The information on these pages was researched and written by two volunteers. Both have a strong affection for the Whitehaven Coast and are passionate that Saltom’s history does not get lost and forgotten.
Their names (in alphabetical order!) are Edmund Reed and Yvonne Sougnez: here’s what they say.
What’s your connection to Whitehaven?
I retired to Whitehaven three years ago and the whole mining heritage of the area fascinated me.
What inspired you to research Saltom’s history?
I first saw Saltom pit whilst walking my dogs. Why was it built there? I had to know more. Luckily I went to a meeting given by the National Trust. They were looking for volunteers to research Saltom pit, I just had to help.
What’s been your most surprising discovery?
As I dug deeper into the archives I was really surprised to find industrial spying was common. Carlisle Spedding, Gabriel-Jean Jars and Angerstein all spied for their masters.
What’s your favourite document you unearthed?
My favourite document has to be the engineering drawings of the Crawford winding engine.
Anything else?
Preserving the Saltom site is so important. It can be argued that without Saltom Whitehaven as we know it may never have existed. And the descendants of the families who travelled from Ireland, Scotland and the east coast of England would never have been born.
What’s your connection to Whitehaven & what inspired your research?
I am Whitehaven born and bred and after many years absence I retired to live in Cumbria. The Whitehaven Coast Project was developing and I attended a few National Trust consultation events. It was obvious that the project would include many of my interests. I needed no persuasion to play some part.
What’s been your most surprising discovery?
I spent many hours searching for information about Saltom Pit in surprising places. I did not expect to find some of it in a medical journal. I now know how often Dr Brownrigg bled Carlisle Spedding during one of his illnesses - too often for my taste. I can picture the men beating out the flames of burning gas with their caps. How scared must they have been? Archives are addictive!
Anything else?
Saltom Pit has become much more than a Scheduled Ancient Monument. For me, it is now a memorial to real people.