Grasmere Dialect Plays
@grasdialectplays.bsky.social
Researching & sharing information about the extraordinary village plays performed in Grasmere from 1893 to 1937. Most were written and produced by Eleanor Rawnsley (nee Simpson); all were in Westmorland dialect. #LakeDistrict #Cumbria #GrasmereDialectPlays
Pinned
The play that is helping to preserve Westmorland dialect and customs
The Grasmere Dialect Plays enact scenes from everyday life, entirely in Westmorland dialect
www.greatbritishlife.co.uk
Cumbria Life has published an expanded online version of my piece on the fabulous Grasmere Dialect Plays - including lots more images. Find it here:
www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/magazines/cu...
www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/magazines/cu...
Love it!
A Map Of Britain After The 2029 Technology Crash, by me and my dad.
November 5, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Love it!
Given current watery conditions here in Cumbria, I'm enjoying Hardwicke Rawnsley's account of the Keswick floods of 25 Oct 1888: '...when it siles down reet gaily, every road becomes a sike, and every sike a beck, and every beck a river'. Apparently the sexton of Crosthwaite church was undeterred:
November 4, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Given current watery conditions here in Cumbria, I'm enjoying Hardwicke Rawnsley's account of the Keswick floods of 25 Oct 1888: '...when it siles down reet gaily, every road becomes a sike, and every sike a beck, and every beck a river'. Apparently the sexton of Crosthwaite church was undeterred:
Reposted by Grasmere Dialect Plays
I love maps so I'm giving away TWO signed paperbacks of my psychedelic/folkloric novel Villager each with these fantastic maps my dad illustrated of the fictional village in the book.Just repost this/reply below for a chance to win.
Here's an extract from the book: www.tom-cox.com/the-village-...
Here's an extract from the book: www.tom-cox.com/the-village-...
October 24, 2025 at 3:56 PM
I love maps so I'm giving away TWO signed paperbacks of my psychedelic/folkloric novel Villager each with these fantastic maps my dad illustrated of the fictional village in the book.Just repost this/reply below for a chance to win.
Here's an extract from the book: www.tom-cox.com/the-village-...
Here's an extract from the book: www.tom-cox.com/the-village-...
Cumbria Life has published an expanded online version of my piece on the fabulous Grasmere Dialect Plays - including lots more images. Find it here:
www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/magazines/cu...
www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/magazines/cu...
The play that is helping to preserve Westmorland dialect and customs
The Grasmere Dialect Plays enact scenes from everyday life, entirely in Westmorland dialect
www.greatbritishlife.co.uk
October 24, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Cumbria Life has published an expanded online version of my piece on the fabulous Grasmere Dialect Plays - including lots more images. Find it here:
www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/magazines/cu...
www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/magazines/cu...
Exciting news: I've got a 3-page article on the Grasmere Dialect Plays in the October 2025 issue of 'Cumbria Life' magazine! Really hoping this will bring them to a wider audience ... @drpennybradshaw.bsky.social @countrystride.bsky.social
September 19, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Exciting news: I've got a 3-page article on the Grasmere Dialect Plays in the October 2025 issue of 'Cumbria Life' magazine! Really hoping this will bring them to a wider audience ... @drpennybradshaw.bsky.social @countrystride.bsky.social
NEW PODCAST - JUST POSTED:
Two extracts from the fabulous 1924 Grasmere Dialect Play "On Second Thoughts", read by members of the Lakeland Dialect Society. Lead roles played by Jean Scott-Smith & John Campbell. They're brilliant!
Listen here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP7t...
Two extracts from the fabulous 1924 Grasmere Dialect Play "On Second Thoughts", read by members of the Lakeland Dialect Society. Lead roles played by Jean Scott-Smith & John Campbell. They're brilliant!
Listen here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP7t...
