The everyday life of a community of which another Furness family were a part has been uncovered by a different kind of primary source . The poster Ulverston Cattle Fair forms part of the Soulby material; this unique, original, printed collection of posters and hand-bills is kept in Barrow Library -thanks to the efforts of Fred Barnes, (former librarian and author of “Barrow and District”, and Bill Rollinson who persuaded the owners to sell their part of the Soulby collection; the other posters and hand-bills were found under a manure heap in a barn at Burford, Oxfordshire.

To all lovers of local history including the Historical Geographer, Dr. Bill Rollinson, history is all around them. And, it is under foot. “The Development of the Furness Landscape” was Bill’s subject for his MA thesis. To develop this theme, he led field excursions that were always popular and always over subscribed. In 1989 his three field study courses were called “History Under Foot” “One cannot understand the English landscape, apprehend all its wonderful variety, without going back to the history that lies behind it”.... Professor W.G. Hoskins.


One of Bill’s trips explored the Low Furness Landscape. He explained to his students how Bardsea was built on a drumlin, (“a basket of eggs”) he showed them a 280,000,000 years old rock, the limestone ‘pavement’ and the Stone Circle of Birkrigg; this 3000 years old Bronze Age Cemetery has been excavated to reveal evidence of cremation.