Upper Eden History Society

This is a Society for people who have an interest in history and live in the area of Kirkby Stephen in the upper part of the valley of the River Eden in Cumbria. Lecture meetings are held at the School Room of the Methodist Church, High Street, Kirkby Stephen every month in the autumn, winter and early spring. Non-members are welcomed for a small admission charge. In the summer months visits are arranged to take members to places of historical interest.

Origins

On 2nd January 1986 a short article in the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald announced the launch of a history society for Kirkby Stephen and the surrounding area. The idea was introduced by Tom Clare, County Archaeologist at the time, who had given a series of well-attended and popular evening lectures on local history. The first meeting of the new Society was held in February 1986 at Kirkby Stephen Grammar School on ‘Matters Heraldic’ by Fred Hughes.

The Society's logo

This was drawn from a small bronze dolphin that is now in store at the British Museum. It is part of a group of 120 objects, mainly small Roman bronzes, purchased by the Museum in 1874 from Bryce M Wright, a dealer with premises in Great Russell Street, London – “found in the neighbourhood of Brough, Westmorland and some of them evidently from Kirkby Thore”. It is an armour fitting, one of a pair used to secure shoulder straps to the breast of a Roman soldier’s iron mail shirt.