On Second Thoughts
YouTube video by Sue Wilkinson
www.youtube.com
August 29, 2025 at 8:01 AM
NEW PODCAST - JUST POSTED:
Two extracts from the fabulous 1924 Grasmere Dialect Play "On Second Thoughts", read by members of the Lakeland Dialect Society. Lead roles played by Jean Scott-Smith & John Campbell. They're brilliant!
Listen here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP7t...
Two extracts from the fabulous 1924 Grasmere Dialect Play "On Second Thoughts", read by members of the Lakeland Dialect Society. Lead roles played by Jean Scott-Smith & John Campbell. They're brilliant!
Listen here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP7t...
Will Dinah marry Gawin, or his nephew, Kit? (Act IV, "On Second Thoughts")
Another picture from yesterday's readings from the Grasmere Dialect Plays at the Armitt Museum, Ambleside.
L to R: John Campbell (Gawin), Phillip Gate (Kit), & Jean Scott-Smith (Dinah).
Watch out for the podcast!
Another picture from yesterday's readings from the Grasmere Dialect Plays at the Armitt Museum, Ambleside.
L to R: John Campbell (Gawin), Phillip Gate (Kit), & Jean Scott-Smith (Dinah).
Watch out for the podcast!
August 14, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Will Dinah marry Gawin, or his nephew, Kit? (Act IV, "On Second Thoughts")
Another picture from yesterday's readings from the Grasmere Dialect Plays at the Armitt Museum, Ambleside.
L to R: John Campbell (Gawin), Phillip Gate (Kit), & Jean Scott-Smith (Dinah).
Watch out for the podcast!
Another picture from yesterday's readings from the Grasmere Dialect Plays at the Armitt Museum, Ambleside.
L to R: John Campbell (Gawin), Phillip Gate (Kit), & Jean Scott-Smith (Dinah).
Watch out for the podcast!
It's not every day you're given decorated bearings, hand-made with rushes from Wet Sleddale. Thank you so much, Jean Scott-Smith, President of the Lakeland Dialect Society
The flower-decked sheafs are traditional in the Grasmere rushbearing, which features in the Grasmere Dialect Plays #LakeDistrict
The flower-decked sheafs are traditional in the Grasmere rushbearing, which features in the Grasmere Dialect Plays #LakeDistrict
August 14, 2025 at 2:19 PM
It's not every day you're given decorated bearings, hand-made with rushes from Wet Sleddale. Thank you so much, Jean Scott-Smith, President of the Lakeland Dialect Society
The flower-decked sheafs are traditional in the Grasmere rushbearing, which features in the Grasmere Dialect Plays #LakeDistrict
The flower-decked sheafs are traditional in the Grasmere rushbearing, which features in the Grasmere Dialect Plays #LakeDistrict
I met Richard Hardisty, whose great-uncle, Johnnie Hodgson, played the fiddle in several of the Grasmere Dialect Plays. Here's Richard holding a photo (which he hadn't seen before) of his great-uncle (far left) - in the rushbearing scene from "On Second Thoughts" (1924)
August 14, 2025 at 10:45 AM
I met Richard Hardisty, whose great-uncle, Johnnie Hodgson, played the fiddle in several of the Grasmere Dialect Plays. Here's Richard holding a photo (which he hadn't seen before) of his great-uncle (far left) - in the rushbearing scene from "On Second Thoughts" (1924)
Very many thanks to Jean Scott-Smith, John Campbell, Phillip Gate and Louise Green from the Lakeland Dialect Society for their superb readings from the Grasmere Dialect Plays. Thanks, too, to the Armitt Museum for hosting our event - & to the appreciative audience!
August 14, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Very many thanks to Jean Scott-Smith, John Campbell, Phillip Gate and Louise Green from the Lakeland Dialect Society for their superb readings from the Grasmere Dialect Plays. Thanks, too, to the Armitt Museum for hosting our event - & to the appreciative audience!
A fabulous afternoon at the Armitt Museum, introducing readings from the Grasmere Dialect Plays by members of the Lakeland Dialect Society. A great time was had by players and audience alike! And wonderful to meet Grasmere residents with relatives in the original plays.
