ASKAM and Ireleth Local History Group is hosting a Memories and Memorabilia night on Thursday to give members and visitors a chance to explore its growing archive.

Everyone is welcome at the event, which is from 7.30pm, in the Duddon Road Methodist Church, Askam.

There is also plenty of expertise on hand if you have pictures to be identified, or a question about an Askam or Ireleth ancestor.

The Memories Page has turned the clock back 150 years to the era when houses, shops and factories were being built in a village which still wasn't sure if its name was Askam, Askham, or Ireleth Marsh.

We find from the Barrow Times on March 9 in 1867 that the Bay Horse Inn at Ireleth was the venue for a public auction for what were described as "building lots".

The sales notice said: "Parts of two fields called Rod Grass and Parrock, situate near the railways gates at Ireleth and within a short distance of the site of the intended new railway station."

An article on February 2 recorded the lavish dinner provided by directors of the Furness Steel Works Company to mark the end of building work on Askam Ironworks.

Roast beef, followed by plum pudding, was served to 250 workmen.

The article noted: "Not long ago that spot was a bleak marsh, containing but a few rabbit warrens."

Building work had taken two years and it was hoped that the furnaces would be lit in a few days.

This was something of a false dawn - perhaps to impress potential investors - as the Barrow Times on March 2 was the bearer of bad news.

It noted: "We understand that about 60 men have received notice to leave within the past fortnight.

"A short time previous to that, about 40 men had left the place.

"The new furnaces, we learn, will not be put into blast until the coming July, caused, doubtlessly, by the slackness of the iron trade."

Hopes were raised again at the end of July when the paper told its readers that a start to production was only days away.

It noted: "This town has been for some time past at a dead stand still."

The Askam Hotel was run by Edward Miller in 1867 and his bar provided the village with an occasional coroner's court for inquests.

On November 2 the deputy coroner Edward Hall held an inquest on the body of an unknown man who had been washed up.

The body was found on the sands opposite the Sandscale rabbit warren by iron miner Thomas Todd, of Ireleth Marsh.

Police officer George Isaac was called for and the drowned man was brought to Askam in a cart.

The verdict was "found dead". Askam and Ireleth folk might have been living on a building site in the mid-Victorian era but they still knew how to celebrate Christmas, according to the Barrow Times on January 5 in 1867.

Mr Parks, landlord at an unnamed pub or hotel in what was called "Ireleth Marsh, Askham" had food and dancing for 80 people on Boxing Day and 60 the following day.

A festive celebration known as an "Auld Wife Hake" was hosted by Miss Pearson at the Bay Horse, Ireleth.

It was noted: "There was a large gathering and dancing was kept up till daybreak."