IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Shophill, BRAMPTON, CA8 1JP

This house with a clock on the wall, built around 1836, was originally the office for the Earl of Carlisle's collieries. Kirkhouse is a quiet hamlet today, compared to the 19th century when there was a busy depot here servicing the coal and mineral industries https://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=958435&sort=4&search=all&criteria=kirkhouse&rational=q&recordsperpage=10 . The cottage is a listed building - more information at Historic England https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1356586 .

There is a stone plaque over the door, inscribed 'LOWTHIAN CHURCH HALL 1928'. This fooled us for a bit into thinking it was a converted building, but since found out the church hall was demolished, and this house built in around 2003.

It is on the farmhouse wall at Kirkhouse Farm.

Built in the late 18thC with alterations c.1833 and additions in the mid 19thC. This was the house of the colliery agent for the Earl of Carlisle's collieries, James Thompson (later the lessee of the collieries). It was used as an office, and was converted into a farmhouse in the early 20thC. It was Grade 2 Listed in 1984.

From the mid 18th to early 19th centuries, the Earl of Carlisle's coal and mineral operations were managed by successive colliery agents, who lived at this property in Kirkhouse. They were also responsible for running the farm, which provided food for the workers and horses. The last agent became a leaseholder, creating the firm of Thompson & Sons, which carried on until 1908 (information from 'Colliery settlements in east Cumberland', Harris 1974 https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-2055-1/dissemination/pdf/Article_Level_Pdf/tcwaas/002/1974/vol74/tcwaas_002_1974_vol74_0016.pdf ). The front of the Grade II listed farmhouse can be seen here Image .

Next to an entrance to the old graveyard of Farlam parish church.

Belonging to the parish church of St Thomas a Becket, Farlam, which is situated at Kirkhouse.

Joseph Bell was born in Farlam in 1861. He joined the White Star Line in 1885, and worked his way up to the position of Chief Engineer on the Titanic. He, and all the engineering crew, went down with the ship when it sunk in 1912. This is the gravestone of Joseph's mother, brother and great grandfather. An inscription in memory of the engineer was added - presumably shortly after the disaster. See Image . For more information about Joseph Bell, see http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/joseph-bell.html and https://josephbellengineer.wordpress.com/ .

Joseph Bell was Chief Engineer on the Titanic. As the stricken ship began to flood, he and his staff remained at their posts. Their efforts prevented the boilers from exploding and maintained power for the wireless and lighting, buying time for others to escape. All 35 engineers and electricians perished (information from Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinking_of_the_RMS_Titanic#Casualties_and_survivors ). A tribute to Joseph was added to the headstone of his family's grave in Farlam churchyard, shortly after his death (photos of site here http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4971977 & http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4971950 ). The stone had eroded over the years, and was restored in 2014 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-27171154 . Note the unconventional spelling of 'grater' - 2nd row from bottom.

Showing the surroundings of the red sandstone grave marker described in this photo Image .