By Ian Hall

What was life like before Manchester Waterworks Committee bought up most of the Thirlmere Valley. Who were the local characters and personalities who lived and worked in the area. A true insight into life before 1890.

A leading light in the 1800’s was the exotically named Countess Ossalinsky. She scandalised Keswick society following her marriage to the Polish Count Boris Ossalinsky and again in 1880 when she took on the mighty Manchester Waterworks Committee and made a landmark settlement.