August 14, 2025 at 10:34 AM
A fabulous afternoon at the Armitt Museum, introducing readings from the Grasmere Dialect Plays by members of the Lakeland Dialect Society. A great time was had by players and audience alike! And wonderful to meet Grasmere residents with relatives in the original plays.
Don't miss it! Tomorrow 2 pm at the Armitt, Ambleside
Tickets: armitt-library-and-museum-centre.arttickets.org.uk/armitt-libra...
Tickets: armitt-library-and-museum-centre.arttickets.org.uk/armitt-libra...
August 12, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Don't miss it! Tomorrow 2 pm at the Armitt, Ambleside
Tickets: armitt-library-and-museum-centre.arttickets.org.uk/armitt-libra...
Tickets: armitt-library-and-museum-centre.arttickets.org.uk/armitt-libra...
Just 4 days to go ...
The fabulous Jean Scott-Smith and John Campbell star in Readings from the Grasmere Dialect Plays at the Armitt Museum, Ambleside at 2 pm on Wed 13 August.
Don't miss it!
Tickets here: armitt-library-and-museum-centre.arttickets.org.uk/armitt-libra...
The fabulous Jean Scott-Smith and John Campbell star in Readings from the Grasmere Dialect Plays at the Armitt Museum, Ambleside at 2 pm on Wed 13 August.
Don't miss it!
Tickets here: armitt-library-and-museum-centre.arttickets.org.uk/armitt-libra...
August 9, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Just 4 days to go ...
The fabulous Jean Scott-Smith and John Campbell star in Readings from the Grasmere Dialect Plays at the Armitt Museum, Ambleside at 2 pm on Wed 13 August.
Don't miss it!
Tickets here: armitt-library-and-museum-centre.arttickets.org.uk/armitt-libra...
The fabulous Jean Scott-Smith and John Campbell star in Readings from the Grasmere Dialect Plays at the Armitt Museum, Ambleside at 2 pm on Wed 13 August.
Don't miss it!
Tickets here: armitt-library-and-museum-centre.arttickets.org.uk/armitt-libra...
Coming soon (13 August) at the Armitt Museum, Ambleside ...
August 5, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Coming soon (13 August) at the Armitt Museum, Ambleside ...
Less than two weeks to go until THE event of the summer: the Grasmere Dialect Plays at the Armitt, starring Jean Scott-Smith & John Campbell
Tickets from: armitt-library-and-museum-centre.arttickets.org.uk/armitt-libra...
We were rehearsing today In Kendal:
Tickets from: armitt-library-and-museum-centre.arttickets.org.uk/armitt-libra...
We were rehearsing today In Kendal:
July 31, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Less than two weeks to go until THE event of the summer: the Grasmere Dialect Plays at the Armitt, starring Jean Scott-Smith & John Campbell
Tickets from: armitt-library-and-museum-centre.arttickets.org.uk/armitt-libra...
We were rehearsing today In Kendal:
Tickets from: armitt-library-and-museum-centre.arttickets.org.uk/armitt-libra...
We were rehearsing today In Kendal:
Tickets now available for readings from the Grasmere Dialect Plays on 13 August, 2.00-3.30 at the Armitt Museum, Ambleside. I guarantee it will be an entertaining (as well as informative) event!
www.armitt.com/event-direct... (scroll down to evvent)
www.armitt.com/event-direct... (scroll down to evvent)
July 20, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Tickets now available for readings from the Grasmere Dialect Plays on 13 August, 2.00-3.30 at the Armitt Museum, Ambleside. I guarantee it will be an entertaining (as well as informative) event!
www.armitt.com/event-direct... (scroll down to evvent)
www.armitt.com/event-direct... (scroll down to evvent)
Come along to the Armitt Museum, Ambleside at 2 pm on 13 August! I'll be introducing readings from the Grasmere Dialect Plays by members of the Lakeland Dialect Society. Tickets:
armitt-library-and-museum-centre.arttickets.org.uk/armitt-libra...
armitt-library-and-museum-centre.arttickets.org.uk/armitt-libra...
