not worth notice. Turnips and Mangle worsel as big as a child not 10 months old.
At the entrance you had to slip 2s6d or not to enter into some Jerosons hand, and spirit very
dear, nothing under 6d and very little for that. Six pence for a peice of bread 3 inches square
Carlisle for ever and God save the Queen.
Goose shooting came in on the 12th of August 1855.
John Ostle and a bag bearer had a day shooting on Bowness Moss. We bagged two brace of Goose,
it being an average. The birds was being well we had only one dog. It was about 16 months old, a
liver and white pointer. So we returned home in the evening quite satisfield and properly tired.
Ostle had a days sport at Threapland accompanied by J Saul of Newhouse. He bagged nine brace
of partridge and one hare, another got a mortal wound I think she will not live. I had another
at Brick Bank about five miles above Cockermouth. I only bagged one and a half brace and such a
country as no Holmes Dobby ever saw. The hills I thought terrible. I thought if I had one leg
about 9 inches shorter than the other I would have gone quite easily. Fairwell to the mountains.
I set out one morning about the latter end of November I went to New House and Mr Saul could
not go with me so he lent me his Dog Bob. So I set sail and had a head wind, but no matter. I
steered East and found a fine lot of birds, eleven in number, and they flew as far as I could
desire them and I came in contact with two of them so wild I never needed the pointer. And a
young man came to me. Just about noon, one bird arose and I killed it. Another arose and I
killed it and nearly killed Saul's Dog Bob! So we walked it and I carried the dog home, and it
came around again I think with the loss of an eye
So our sport was ended that day misfortunes comes odd. I went in 1856 and my dog never points
at game and often too soon and Bowness Moss worse still.
Aug 31 1859
There was some talk about the Lord of the Manor claiming the fishing at Silloth but I
think he has given it up. The coast is free for all to fish. Neither my father, grandfather
nor Great Grandfather paid anything nor any of their fore fathers before them neither.
Salmon nor Whale even down to the shrimps all was free to rich or poor.
Sept 16
Silloth dock is open and many vessels enter into it, English, French and Austrians. A
lifeboat is about to be brought to Silloth. In the course of this winter (October) a Yorkshire
man was letting a wall down and it fell upon his leg and broke it and hurt his back that he
cannot walk. He lives at Beckfoot. He is building at Beckfoot (Dec) I think he is now
recovering again.
Allonby in the 1830s
Dec 1859
A vessel cast on shore near Allonby. One man was lashed to the rigging, he
was dead when found. Another man cast on shore near the same place quite dead and another cast
on shore near Beckfoot or Bitter Leas.
Dec 22
Thomas French of Sea Dyke end is supposed to have fallen from his horse at
Blitter Leas and near killed. Two or three doctors attend him, he lays in a very unhopeful
state. Soon died.
Dec 26
This is held as Christmas Day. Frost first and then rain.
The following entries seem to be out of chronolical order and may have been
written up sometime after the events described. The Elizabeth Dock at
Maryport was actually opened in 1857.
October 20
The new dock at Maryport was opened. The steam boat Cumbria entered
first. The Senhouse, The Rambler they both sailed around her in the dock. The Bee from Rock
Ferry sailed around her and three coal vessels came into the floating dock. One man killed and
two or three wounded with one of the coal drops. Waggons, coals and men all landed upon the
ships deck except one who landed in the water. One man and one woman tried to incadure the
depth of the floating dock after dark but they were thankful to get out with assistance.
The gates did not hold the water as the wise men of Maryport thought. Solomon said 'be not wise
in thine own eyes'.
Maryport harbour before the opening of the new dock
The original of this engraving and the one of Allonby are in the possession of
Joe and Sybil Ostle of Broughty Ferry, Scotland
On the 20th of October the day was dull but warm,
The gentlemen of Maryport, in hundreds they did swarm.
Likewise a few old country crones on Ellen's banks did stand
To view the opening of the dock it was so awful grand.
The Cumbria entered in the first; the musick then did sound,
The Senhouse and The Rambler they saild her all around.
The steamboat from Rock Ferry, The Bee it was her name,
Was next that entered in the dock she tried to do the same.
Three vessels then were brought in, the coal drops for to try,
And to that great misfortune It caused many a sigh.
The coals and waggon, all was shipt. Their wisdom it was sin,
Some men they flew into the air while others had to swim.
The gates were closed in first rate style, as I have heard them say,
And what will people all say now about sandy Silloth bay?
There was no honey for The Bee, no comb to sit and sing,
She took a trip to Silloth and she leet upon the king.
The floating dock begun to leak. I'll now let you explain,
While the nobs did swallow Sherry, Port and bottles of champagne.
To the colliers and the railways, to the steamtug, here's a toast
About the navigation company we can not make a boast
John Ostle, Border, Abbey Holme, Cumberland
March 1
The steamboat Cumbria is laid up now, she cannot pay her way and
Maryport people is in low spirits. Not much of a town for wealth I suppose. Still there is
R Adair Auctioneer, Appraiser and Newsagent tries to fill a newspaper once a month and hard run
too. Buttermarket: butter is about fifteen and sixteen pence in the pound, best wheat one
guinea, barley 11s or 12s, oats 8s and 9s per Carlisle bushel.
The Cumbria was sold in fifty eight for four or five thousand pounds, so now they have no
steam to run to Liverpool. The timber merchant has got the Gout he cannot leave his home
yet his circular saws and uprights they are still going on. The newsmonger makes a paper once
a month it is very thin, but still, a little pleases children better than nothing at all. And
the mayor made a blunder when he was at his dinner But Lord have mercy on all their souls the
poor helpless ........
