Are you interested in local history? Where the Romans travelled through Cumbria, or when the Border Reivers made their raids perhaps? Did you know there has been a weekly market in Kirkby Stephen since 1353? What are the stories behind the names on the war memorial? Join us to find out more: monthly talks from October to April on topics as wide ranging as the plague in Upper Eden, the building of the railways or refugees in World War 1.

We meet on the third Monday of the month at the Methodist Church Hall in Kirkby Stephen: Current Programme. Visitors are very welcome at individual meetings, admission £5 , while Membership is £15 per year,

Origins

On 2nd January 1986 a short article in the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald announced the launch of a history society for Kirkby Stephen and the surrounding area. The idea was introduced by Tom Clare, County Archaeologist at the time, who had given a series of well-attended and popular evening lectures on local history. The first meeting of the new Society was held in February 1986 at Kirkby Stephen Grammar School on ‘Matters Heraldic’ by Fred Hughes.

The Society's logo

This was drawn from a small bronze dolphin that is now in store at the British Museum. It is part of a group of 120 objects, mainly small Roman bronzes, purchased by the Museum in 1874 from Bryce M Wright, a dealer with premises in Great Russell Street, London – “found in the neighbourhood of Brough, Westmorland and some of them evidently from Kirkby Thore”. It is an armour fitting, one of a pair used to secure shoulder straps to the breast of a Roman soldier’s iron mail shirt.