July 1, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Come along to the Armitt Museum, Ambleside at 2 pm on 13 August! I'll be introducing readings from the Grasmere Dialect Plays by members of the Lakeland Dialect Society. Tickets:
armitt-library-and-museum-centre.arttickets.org.uk/armitt-libra...
armitt-library-and-museum-centre.arttickets.org.uk/armitt-libra...
I 'discovered' the #GrasmereDialectPlays as a part-time student on this fabulous MA course (& wrote my final dissertation on them). Certain that more discoveries await future students - why not find out more ...?!
In advance of this event I am very pleased to announce that we are once more able to offer both full time and part time routes of study on our MA for September 2025: www.cumbria.ac.uk/study/course...
Come along to this evening talk on Wed 28th May to find out more 📚🍃
Come along to this evening talk on Wed 28th May to find out more 📚🍃
May 21, 2025 at 7:21 AM
I 'discovered' the #GrasmereDialectPlays as a part-time student on this fabulous MA course (& wrote my final dissertation on them). Certain that more discoveries await future students - why not find out more ...?!
UPDATE:
You can now access Jean Scott-Smith and Donald Campbell's brilliant readings from the Grasmere Dialect Plays directly from the Lakeland Dialect Society's website. Link here:
lakelanddialectsociety.co.uk/recordings
You can now access Jean Scott-Smith and Donald Campbell's brilliant readings from the Grasmere Dialect Plays directly from the Lakeland Dialect Society's website. Link here:
lakelanddialectsociety.co.uk/recordings
March 26, 2025 at 2:07 PM
UPDATE:
You can now access Jean Scott-Smith and Donald Campbell's brilliant readings from the Grasmere Dialect Plays directly from the Lakeland Dialect Society's website. Link here:
lakelanddialectsociety.co.uk/recordings
You can now access Jean Scott-Smith and Donald Campbell's brilliant readings from the Grasmere Dialect Plays directly from the Lakeland Dialect Society's website. Link here:
lakelanddialectsociety.co.uk/recordings
Reposted by Grasmere Dialect Plays
We are disappointed but not surprised that Meta has used millions of pirated books to develop its AI systems.
As a matter of urgency, Meta needs to compensate the rightsholders of all the works it has been exploiting.
But what can authors do? Read here:
societyofauthors.org/2025/03/21/t...
As a matter of urgency, Meta needs to compensate the rightsholders of all the works it has been exploiting.
But what can authors do? Read here:
societyofauthors.org/2025/03/21/t...
March 21, 2025 at 5:04 PM
We are disappointed but not surprised that Meta has used millions of pirated books to develop its AI systems.
As a matter of urgency, Meta needs to compensate the rightsholders of all the works it has been exploiting.
But what can authors do? Read here:
societyofauthors.org/2025/03/21/t...
As a matter of urgency, Meta needs to compensate the rightsholders of all the works it has been exploiting.
But what can authors do? Read here:
societyofauthors.org/2025/03/21/t...
Eleanor Rawnsley (nee Simpson), who wrote/staged the Grasmere Dialect Plays, lived for most of her life at Allan Bank, Grasmere.
William Wordsworth - who lived at Allan Bank from 1808-1811 - wrote his 'Guide to the Lakes' there. New exhibition:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
William Wordsworth - who lived at Allan Bank from 1808-1811 - wrote his 'Guide to the Lakes' there. New exhibition:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Poet Wordsworth's role as first Lake District 'influencer'
An exhibition at Allan Bank in Grasmere looks at how Wordsworth helped conservation in the Lakes.
www.bbc.co.uk
March 22, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Eleanor Rawnsley (nee Simpson), who wrote/staged the Grasmere Dialect Plays, lived for most of her life at Allan Bank, Grasmere.
