No. 57 – February 2016

The Journal

Lorton & Derwent Fells Local History Society Brackenthwaite Embleton Mockerkin Pardshaw Whinfell Wythop www.derwentfells.com

An advertisement for the Robinson Plough, and a surviving example.

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The Journal findings were recorded in the CWAAS Transactions in 2007, a significant 2 Welcome to issue 57 of the Journal. I was achievement for the Society. particularly pleased that Sandra Shaw has In 2008, within the Bassenthwaite completed her research on those who fell in Reflections project, a geophysical search for World War 1 and are commemorated on the a fort at Keswick, again led by Mark Graham, Paddle School Roll of Honour. This is the found the Roman camp at Castlerigg. The centenary year of the Battle of the Somme, causeway at Braithwaite is in direct which took the lives of so many, and alignment with the fort, and in the other therefore an appropriate time to note that direction with Knott Head. Now also a battle. Further articles on other townships in crossing of the Derwent has been found at or near our area would be welcome for future Papcastle. This suggests that the causeway issues. at Braithwaite and the old road to Knott Because of a holiday, I was one of those Head may be part of a Roman road between who missed Mark Graham’s talk on the the forts at Castlerigg and Papcastle, and findings of the programme to discover the part of a route from the port at via vicus or civilian settlement to the South of Brough over Stainmore, or now the A66. the Roman fort at Papcastle. Therefore I was Perhaps there may be renewed Society very happy that Roger Asquith agreed to interest in finding a road and its route record this work, in which he was much between the Derwent bridge and the old, involved, for the benefit of those who missed pre-turnpike and probably Roman road from the presentations, or who wish to have a High Lorton to Keswick via Scales? printed summary. Derek Denman Back in 1998 the Society’s Lorton Roman Roads Group was stimulated to study Corrigendum: in Journal 56, page 23, ‘foot of and seek for Roman roads. This followed a Derwentwater’ should be ‘head of suggestion that a Roman road came over Derwentwater’. Whinlatter, and a junction in Lorton went two ways, to Derventio at Papcastle but also over L&DFLHS 2015-16 Whinfell to the fort at Moresby.1 We found the branch to Moresby to be entirely President Professor Angus Winchester speculative and evidence lacking, the Financial Examiner Peter Hubbard enclosure roads over Whinfell being mistakenly given Roman attributes. In Officers and Committee 2015-16 seeking physical evidence of Roman roads Chairman Charles Lambrick the group found and excavated an old, Secretary Sandra Shaw unrecorded road ascending from Treasurer Christopher Thomas Thornthwaite towards Knott Head, the well- Committee members:- known Bassenthwaite viewpoint on Anne Asquith Membership Whinlatter. Richard Easton Talks This road was consistent with Roman Walter Head construction and with a route over Whinlatter Tim Stanley-Clamp Outings which included the old causeway recorded long ago near Braithwaite railway station. Contents of Journal No. 57 The suggestion was that our road was Paddle School’s Roll of Honour 3 Roman and provided the first physical Ploughing with Horses 10 evidence of a road crossing Whinlatter. But Discovering Derventio: a View of with no known fort at Keswick, at that time, Roman Papcastle 12 with no excavated road on the west side of In the News 17 Whinlatter, and with no proven bridge over How many Sheep were in Loweswater the Derwent, our road up to Knott Head Township in 1839? 20 could not be claimed as Roman, just old, The Society’s programme 24 unexplained by records, and Roman-like. The

1 Martin Allan, The Roman route across the 2 Derek Denman, ‘An old road to Knott Head northern : Brougham to Moresby, from Thornthwaite’, Transactions CWAAS, 2007, CNWRS, Lancaster University, 1994. pp. 219-23 3

