Exhibition Gallery of Archives

Our gallery links to fully-illustrated documents in the custody of Cumbria Archive Service which capture aspects of the county's history, customs and culture. And there's also a chance to hear one of our staff talking about a document of their choice in our downloadable archives podcast!

  • Transport through the Ages - how many types do you think you will spot in our scrolling gallery? (web page)

  • Grand Hotel, Whitehaven - a history of this long-gone iconic building viewed on a scrolling gallery (web page)

  • Medicine - a fully illustrated compilation traces the history of Cumbrian medicine from the 16th to the 20th century, in thematic sections (web page, with PDF links)

  • Age of Emotion - ranging from slavery, war, and cross-border disputes, to romance and elopement, marriage custom, and broken engagements, to family relationships and Victorian mourning - all with a Cumbrian flavour! (series of web pages)

We also have a number of on-line displays which may be of interest, combining images of documents from Cumbria's past with full-historical context.  Displays available (separate web page)

Jenni Lister with the compensation papers
Hear about the Wellington Pit Disaster which occurred in Whitehaven on 11th May 1910 in which an underground explosion and fire killed 136 men and boys in the worst disaster of the West Cumberland coal field. Listen to evidence about the disaster, the impact on the dependents and the tragic circumstances surrounding the case of the family of Joseph Reed, a miner who died in the disaster. This case is based on compensation papers at Whitehaven Archive and Local Studies Centre (YDX 22/29).

Wellington Pit podcast (mp3, 4 minutes, 3.5 MB)