William Wordsworth - who lived at Allan Bank from 1808-1811 - wrote his 'Guide to the Lakes' there. New exhibition:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
William Wordsworth - who lived at Allan Bank from 1808-1811 - wrote his 'Guide to the Lakes' there. New exhibition:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
All 3 of my short podcasts featuring readings form the #GrasmereDialectPlays now available here:
www.youtube.com/channel/UC6w...
www.youtube.com/channel/UC6w...
December 27, 2024 at 3:09 PM
All 3 of my short podcasts featuring readings form the #GrasmereDialectPlays now available here:
www.youtube.com/channel/UC6w...
www.youtube.com/channel/UC6w...
If you enjoyed hearing Jean Scott-Smith (President of the Lakeland Dialect Society) playing the female leads in my "Three Proposals ..." podcast last week, here she is again as Matilda Knott, in a longer reading from Eleanor Rawnsley's play, "The Mistress of Mosshead". Happy Christmas!
The perfect distraction from Christmas?! Third (and for now, final) short podcast of readings from the fantastic #GrasmereDialectPlays.
What happens when Joseph Mumberson pays a surprise call on Matilda Knott, the eponymous "Mistress of Mosshead"? Find out here!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCJ-...
What happens when Joseph Mumberson pays a surprise call on Matilda Knott, the eponymous "Mistress of Mosshead"? Find out here!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCJ-...
'The Mistress of Mosshead': An extract from one of the Grasmere Dialect Plays
YouTube video by Sue Wilkinson
www.youtube.com
December 23, 2024 at 8:25 PM
If you enjoyed hearing Jean Scott-Smith (President of the Lakeland Dialect Society) playing the female leads in my "Three Proposals ..." podcast last week, here she is again as Matilda Knott, in a longer reading from Eleanor Rawnsley's play, "The Mistress of Mosshead". Happy Christmas!
The perfect distraction from Christmas?! Third (and for now, final) short podcast of readings from the fantastic #GrasmereDialectPlays.
What happens when Joseph Mumberson pays a surprise call on Matilda Knott, the eponymous "Mistress of Mosshead"? Find out here!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCJ-...
What happens when Joseph Mumberson pays a surprise call on Matilda Knott, the eponymous "Mistress of Mosshead"? Find out here!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCJ-...
'The Mistress of Mosshead': An extract from one of the Grasmere Dialect Plays
YouTube video by Sue Wilkinson
www.youtube.com
December 20, 2024 at 8:52 PM
The perfect distraction from Christmas?! Third (and for now, final) short podcast of readings from the fantastic #GrasmereDialectPlays.
What happens when Joseph Mumberson pays a surprise call on Matilda Knott, the eponymous "Mistress of Mosshead"? Find out here!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCJ-...
What happens when Joseph Mumberson pays a surprise call on Matilda Knott, the eponymous "Mistress of Mosshead"? Find out here!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCJ-...
Have yourself 13 mins of pre-Christmas entertainment by listening to Kitty, Rachel and Matilda's responses to a proposal of marriage.
(And enjoy a taster of Westmorland dialect as spoken by native Westmerians)
#GrasmereDialectPlays
(And enjoy a taster of Westmorland dialect as spoken by native Westmerians)
#GrasmereDialectPlays
Want to know the outcome of three - possibly surprising - marriage proposals? Of course you do!
Here's my second podcast on the #GrasmereDialectPlays, featuring readers from the Lakeland Dialect Society:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQAx...
Here's my second podcast on the #GrasmereDialectPlays, featuring readers from the Lakeland Dialect Society:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQAx...
Three Proposals in the Grasmere Dialect Plays
YouTube video by Sue Wilkinson
www.youtube.com
December 16, 2024 at 2:16 PM
Have yourself 13 mins of pre-Christmas entertainment by listening to Kitty, Rachel and Matilda's responses to a proposal of marriage.
(And enjoy a taster of Westmorland dialect as spoken by native Westmerians)
#GrasmereDialectPlays
(And enjoy a taster of Westmorland dialect as spoken by native Westmerians)
#GrasmereDialectPlays