Paddle School’s Roll of military service. I began with the 1911 census, being closest in time to the Honour outbreak of war. If I couldn’t find the man by Sandra Shaw there, I searched the previous one. Then, using a number of other on-line sources, I This article is an attempt to identify the have tried to uncover more about their family origins and military service of the lives and find out about the part their eight men from Eaglesfield, Blindbothel military unit played in the war. I have and parish who gave their lives in been assisted by information and leads the First World War and who are received from follow society member commemorated on the Paddle School Roll Walter Head, for which I am most grateful. of Honour. There are a further 36 men There has been a recent project to index listed who served and returned and who local newspapers of the war years which I are named here, but whose stories will have consulted and can be found at; form the subject of a future article. http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/archives/Onlin The memorial tablet of marble & slate e_catalogues/greatwar/newsindexes.asp is housed in the school entrance hall and I do not know how it was decided was unveiled on 22nd April 1921. The which names should be included and in heading reads The Great War 1914 – some cases it has not been possible to find 1918 / Roll of Honour / Eaglesfield, any connection with the local area. Blindbothel and Mosser Parish. There are then two sections – Men who gave Walter Bartle their lives comprising 8 names – Men who Walter was born 12 July 1896 and baptised served and returned comprising 36 names. at Mosser on 13 September the same year. On this roll of honour, just the surnames His birth was registered at and initials are given and they are not and in that record and nowhere else, he quite in alphabetical order. was given the middle initial A. He was The 36 (in alphabetical order) are: G killed in action on 16 August 1917 aged Clague, J Clague, W Clague, J Clark, R just 21. Corlett, J Davidson, G Dockeray, H He appears in the 1911 census with Ferguson, J Glasson, I Glasson, H his parents George and Mary Bartle at Hamilton, J D Hamilton, B Harrison, J Waterloo Lodge, Cockermouth, (the 1901 Harrison, J M Harrison, T Harrison, W census says this is at Eaglesfield) a 6 room Harrison, H Huddart, W Huddart, E H property. His father was a gamekeeper Jackson, A Kitchen, C Mossop, F Mossop, N from Laxton in Nottinghamshire while his Mossop, E Park, T Park, H W Sewell, WWR mother was a local woman (born Mary Sewell, H Satterthwaite, G Scott, H Storey, Cook) from Deanscales. They had been W Tyson, J Walker, H Waugh, F White, F married 28 years and she had born six Wilson. children who were all living. Just two were There is also a polished granite war still at home; John aged 19 working as a memorial standing outside St Philips gamekeeper’s assistant and Walter aged Church at Eaglesfield where the full names 14 with no occupation recorded, of the men who gave their lives are given. presumably still at school. The two boys This reads – Erected / in grateful memory are said to have been born at Palace How, of / the men of this parish / who gave their Blindbothel. Other censuses showed that lives for / freedom right & peace / in the the six children were George Henry, Fred, Great War / 1914 – 1918 (east face) Their Martha, Mary, John and Walter. name liveth [sic] / for evermore (west Walter enlisted on 6 December 1915 face) Walter Bartle / John Edward Long / at Cockermouth, giving his address as Edward Mossop / Henry Bell Moffat (north Waterloo Cottages and his occupation as face) William Ballantine Porter / William gamekeeper. He joined the Border Routeledge / Harry Robinson / Frederick Regiment (service number 3410). He William Storr (south face) served in the 5th and 1st Battalions, and his Using data collections (mainly service number was changed somewhere censuses and military records) from a along the line, later being 241205. He was number of commercial websites, I have reported missing in the News attempted to identify each of these men of 29 September and 6 October 1916. He and find out