From the early modern period until the early years of the twentieth century much of the distribution of goods was done by Chapman who tramped the highways and byways of the Lake Counties. Carrying their stock in packs on their backs, they offered not only small goods, including chapbooks, but also often carried news of a wider world. This talk will outline these small dealers and tell some tales of their lives – culled from inventories, court cases, and fragmentary memoirs.

A talk by Tim Cowen, Maurice George & Chris Sanderson. Personal memories of life in the Lakes 50 years ago and what we can learn of earlier times from material in the Armitt Collection. Social conditions have changed, roads altered, new buildings have appeared, the ever-present problem of traffic and subtle changes in the fells too. There is much to talk about so feel free to come and join the discussion. Adult tickets £8, under-16 £3

A talk by Rob David. The people of Britain welcomed 4000 child refugees from the Basque region of Spain in 1937.  These children were brought out of Spain after the destruction of Guernica by the fascist forces of Europe.  Over 100 of these children were accommodated in Cumbria, of whom 25 spent the winter of 1937-38 in the Basque children’s hostel in Ambleside.  This is the story of Ambleside’s welcome and of the children who came to live in the village.