The Popping Stone is an enigmatic feature of the Spa Hotel gounds. Although hardly mentioned before the 1870s, the innuendo around the Popping Stone has been a central part of the Spa's allure. The legends attached to it, and its dramatic change in shape, are documented in my website.

Victorian Image

Date posted: 9 July 1907

Stamp: KEVII halfpenny

Postmark: Bardon Mill

NGR: NY 6355 6815

Publisher: Lochinvar N&C

My ref. 165

An important card, encapsulating the links between the Scott legend and the Popping Stone. It is also interesting as an example of the recycling of a Victorian photo on an Edwardian postcard. Maybe the Edwardians saw it as quaint in the same way we do?

This is the old shape of the stone, which was dramatically changed around 1870. The posed scene, depicting a courting couple being spied upon, is frequently repeated in 1860s photos.

See my Popping Stone website for more discussion and examples.

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Early Postcard

Date posted: 28 May 1904

Stamp: KEVII halfpenny (dark green)

Postmark: Gilsland

NGR: NY 6355 6815

Publisher: Auty Series GH WB ref. 547

My ref.: 006

One of the attractive Auty monochrome cards, with the river in spate, washing around the base of the Stone. The two smaller stones are still tightly clenched and the tree has two and a half trunks, useful for estimating the date of the original photo (around 1900).

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1919 - Wet Weather

Date: September 1919

Stamp: unused

Postmark:

NGR: NY 6355 6815

Publisher: Amateur

My ref.: 018

The Popping Stone was a popular place for photos once the Box Brownie appeared and everyone became a photographer. Many amateur photos were printed onto pre-printed postcards and sent, a sort of analogue Snapchat - and a logical extension of the picture postard craze.

1930s

Date posted: 29 July 1936

Stamp: KGV one penny

Postmark: Gilsland

NGR: NY 6355 6815

Publisher: ref. 34/31

My ref.: 020

Still the same printing technology as the early cards, and the same pose. Only the fashions have changed, and the tree behind the Stone is looking a bit spindly.

The writer gives their address as "Gilsland Home, Carlyle".

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Modern Times

Date posted: 21 August 1962

Stamp: QEII tuppence ha'penny

Postmark: Gilsland

NGR: NY 6355 6815

Publisher: Frith's/GLD ref.5

My ref.: 292

Sorry about the depressing Ministry of Works style card, but that's how it was in the 60s - in Gilsland, anyway. The tree has shuffled off its mortal coil (but a new one has now replaced it).

The two smaller stones are starting to separate.

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