Canals and Railways

Following our trip to Lowther Castle,  Local Historian David Ramshaw came and explained how Carlisle Canal was built and brought with it much wealth to the city as ships came ladened with the coal from the Lowther owned mines in Whitehaven.  He showed paintings of the ships and photographs of horses pulling the boats and explained the original plan which was to build a canal all the way over to Newcastle.  This did not happen due to the expense of it.  The canal was 11 miles long and all the mills and factories were built along or near it to make best use of the new means of transportation.  David also told us that the iconic Carlisle Dixons Chimney was once the biggest spinning factory in Europe and the tallest chimney!  Also that local records show 3000 people had used the canal to begin their migrant journeys to start new lives in North America.  It seems the coming of the canal changed the nature of the city forever.  David finished the morning by touching on the coming of the railway to the Carlisle... we are looking forward to more information next week.