"Cumbria a natural gem" a Cumbria Travel Page by iris2002

soon more to come but for now >>

Cumbrias secret gardens

The northern ranges of the Lake District consist of Ordovician slate, about 500 million years old; the central ranges of younger volcanic rock; and a southern range of limestone and other Silurian rock about 440 million years old. These highlands are dissected by U-shaped valleys, known as dales, containing the lakes, some of which are artificial and all but one of which do not have the word “lake” in their names, being known instead as “meres” (Windermere, Grasmere, Thirlmere) or “waters” (Ullswater, Wastwater, Coniston Water); the exception is Bassenthwaite Lake. The animal life of the Lake District includes three unique species of fish: the schelly, the vendace, and the char; and a number of golden eagles.

In due course, this page will describe the influence of man on the Lake District, including :

Early Settlers :
Human settlement began in the Lake District at least 5,000 years ago, when Pike o'Stickle and other mountains became the source of stone for axes and the sites of stone circles at Castlerigg, Long Meg, and elsewhere. Later inhabitants dug parts of the Lake District for copper, iron-ore, graphite, and green slate.
In Neolithic times, the Lake District was a major source of stone axes, examples of which have been found all over Britain. The primary site, on the slopes of the Langdale Pikes, is sometimes described as a 'stone axe factory'.

Celts, Romans, Angles, and Vikings in succession settled among the lakes, and it was the last of these who provided such place-name elements as “-thwaite” (clearing), “fell” (mountain with grazing), “gill” (ravine), “force” (waterfall), and also introduced the local Herdwick sheep, which are born black and become white.

Cumbria still has evidence of these settlers in Hadrian's Wall, and its Forts, and Viking crosses.

Numerous Tower Houses and Pele Towers were built in the 15-16th centuries, when 'Border Reivers' were a constant menace, rustling livestock, pillaging, kidnapping and extorting protection money. In 1551, the 'Debateable Land' was divided between the two countries England and Scotland, and the boundary was defined by a shallow ditch which became known as the Scot’s Dike.

There were twelve houses of monks, nuns and canons in Cumbria in the middle ages, as well as four friaries of which nothing remains. As well as Carlisle Cathedral, four of these monasteries have remained in use as parish churches - Cartmel, St Bees, Holm Cultram and Lanercost.

Lady Anne Clifford, Countess of Pembroke, was born at Skipton Castle on 30 January 1590, during the reign of Elizabeth I. She is celebrated for her diary and her tireless restoration of her properties in Cumbria and North Yorkshire which were badly damaged in the Civil War. She died at Brougham Castle in Cumbria on 22 March 1676, when she was 86 in the room where her father had been born.