The Society

An Outline:

• The Society was formed in 1993, founded by the late Ron George.  It is not a registered charity but is run by a committee and has formal accounts. Our 'territory' is shown on the map, but we are not parochial in our approach. Please see our constitution.
• We organise talks on local history topics, held in the Yew Tree Hall, High Lorton on alternate months. These are free to members and open to visitors for £3.00.
• We organise guided visits to historical sites, and other activities such as local historical walks.
• Previously we have published a Journal and a newsletter called The Wanderer, each twice yearly. From 2017/8 we have ceased the Journal and will publish the Wanderer four time a year.
• The Society operates this website which has further information about its activities, and provides access to information and resources.
• We have an archive relating to the area, comprising photos, maps, registers, censuses, surveys and books. This is available to members and used by the public seeking information.
• To mark its 10^th anniversary, the Society organised an exhibition featuring large maps of local townships showing everyone who lived there around 1840, together with photographs of the houses.
• To commemorate the 200^th anniversary of the Wordsworths’ visit to Lorton, we held an exhibition and produced a book entitled ‘Wordsworth and the famous Lorton yew tree’.
• To mark its 20th anniversary the Society organised an exhibition based on the histories of twenty local objects.
• The Society has two books available, A Cumberland Valley, a History of the Parish of Lorton by Ron George, at £12.95 and Life in Old Loweswater by Roz Southey at £8.95.
• Full membership for has been reduced to £8 and to £15 for two members at the same address sharing mailings.
• To join for the current or next year, commencing 1^st January, please contact the Membership Secretary, Lena Stanley-Clamp.