On Friday 10 July and in glorious weather, IAG members set off on the Settle-Carlisle railway to Appleby. We first visited the Council Chambers in the Moot Hall (pictured above) and had an entertaining talk by ex-Mayor and Council Elder, Stanley Rooke. There has been a meeting place on the site since 1179 and the present building is Tudor. We moved on to a guided tour around the atmospheric Appleby Castle, with its Norman keep and amazing buildings full of history and stories. The castle’s...

The National Trust has fairly recently acquired land in Langstrothdale and has commissioned a full archaeological survey to be led by David Johnson. UWHG volunteers completed a survey at Yockenthwaite in March and April with David's guidance. Now that summer weather has arrived, IAG volunteers have been helping to conduct similar fieldwork at Deepdale. Starting high on the fell above Deepdale, on the north side of the dale and working down, the team have been surveying drystone walls and...

An exciting programme of visits and walks is lined up for IAG members over the summer months before our monthly talks resume in September. A picnic at the deserted settlement of Thorns near Ribblehead (pictured) is scheduled for early June. IAG president Dr David Johnson, who led an excavation at Thorns in 2016 and 2017 involving members of IAG, will explain the site and the buildings before we enjoy a picnic lunch to celebrate the group's 30th anniversary year. We are hoping for a bright...