South Pole: Members of Shackleton’s expedition. The explorer gave a lecture in Carlisle about his adventures Throughout the 19th century, Carlisle newspapers made frequent references to polar exploration, and towards the end of that century, on those who came to Cumberland to lecture on the subject. One of the earliest was Commander Cheyne, in 1895, who spoke of attempts to reach the North Pole by balloon. An editorial in the Carlisle Journal stated in 1902 that there was “never a greater interest in polar exploration than today”. It was reported in January, 1910, that “Lieutenant Sir Ernest Shackleton, the famous explorer who penetrated within 100 miles of the South Pole, will give a lecture in the Drill Hall on Friday, 25 February”.