Our second collection of extracts from the Newsletter relates to the second of the three projects started in 2007.

This second project had as its aim the extending of the collection of known Cumbrian buildings/structures bearing dated stones, and was to be led by our member Peter Messenger, formerly Carlisle's Senior Conservation Officer and now retired. There is now a very substantial body of material relating to this theme; and setting up a suitable database has proved to be more difficult than originally envisaged. Cumbria's geography makes for difficulties of liaising; however, two teams of volunteers have nevertheless worked steadily, in the northern and southern halves of the county, on noting and photographing examples of dated stones.

Of course, it's important to remember that a dated stone forming part of a building does not necessarily record the building-date of that construction. There are instances where we know that a date-stone has been moved to its present position from another building altogether. Some date stones merely offer a date, and their obvious interest lies in aspects of figures and sculpture; others offer varying degrees of information, whose special significance is brought to light when further research on the buildings themselves is carried out; others include artistic embellishment. Dated structures include (in addition to houses, barns, etc.) bridges, war memorials, memorial stones built into a church, signposts, special lamp-posts, and wooden structures such as lychgates.

Supplementing the Newsletter extracts is a selection of photographs sent in by members. The Society's record held by Peter Messenger continues to build up slowly and forms an important archive

You may use the following links to extracts from the newsletters which will provide further details of this project.

Spring 1999 - Penrith Streets.  Click Here ...
Summer 2007 - Dated Building Project Details.  Click Here...
Autumn 2007 - Dated Building Project Update.  Click Here ...
Spring 2008 - Earlier Surveys.  Click Here...
Summer 2008 - Update and request for data.  Click Here...
Spring 2009 - Progress Report. Click Here...
Summer 2009 - Progress Report.  Click Here...
Autumn 2009 - Examples from Burton-in-Kendal.  Click Here...