Ah hope ahs fund thu in gud fettle, und riddy tu tek on yeer aheed.
Ah reckon it'll be anudder gae thrang yeer. Divvent mislikken tu tek a deek ut oor Diary pyage, und put doos in thu laalekkie (just click on the ics file at the top to put the events in your mobile phone calendar).
We're off tu Words by the Water ut Theatre By The Lake ont' 11th March. As our varra ahn Sue Wilkinson introduces t'Grasmere Dialect Plays.
Ahs bin chittering ower in Wukkinton', but nay snae yit. Ahs put Richardson's T'Snae und Susanna Blamire's The Sledge ont' Featured pyage fur thu, as wh'eel ahs't nixt fower pyages fra t'beuk - Dialect of t'Hundred of Lonsdale.
If thu's deuing a Richardson or Anderson neet, thun has't hed a leuk ut ur Recipe pyage? It'll lairn thu how tu mek a Cummerlan' Tattie Pot, if thu mudder hasn't alriddy telt thu.
If thu has inny writing or recipes thu wants ont' website, then thu can let me kna wid form ut bottom oft' this pyage or be email.
Our Cumbrian Word Cloud Merchandise is now available in many different colours and two styles of Hoodie.
In the picture above the Grey hoodie is the AWD one @ £25 each and the blue is the Russell Athletic @ £30 each.
The cards are available in packs of 6 @ £5 per pack.
News - 11th December 2025
To see Jean's translation of Psalm 121 as read at Bishop Rob's enthronement in Carlisle this November.
Featured - 18th January 2026
John Richardson's T'Snaw and Susanna Blamire's The Sledge, with the next four pages of the Dialect of the Hundred of Lonsdale.
Diary - 18th January 2026.
Our 2026 Programme is out now! We even have a calendar file (ics) for you to download. I've updated with a link to the Words by the Water festival for the Grasmere Dialect plays presentation.
When I update the website I'll put a note out @Workytown on Chunter (Twitter / X). Next update is due by the 13th February 2026.
Formed in 1939, the Lakeland Dialect Society came about out of a series of "Merry Neets", entertaining get-togethers at which town and country folk talk, sing and recite poetry, in the dialect of the Lakeland region:
Cumberland, Westmorland and the Furness district of Lancashire, now all in the modern county of Cumbria in the English Lake District.
The first Lakeland Dialect Society committee met at Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle on June 10, 1939.
Members agreed that the aims of the society would be to preserve and celebrate the ancient speech of the region.
From the outset the Society was dedicated to the academic study of the Cumbrian dialects and to fostering the dialect speech and writing.
The constitution states: The objects of the Society shall be to encourage interest in the writing of Dialect Verse, Prose and Drama; to stimulate the publication of Dialect Literature and the production of Dialect Plays; to study the origins and history of Dialect, Folk-lore, Folk Songs and Local Customs and Traditions. The Society shall endeavour to bring together lovers of dialect so as to develop interest therein. If possible it shall make tape recordings of the various dialects within the area. These remain our aims today.
Despite difficulties in the years following 1939, the Society got established and flourished. Membership is currently around 250. Members live not only in the Lake District but also throughout the UK, and the rest of the World—all united in a love of “oor mak o’ twoak”!
The Society meets at roughly quarterly intervals, on Saturday afternoons at venues throughout Cumbria. Prospective members or casual visitors are always warmly welcomed, and a good “crack” is always guaranteed! A church service conducted in dialect is held biennially and there are occasional public performances. A Journal, published annually, is free to all members.
To join, contact a member of the society at the email address below, or telephone.
I'll tell the'
We're nut stuck up er prood i't mooth
Fer t'main on us was bred in't fells,
We're nobbut wiet, yammly, fwoak
Off t'seeam switch as yersels.
An' like yersels, we clag tight tull
0't bits o'country ways an' looar;
We like ta hod a crack aboot
T'auld dale-fwoak' at hev gone afooar.
Mi fadder, (an' nea doot he's reet),
Sez t's main o't' fell fwoak er o't seame
They "Hawk tagidder" on a drag,
Till Foxy's brush is hung on t'beame.
He sez 'at t' interest (like t' auld Fox)
Is rousan 'noo fer thee an' me,
Soo join, yersels, an git yer kin
Ta join oor own Society.
From The Works of Lance Porter - Lakeland Treasury
Compiled and edited by Ted Relph and Published by the Society
Have a look at our latest programme - we'll be meeting around the county from March until November and we'd love to see you there for some discussion and enjoyment of dialect and our rich heritage.
President: Mrs Jean Scott-Smith, Gale View, Main Street, Shap, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 3NH. Phone: 01931 716386
Email: lakespeak.jean@gmail.com
Journal Editor: Mrs Louise Green, Ireby
Phone: 01697371710
Email: louise.green2608@gmail.com
Secretary and Website: Phillip Gate, Workington
If you prefer to send a letter or speak by phone, please use our contact form and I'll get back to you.
Email: pg-cumbria@gmx.com
If you request a reply by email, and haven't heard back, please check your junk mail folder!
Secretary: Mr Phillip Gate, Workington
Email: pg-cumbria@gmx.com
Journal Editor: Mrs Louise Green, Ireby
Phone: 01697371710
Email: louise.green2608@gmail.com
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