what I could about their 4 was reported wounded the following day 1911 was a gamekeeper living with and 10 October. He appeared in the daily Margaret and 3 young daughters at Park casualty list (reported wounded) of 25 Lane, Cockermouth. Their address on the October 1916. He was then private 4310 Commonwealth Graves Commission with the Border Regiment. He must have database is Castle Cottages, Cockermouth. recovered as he was later reported to have George Henry is buried at Bois Guillaume died of wounds on 16 August 1917 while Communal Cemetery Extension. serving as a private with the 1st Battalion, Border Regiment in France / Flanders. John Edward Long There is a note dated 26 September 1918 John Edward Long’s, birth was registered to the effect that any articles of personal at Cockermouth in the 3rd quarter of 1889, property or any medals due to the soldier and in other sources it is shown that he should be sent to Mrs Mary Bartle of was born at Loweswater. He was killed in Waterloo Cottage, Cockermouth. He is action on 18 November 1916 in the Battle commemorated at Cement House of the Somme aged about 27. Cemetery, Langemarck in Belgium. He appears in the 1911 census at The 5th Battalion, Border Regiment Deanscales, Cockermouth working as a (shown on Walter’s enlistment papers) was servant in the home of Richard Clark a raised at Carlisle in August 1914 and farmer. The 1901 census shows him with attached to the East Lancashire Division. his widowed father Thomas, a sub- The 1st Battalion, Border Regiment (shown postmaster, living at 7 The Bank, on the later military record) went into Eaglesfield. His mother was Ann Jane action in the Battle of the Somme in July Moore who had been born at Lorton and 1916 and this is probably where Walter the total family appears to have comprised received his first wound. In 1917 they Mary A, Francis F, Sarah M, Dora Jane, were in action in the three battles of the Matilda, Elizabeth, Josephine, John and Scarpe during the Arras Offensive and then Martha. The family was living at The Place, moved to Flanders. The Battle of Loweswater in 1891. Langemarck where Walter lost his life was Returning to John Edward, he enlisted part of the Battle of Passchendale or Third in the Border Regiment (service number Battle of Ypres and took place from 16 to 14375) at Penrith on 16 September 1914 18 September that year. when he gave his occupation as farm Walter is also commemorated on the servant. Both the 9th (Service) Battalion Cockermouth War Memorial and data on and 11th Battalion are recorded on this the roll-of-honour website confirms much paper. The medal roll index card shows of the above, adding that Mary Bartle was that he first entered France on 7 ‘of Beech Cottage, Westward, Wigton’, September 1915. John was killed in action which suggests that she moved there later. on 18 November 1916, the final day of the Walter seems to be commemorated twice, Battle of the Somme. By then, he was in because his place of birth was recorded the 11th Battalion and had the rank of variously as Cockermouth and Mosser in Lance Sergeant (ie he was a corporal different documents. acting in the rank of sergeant). He was Walter’s elder brother George Henry buried at Waggon Road Cemetery, also lost his life in the War. He enlisted at Beaumont-Hamel. The Cumberland News Cockermouth in 1915 and is did not catch up with his fate until some commemorated on the Cockermouth war time later, reporting him missing on the 20 memorial. He was Lance Corporal 17553 of January 1917 and ‘killed’ 6 months later in C Company, 7th Battalion, Border the edition for 18 July that year. The 9th Regiment. He died of wounds 14 April (Service) Battalion was formed at Carlisle 1918, aged 36 years. He had left the in September 1914 but it was not until 4 family home before 1901 and was an September 1915 that it arrived at Le assistant gamekeeper, lodging with the Havre, later in Salonika on 7 November family of farmer John Jackson at Rigg 1915. The 11th (Lonsdale) Battalion saw House, Brackenthwaite in that census. He action at The Battle of the Somme in 1916. married Margaret Jane Reid in the 2nd quarter of 1904 at Cockermouth and in 5

