A Cumbrian museum has discovered a photo album that dates back to 1872 and features pictures of 'old folks' from the county.
Keswick Museum, which is based in the Lake District, recently found the photobook, which showcases some of Keswick's oldest residents from the end of the Victorian period.
Henry Irwin Jenkinson came up with the idea for the Old Folks’ Dinner and the first one took place at the end of 1872. People aged 60 and over who lived within a mile of Keswick (though this was later expanded to include places such as Threlkeld) were invited to a free dinner between Christmas and New Year.
In the early days, the committee members had to canvas for money, but it was soon being comfortably paid for through subscriptions.
It was quickly described by the local newspaper as ‘one of the most cherished institutions of the neighbourhood’.
For many years the dinner was held at the Oddfellows Hall in Market Square, before moving to the Queen of the Lakes Pavilion on Station Road in 1902.
A list, described as ‘the death roll’, was made of those who had passed away in the previous year along with their ages.
For many years the oldest attendee was Sarah Thompson of Bassenthwaite, who walked all the way to Keswick for the dinner in 1877 despite being 89 years old. She eventually died in 1886.
Unfortunately, the Old Folks Dinner did not appear to last very long, as it takes up just 14 pages of the album, with all the photos dated around a similar period.
However, it still provides an interesting look back into what life was like in Cumbria 150 years ago, and Keswick Museum is keen to hear from any relatives of those included in the photo album.
Joseph Massey, Assistant Curator at the museum, is attempting to complete an inventory of the collection as part of the ‘Opening the Store Door: Unlocking Keswick’s Hidden Treasures’ project, funded by Arts Council England.
The project is designed to ensure that the museum’s object records are up-to-date and accurate, making it easier for it to share its collection with visitors and the museum is 'very excited to share it with the people of Keswick and beyond.'
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