Local history author David Occomore will deliver the final talk of the Keswick Lecture Society’s 152nd season on the building of the Settle-Carlisle railway line.
David has written several books on local history in areas where he has lived and when he moved to Cumbria he started to research the history of the building and early operation of the Settle to Carlisle railway.
“My talk will be based on my book New Railway to Scotland, the first major collection of contemporary accounts from local and national newspapers written at the time, describing the Settle to Carlisle Railway during its construction,” said David. “The talk will be looking at who were the engineers, contractors and navvies, how viaducts and tunnels were constructed and some of the dangers and accidents that happened to the workforce.”
The book’s publishers, Hayloft Publishing, described the book as “the first major collection that has been put together, of contemporary accounts from local and national newspapers written at the time describing the Settle to Carlisle Railway during its construction”.
It continues: “It forms an almost monthly diary of events covering the period from 1865 to 1908. Building the Settle and Carlisle Railway was, without doubt, an enormous civil engineering project for late Victorian engineers.”
“Our local history and railway lectures are always popular,” said Tony Duncan, chair of the Lecture Society. “I’m sure we’re in for a good evening.”
David’s illustrated talk with photographs and readings from contemporary newspaper accounts takes place at Queen’s Hall, Keswick School at 7.30pm on Tuesday 14 March. The talk is open to Keswick Lecture Society members and visitors. Visitors can pay at the door.
