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Near
the summit of Blencathra are two crosses of white stones.
The large cross
was built by Harold Robinson in memory of his friend John Straughan who
was killed in World War Two. John was gamekeeper at Skiddaw House. Harold
was a quiet and modest man and a great walker. He often walked back from
visiting relatives in Flimby, and would walk up Blencathra more than once
a day. Contrary to common belief, he did not carry the stones up the hill
– there are plenty of white feldspar stones near the cross and they
are still being used today by his grandson who maintains it.
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The smaller cross
in more intriguing – no one seems to know who built it. It too seems
to receive attention today and sometimes there is a little wooden cross
there too. It would be great to have its history recorded for posterity
– if you know anything please e-mail or phone me. |
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2 |
Threlkeld Quarry had some of the finest microgranite
– it was used for setts, roadstone, ballast and building quoins. The
quarry is now home to Threlkeld Mining Museum – as well as
an underground experience showing Lake District mining from the 1600s to
the early 20th century, there is a superb collection of mining artefacts
and historical information, a geology room and shop with an excellent second
hand book section |
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3 |
Most families
in the village came in the last 125 years to work on the railway or in the
mine or quarry. Only a few of the current village surnames were in the 1851
census (Birkett, Robinson, Stuart, Tyson, Bennet, Cartmel, Folder) and the
1901 census shows that many came from established mining/quarrying areas
as far as Aberdeen and North Wales. |
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4 |
Be careful not
to kick someone at one end of the village – his relatives at the other
end may scream. It is possible to connect most of the residents via
their relations to most of the others. That does not mean they are blood
related – maybe in-laws more than once. Even off-comers have found
such relations here. |
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5 |
Though much depleted
we still have Red Squirrels – try the first railway
bridge about 2.30. This is when Sheila and Madeleine usually feed them.
They can tell you about the problems of incursions by the grey squirrels
who both take the reds food but more importantly bring the parapox disease
which kills the reds. |
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6 |
The oldest building
is the Old Joiner’s Shop dating from the 1500s with
a stone hooded fireplace and cruck roof supports. It used to be about twice
as long and has had several uses, including a home, and names during its
life. It is in need of attention and though listed is considered an eyesore
by some. |
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7 |
You are supposed to
be able to see the stars at midday reflected in the water of Scales
Tarn. This appears in “Tales and Legends of the English Lakes,
Collected from the best and most authentic sources” by Lorenzo Tuvar
and published about 1850. It could be possible but only if the tarn was
down a much deeper hole (as in a well) and the sky was absolutely clear
of any moisture or dust. |
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8 |
Only one Threlkeld
house appears to be built entirely of Threlkeld Granite.
Granite quoins are used in many houses |
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9 |
The churchyard
wall was built in 4.5 yard sections – each by a different
farmer. (Three of the sections are only 1.5 yards long!) You can still see
some of the junctions. The wall was both built in the 1600s, and rebuilt
when it was falling down in the 1700s, by individual farmers, who not wanting
the (allegedly) poor workmanship of their neighbour’s section to pull
theirs down, made sure that the were no stones joining them – each
section simply butted against the next. For many years now the wall has
been maintained by the churchwardens so the joints are slowly disappearing. |
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10 |
The Mission
Room was built in 1885 by the Keswick Christian Workers Band.
It was undenominational and services were timed not to conflict with other
churches. The site was given by Joseph Alcock of Threlkeld Villa (now Newclose)
who also gave the land for the Jubilee Croft to celebrate
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and as a play area for the children
of the parish in perpetuity |
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11 |
Derwent Tyson
is probably the foremost authority on Herdwick Sheep. His
son Willie continues to breed them at Middle Row. |
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12 |
German miners
were extracting lead ore from Gate Gill in the early 1600s and
the mine did not close until 1928. The miners also extracted zinc which
until the mid 1800s was a nuisance as no one knew how to smelt it effectively.
