The Penrith Herald, 1860, with a 2016 makeover...

On Saturday, November 17th 1860, The Penrith Herald newspaper's front page, as was the norm for that time, was full of ads. John Bell for example was busy announcing the opening of his new drapery, with its "lowest possible prices".

In 2016, local artist Ken Martin has created a limited edition print of that front page, with sketches of the town over the top. I rather like it. If you'll allow me my own brief advert, you can see the print, and a lot more besides, in the View Two Gallery, which has now opened at The Brunswick Yard (which is also home of course to Withnail Books' Little Shop).

B.A.P.: The Penrith Swimming Club Jubilee Souvenir 1881-1931

It's been a while since we've had a B.A.P. (Books About Penrith) entry on this blog, so here's a look at an extremely rare, possibly even unique (I can't find another copy anywhere) survivor from 1931: a locally printed, rather grand booklet celebrating the Golden Jubilee of The Penrith Swimming Club, an institution justifiably proud of its then-status as the biggest swimming club in the British Isles. While it may not be able to claim that any longer, it looks like the club is still going: its website is here.

There are some wonderful vintage swimming costumes on display, plus a couple of rather nicely done 'decorations' (above and bottom) by an unnamed artist.

UPDATE: This has now gone to its new owner, which I'm glad to say is... the Penrith Swimming Club.

B.A.P. 01: History of Penrith, By Ewanian, 1894

If you run a second hand bookshop in Penrith, you're bound to become interested in, and try to stock whenever possible, books about the town, because:

a) it's interesting to learn about the history of the town in which you're based

b) interesting old books about Penrith on sale in a second hand bookshop in Penrith tend to sell very quickly (see a)

Several books about the town have come into, and swiftly out of, the Little Shop since it's been open, but this new arrival is a scarce title that's not been in stock before. So, in the first of an occasional series which shall be called Books About Penrith (B.A.P. for short), here's a quick look at History of Penrith, From the Earliest Record To The Present Time, by 'Ewanian' (aka William Furness), printed and published by William Furness in Penrith in 1894. It's not the first book exclusively about Penrith by any means (confusingly, there was the almost identically titled The History of Penrith, From the Earliest Period To The Present Time by Walker in 1858, for example), but I *think* it might be the first to include photographs amongst the illustrations. So here's a selection of them, including a cracking photo of Middlegate, in which you can see Furness's own establishment.