History of the Cumbria Steam Gathering

In the beginning there was a tin shed . . .

38 years ago, a small group of steam engine enthusiasts met informally in a tin shed at a garage near Penrith.

As their numbers grew, they formed an official society, The Cumbria Steam & Vintage Vehicle Society. Today, this society is behind one of the biggest events in the county, The Cumbria Steam Gathering which annually attracts more than 40,000 visitors over two days.

Tim Holt from Hutton Roof near Kendal was one of the club’s founding members. He was chief steward at the very first Cumbria Steam Gathering and is now the event’s main organiser heading a team of 10 which themselves lead almost 500 volunteers.

Tim said, “We formed the society as somewhere to get together. It just grew  - two people knew two people and two knew two and so on. We decided to form a society and put an ad in the Penrith Herald. About 70 people turned up to our first proper meeting at St Andrew’s Parish Hall. One of the aims of The Cumbria Steam & Vintage Vehicle Society (C.S.V.V.S) is to promote an interest in steam and vintage vehicles so we eventually decided to hold a bit of an event.” 

The first Cumbria Steam Gathering took place in September 1974 on the former Westmorland showground at Kendal. Just over 200 people took part. Tim still has the show guide.

After a few years, the Gathering moved south to Cark Airfield, Flookburgh and forward to July for, Tim explains, “warmer rain”. Since then, the show has continued to grow and with its reputation for being well run, it has continued to be well supported by enthusiasts from around the world.  Meanwhile, the members of the event’s management committee have become involved at a national level with organisations like the National Traction Trust or National Vintage Tractor and Engine Club. The C.S.V.V.S has also become involved in farm tractor driving training and the National Traction Engine Trust Steam Apprentice club, which gives youngsters the chance to learn about steam “right from the dirty end”.

The Cumbria Steam & Vintage Vehicle Society has 300 members. The Society meets monthly at the Royal British Legion, Penrith. For further information, contact  Alan Morley on 01768 899207.