Though it had its ups and downs, eventually the perseverance of a succession
of owners bore fruit and it became very productive. It is not worked out
but closed because the price of the ore was insufficient to pay costs. This
happened with many Lake District mines with some opening and closing several
times as prices rose and fell. |
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Threlkeld used to have
a Castle. It is possible that it was just below the Mission
Room and was responsible for the “cattle gate” to the fells
– later corrupted into “castlegate” and “castle” |
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The Church
was rebuilt in 1776 taking only 4 months. It had been in dangerous condition
and only the bell tower with its bells was retained. |
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15 |
Blease Road
is known as Duck Street. As you leave the village it becomes Rodger
Lane or Rodger Hill and then High Row past the farm
of that name. |
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House prices
hereabouts are absurd – increasing at a rate much faster than the
national rate and making it impossible for young people to get on the housing
ladder. Threlkeld Housing Association with its 14 houses does help,
but they cannot find land at prices that houses can be built at affordable
prices |
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The secret of the long
lasting Threlkeld floor tiles died with Mr Harkowitz
the quarry proprietor. You can see these tiles in several places including
Threlkeld church and Keswick Museum |
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18 |
Near Guardhouse there
was a claypit and kiln for making field drainage tiles
with the local clay. It was in operation for about 40 years. |
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| 19 |
Shops
- within living memory Threlkeld had two shoemakers, two butchers, a fish
shop, a tailor. A petrol station and a garage, and several other shops and
a post office; it generated its own electricity. Now we have just the paper
shop and the post office – but many other non-retail businesses |
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20 |
BATS
stands for Blencathra Amateur Theatrical Society regrettably no longer with
us. They put on many productions in the Public Room which then had the facility
for a much deeper stage. |
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21 |
We have a Public
Room with excellent facilities – a large hall which can seat
well over 100 to a meal and dance and a small room which can take two dozen
people for a small meeting. There are kitchen and toilet facilities and
car park with easyaccess for wheelchairs. |
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22 |
Highlights of the outdoor
activities are the School Sports Day and Fair in July,
the Sheepdog Trials in August and the Bonfire Night
in November. Threlkeld’s two cricket teams provide the opportunity
to laze away the summer Saturdays. |
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The village has its
own web site – you are on it, please comment |
e-mail comment |
24 |
The Parish
Council takes great care of the village and its appearance. A new
Parish Plan is about to be adopted which looks forward to the next
5 to 10 years. |
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The pubs
are excellent: The Horse & Farrier and Salutation
in the village and the White Horse at Scales |
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For bird lovers
we have heron, kingfisher, dipper, woodpecker as well as the more common
thrushes, tits and finches |
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The Blencathra
Field Studies Centre uses the former Sanatorium which
was built in 1904 on Far End Row farm. In 1838 it was known as
Faulds |
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28 |
The font
in the church in a single piece of Threlkeld granite carved by Samuel Knight |
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29 |
Under Clough Head there
is an Iron Age settlement with over forty hut circles |
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30 |
Threlkeld has many
brown stone houses They are built of stone from Towse Yat quarry
– which is Skiddaw Slate and the stone is laid weathershot. Quoins
are usually sandstone or granite |
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31 |
Noah’s
Ark is often surrounded by water but has not been known to flood
itself – they knew a thing or two in olden times |
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32 |
La’al
Island is just a bank to the river now but originally split the
river to send water into the mill leat. The other side has been blocked
off but is still damp. |
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33 |
Threlkeld Corn
Mill leat and site are still visible though the mill knocked down
in 1885 and sold as building material |
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34 |
The last train
ran between Keswick and Penrith in March 1972. The track now forms a very
popular footpath |
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35 |
In the churchyard is
the Huntsmen’s Memorial including John Crozier who
was Master of the Blencathra for 64 years |
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36 |
There has been formal
schooling since before 1659, first in the church and then
in purpose built buildings. The first is now the Old School House built
in 1776 and added to in 1842 before the school more across the road in 1849
to the present building, though that has been much expanded to accommodate
the modern needs of an increasing school role. Head Teacher Katharine
Horder is to be commended for the high standards achieved and the school
is very popular |
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37 |
Two reasons are
given by Off-comers for choosing Threlkeld as their homes:
(1) We came
here because we fell in love with the house at first sight.
(2) The hills and the views are second to none – they attract the
visitors too.
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(3) After they have
arrived Off-comers say: We were immediately welcomed and made to feel at
home. The village is a conglomerate of different people who fit together
remarkably well and there is good community spirit |
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39 |
The oldest charitable
trust in the village is the Towngate Estate founded in
1744 with moneys going back at least to 1659. The four causes that got together
were the Overseers of the Poor, the Church, the Churchwardens
and the Schoolmaster’s Trust. They bought the estate for
£105 and in 1838 it included four cottages – where the Towngate
Cottages are now, several fields dotted about the west of the village (possibly
as a result of enclosure of old open fields) and two barns. Today the income
is divided between the school, the church and the needy |
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40 |
St Mungo of
Glasgow preached in Threlkeld in 553. There are eight churches in Cumbria
dedicated to him (Usually with his Sunday name of Kentigern) |
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