#162: Eleanor Simpson & The Grasmere Dialect Plays

...in which we visit springtime Allan Bank to explore the forgotten phenomena of the Grasmere dialect plays – celebrations of Westmorland dialect and life that put Lakeland on the national cultural map for nearly 40 years – and the woman behind them, Eleanor Simpson, second wife of Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley.

In the company of Eleanor's great-niece, Harriet Spence, and academic Sue Wilkinson, who has resurrected the plays for a modern audience, we discuss the emergence of the turn-of-the-century village drama movement and Eleanor's relocation from London to Grasmere, where she acquired a passion for local dialect.

A series of clips from the plays featuring members of the Lakeland Dialect Society illustrate recurring themes: local traditions like rushbearing and pace egging; marriage proposals (and refusals); vignettes of everyday life including sheep-clipping and children's games.

As Sue describes the plays' extraordinary rise in national fame – which brought queues over Dunmail Raise and reviews in papers worldwide – Harriet details the developing three-way relationship between Eleanor, Canon Rawnsley and his increasingly frail first wife, Edith.

Emerging from World War II, we consider the demise of the plays, the death of Edith, and the short-lived marriage between Rawnsley and "True Help Meet" Eleanor.

Harriet closes the podcast reflecting on the life of her "quiet, pious and kind" great aunt, whose achievements have been overshadowed by her husband, but who was not only a remarkable author and producer of plays, but also a formidable painter, campaigner and champion of all things Lakeland.

• The featured dialect play recordings feature the voices of John Campbell and Jean Scott-Smith.

• The plays will be 'coming home' to Grasmere on 10 October, 2026 in an evening of readings, music and song in Grasmere Village Hall. If you'd like to be involved – either performing or helping behind the scenes – please contact Sue Wilkinson (sue_wilkinson_2000@yahoo.com). Tickets will be advertised in advance and also available at the door.

• Sue's YouTube channel featuring short excerpts from the plays: youtube.com/channel/UC6wZ2EMH-UIG20Fa3SnXogw

• For more about the Lakeland Dialect Society: lakelanddialectsociety.co.uk

Grasmere Village Hall – originally built for staging the dialect plays.

Mark with our guests for the pod: Sue Wilkinson (left) and Harriet Spence.

Postcard showing 'A scene from the Grasmere dialect play' – Lovers on a [packhorse] bridge. With thanks to Sue Wilkinson.

Lovers in a hayfield – with detailed backdrop.

Rushbearing on stage.

Herald newspaper cutting (February 1930) showing some of the authentic props from the 'Lakeland Oberammergau'.

The William Heaton Cooper backdrop – lost for a while, now hanging in its original home.

'The Grasmere Rushbearing', painted by Frank Bramley, that hangs in Grasmere Village Hall. Rushbearing is one of the many local customs celebrated in the plays.