22/7/2009 - Literary sleuths on the trail of Cumbria's hidden gems

A group of Cumbrian literary sleuths are hot on the trail of some of the little-known facts about the county's written past.

The 'Reading Detectives' are all members of a reading group based at Grange-over-Sands library, and are just one of five groups taking part in a new national reading and literature project.

Most Cumbrians, and visitors to the Lake District, know all about Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter and Wainwright.

But it's on some of the less famous literature that the group is setting its sights, studying books, journals, letters, even online information, to unearth hidden gems from Cumbria's rich literature heritage.

The Reading Detectives project is a key element of Made in England - a national partnership between the BBC and Arts Council England to explore England through its people and its art, and to celebrate how the landscapes where they live, play and work can inspire creativity.

Reading Detectives has been rolled out across five areas of the country - Cumbria, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Hampshire and Kent. It is managed by the Reading Agency which is working with local libraries and other reading and book groups to engage local communities in exploring the literary heritage of the places where they live.

Groups can call on the expertise of librarians and other experts such as historians, booksellers, publishers and local literature specialists.

Their work will be documented by BBC local radio stations and all their finds, trials and tribulations will be posted on a dedicated website which features a digital map of each area - www.readingdetectives.org

The project runs through August and September with each team hosting a project finale to unveil the outcome of their detective trail with a display and readings of the writers and titles they have found.

The Grange reading group has already held meetings to begin formulating their plans. The all-female group covers a wide age range and includes library staff, housewives, a retired research scientist and a university lecturer.

Mary Rossall, senior library assistant at Grange, is a group member. She

said: "It's an interesting mix. Most of the group were born and bred locally, while some have retired here. We have met for a number of years and become good friends which is a great help on a project like this where we need to work together."

She said: "Cumbria has a strong literary heritage and there is a wonderful world of literature and landscape which is not widely known. Members have been reading a variety of material to help us decide where eventually we will concentrate our efforts and hopefully discover some hidden gems. It would be amazing if we could come up with some previously unknown story."

Helen Towers, who works for Cumbria County Council's library service and takes the lead on reader development, enjoyed working with the Grange team so much she has been co-opted as their 13th member.

She said: "Their dedication and input is impressive. It's a very enthusiastic group and an interesting mix. They have done a Reading Agency project before and when I circulated libraries about this latest project, Grange said they would like to have a go.

"If you ask about Cumbrian literature it's usually Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter that people seize on, but we want to do detective work into some of the rich, but less known literature heritage. It's a huge task we've set ourselves, but local studies librarian Jackie Fay has already been a big help and through her we can link into the expertise of local study librarians throughout the county."

One of the groups in Kent will be looking into some lost letters written to Jane Austen and the Grange readers are hoping that people will search their attics and bottom drawers in the hope of finding some equally fascinating hidden items that they can inquire into.

Priscilla Baily, who is project managing Reading Detectives for The Reading Agency, said: "The Grange readers are a very enthusiastic group and it will be exciting to see what they come up with in their researches in the coming weeks. What is particularly exciting is the way people of different backgrounds and ages come together in these projects and combine their knowledge and skills."

ENDS

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