01-02 May 1837 Long Winter - Cumberland and Westmorland Newspaper Transcriptions

01-02 May 1837 Long Winter

01 June 1837

In this county (Cumberland), although on the eve of May, the hills are covered
with snow, and the land presents the appearance of mid-winter. The farmers are
likely to be sufferers to a ruinous extent, from the impossibility of getting
the wheat into the ground during the spring, and their consequent obligation to
forego wheat crops for the present year. - Cumberland Packet.

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The loss amongst the flocks in the vicinity of Keswick, and other mountainous
parts of this county, from absolute hunger and starvation, is truly dreadful,
and ruinous to the occupiers of sheep farms. In some instances, out of flocks of
1,000 in number, 400 have died of the inclemency of the weather and want of
food! The survivors are as weak as possible, and as the untoward weather
continues, and the mortality remains unabated, there is no saying when a check
may be put to this distressing loss of property. - Cumberland Packet.

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02 June 1837

Repeatedly during spring we directed attention to the dreadfully stormed state
of the Cumberland mountains, and accumulated masses of deep driven snow which
far exceeded anything found on Ben Nevis. When Criffel was merely powdered, the
opposite range of hills literally made the spectator cold to look at them; and
as the snow lay long, and was repeatedly renewed, we are not surprised to hear
that the mortality has been dreadful around Keswick. One farmer is mentioned who
has lost 400 out of 1,000 sheep, and we were informed lately of an individual in
a different part of the country who had lost 50 scores of hogs, gimmers, and
ewes. A third storemaster is spoken of who estimates his loss in lambs at 500L.
sterling. The mortality has been dreadful in North Wales; indeed, far beyond
anything yet recorded of the Lammermuirs, or any other part of Scotland. -
Dumfries Courier.