ast month saw the arrival at the town's heritage centre at Florence Mine, of Sarah Reveley, from San Antonio, Texas. One of the Centre's researchers, Dave Banks, had been carrying out research on her behalf for the last few years, and Sarah had arranged to come over for Dave to show her around the various locations her ancestors had lived.

Sarah's ancestor, a Thomas Reveley, had originally been a Northumbrian Forgeman, and had first appeared in Cumberland in 1728, associated with early attempts by a William Wood, to smelt iron ore with pit-coal at Howth Gill in Frizington. These attempts were unsuccessful. Whilst here, however, Thomas married a local heiress at Arlecdon church, who owned Dyke Nook, Frizington, and in the 1750's became involved in an iron forge operated by a Charles Wood at Low Mill. Although most evidence pointed to this being the original forge at Cleator, the waters were muddied somewhat by conflicting evidence that it might also have been the forge known to have existed in 1863 at Low Mill, below Thornhill. (The Cleator connection was retained as it was known to have existed from the 1690's and nothing is known about the other one). As well as Dyke Nook, it now appears that Thomas may have also lived at Catgill Hall, and his son Francis at Carleton House.

From this area, Thomas moved on to the Plymouth Forge in South Wales, where he was associated with Charles Wood, and two known Cumbrian businessmen Anthony Bacon and William Brownrigg, both involved in early iron ore mines at Bigrigg. Here, he made cannon barrels, before moving to Virginia in the States, where his expertise was used to make cannons for the emerging American (rebel) forces.

Sarah was taken to Howth Gill, and was shown by Dave, that the ground was still full of partly smelted iron. Egremont Castle, Dyke Nook, Arlecdon Church, Carleton House, and both Low Mills were included, as well as the base of operations at the Centre itself, where Sarah met Fiona Paine, the new Development Manager, and was able to view the display of Egremont's heritage, as well as that of local mining.

Thoroughly immersed in her past, Sarah was passed on to other local researchers to follow another branch of her family history.

Y'all take care now!

Florence Mine Heritage Centre is looking for people who would like to access a free basic computer course. To qualify you must be unemployed and not eligible for Job Centre Plus Support. There will be a series of courses that people can arrange to go on at no cost to themselves. Development Manager, Fiona Paine will be holding these training sessions and states "It will be the real basics that we will be offering, in a structure manner, to assist further development on potential work skills. There will be five people per group, which will allow extra support and give more opportunity for open discussion. I think this is a nice size from a trainer perspective as I will be able to spend more time with each individual. Hopefully if all goes well and there is a demand for this type of training, we will continue to provide it" If you are interested in hearing more regarding this or to book a place, please contact Fiona on Tel (01946) 825830