James Graham

Scotch Arms, Rickergate

Key Information

Name: James Graham
DoB: January 1  1887
Regt: Gloucester
DoD: October 24 1918
Academic Career: CGS 1903 – 1905 
Biographical Information:

  • James was the eldest of three children of John William Graham and his wife Mary Teresa (nee McCauley). John William and Mary each had nine siblings and both families ran businesses in the heart of Carlisle. James was to become the fourth generation of the Grahams to be involved in the cab business which had been founded on Blackfriars Street by his gt grandfather and grandfather. The business had moved to Lowther Street by 1871 and was there until 1919. Four months after James’ death in Feb 1919 his father John William sold the business by auction. With no son left to inherit he possibly felt there was no point carrying on?

    The McCauley family was headed by Denis who was born in Ireland and married local girl Isabella Trimble in 1855. By 1861 they were living on Rickergate running the Bluebell Inn. By 1871 the family were in the Scotch Arms on Rickergate and Denis opened The Star Music Hall also on Rickergate on June 25 1877. They had the Scotch Arms until at least 1891. Denis also owned cattle. He and one of his sons were in the Wetheral Viaduct train crash in 1873 when they were transporting two trucks of cattle. Interestingly James’ paternal gt-grandmother Eleanor Darling had also run a pub, The Dove Inn, which was also on Rickergate.

    On leaving school James joined the family cab business. He married Aida Agnes Kellet in 1913; they had a house on Petteril Street. Aida’s family had lived on Rickergate for years too.