Went for a cycle run today. It was fair when I started but got wet at Loweswater + I hurried back about 1/2 mile. It faired however + I went on + had no more rain. I could hear thunder however + the signs of heavy rain when I got down the country. After Lamplugh the roads were dry. I went through Rowrah, Wath, Frizington, Cleator + Egremont to Calder Bridge + came back by Hale [sic], [illegible], Ennerdale Bridge + Kirkland rejoining my morning route near Lamplugh1. I went right through the centre of the Iron Ore mining2 + although not beautiful it was interesting. Got back in time for dinner. Nancy, Tim [Roberts] + Miss Butcher had gone for a walk [to] Honister + were caught in a thunder spate. Got letter from Helen [Muir].
1 The various grid references are Lamplugh NY088,208, Rowrah NGR NY054,185, Frizington NY033,169, Wath NY027,145, Cleator NY015,134, Egremont NY015,105, Calder Bridge NY042,059, Haile NY034,086, Ennerdale Bridge NY070,158 and Kirkland NY072,180
2 There was a substantial iron ore (haematite) mining industry in West Cumbria; according to one source there had been 200-300 mines between Lamplugh and Egremont, some open cast but underground at Egremont [Sources: ‘A Long History of Coal, Iron and Steel in Cumbria’ and ‘The History of iron ore mining in West Cumbria’, Cumberland & Westmorland Herald, Thursday 23 September 2010]
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]