The WW1 Roll of Honour at Paddle School - farmer. His parents were Watson and photograph Sandra Shaw Rebecca Mossop who had begun their married life at Eaglesfield and raised five Edward Mossop children. These were William J, Edward, Edward Mossop was born on 11 September Clement, Nelson and Mary E who were 1893 and baptised at Mosser on 22 described as having been born at October the same year. He was killed in Blindbothel in one census and at Brigham action on 20 July 1916. in another. In 1901 the family was at He was with his family in the 1911 Green Trees, Blindbothel and Watson’s census, living at Low Hall, Blindbothel, a 9 widowed mother Elizabeth was farming roomed property where his father was a 6 next door at Low Hall with the help of two Regiment. The date is not known but that unmarried daughters (Margaret and record included his date of birth. He Frances). A third sister Alice was an named his parents John & Jane Moffat of assistant teacher and Alan J. McLean’s Springfield Farm, Cockermouth recent book Poking around in Paddle’s Past (Greysouthen) as his next of kin. Henry confirms that she started work at Paddle in was killed on 15 May 1917 aged 23. The the 1890s. daily casualty list of 4 June 1917 records Edward Mossop enlisted at Challenor that he had previously been reported House, Cockermouth on 15 November wounded, but was now reported ‘died of 1915 and gave his occupation as farmer wounds’. He was buried at Etaples Military and his birthplace as Mosser. He was 5’ 10 Cemetery. The various Saskatchewen ½” tall and he joined the Royal Welsh battalions were assembled at Valcartier Fusiliers with the service number 36911. Camp near Quebec City, then embarked He served with the 2nd Battalion, which for Britain and a few months’ further became part of the 33rd Division on 25 training before joining other Canadian November 2015 and was engaged on the units fighting in the trenches in Flanders. Western Front until the end of the war. The various battles that the Saskatchewen The division took part in the Battles of the Regiment was engaged in are listed on a Somme and that is where Private Mossop Canadian website and judging by the date was killed in action on 20 July 1916, of Henry’s death, it seems likely that he although his name was not included in the was killed in the Vimy Ridge battle – daily list until 4 September 1916. He was described here from the same website buried at Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, ‘Canadian troops took over the front line at Longueval. Vimy Ridge during the winter of 1916. There are three men named Mossop After training and rehearsal, they began among the men who served and returned. heavy bombardment on 20 March 1917. These are C Mossop, N Mossop and F Artillery fire continued for days before the Mossop. It is tempting to think that C and Canadian infantry divisions attacked the N might be Edward’s brothers Clement and ridge on Easter Monday 9 April, gaining Nelson, but this has not been possible to control 3 days later. confirm. There will be more about all those It is not entirely clear what Henry who served and returned in a future Moffat’s connection was to the Eaglesfield, Journal. Blindbothel and Mosser parish that led to his inclusion on the Paddle Roll of Honour. Henry Bell Moffat Henry Bell Moffat was born on 30 October William Ballantine Porter 1893, registered at Cockermouth. Walter William’s birth was registered in Head discovered that he was a private in Cockermouth in the 4th quarter of 1887 the Canadian Infantry (781738) when he and he was killed in the Battle of the was killed on 15 May 1917 aged 23. Somme on 18 November 1916. William Henry was the son of John Moffat, a coal was found in the 1911 census living in a hewer and Jane his wife. They were at five roomed property at Eaglesfield with Dearham in 1901, but had moved to West his widowed aunt, Hannah Porter. Hannah End Farm, Gilcrux by 1911 where the was born at Mosser, while William gave his family was engaged in farming. There were birthplace as and his six children in total; William, Mary Jane, occupation as farm labourer. In 1901 the John, Fletcher, Robert and Stanley Taylor. Eaglesfield address was more specific. Henry’s passage to Canada in May 1913 William, his father John, a joiner and has been identified. He was listed as a John’s wife Hannah were at 2, South End, steerage passenger on the SS Teutonic, on Eaglesfield. Investigation revealed that its way to Quebec City. Henry was on his William’s mother had been born Mary Ann own, a single man who claimed to have Norman. She married John Porter in the been farming for six years and to be 2nd quarter of 1878 at Cockermouth and looking for work as a farmer. He gave his they had two sons, John and William. Mary religion as Wesleyan. Ann’s death was registered at Henry enlisted in the 28th battalion, Cockermouth in the 2nd quarter of 1891 Canadian Infantry, Saskatchewan and it seems likely that she had been 7 staying with her parents Thomas and Elizabeth Norman at Eaglesfield with young William as that is where they were in the 1891 census. John and the elder son of the same name were in Workington where Mary Ann’s sister Hannah was acting as housekeeper. John and Hannah were married 2 years later, so Hannah was both William’s aunt and his step-mother. It has not proved possible to find out when or where William joined up. He was a private in the Border Regiment (27998), serving in the 11th Battalion and is listed as having been killed in action on 18 November 1916. The Cumberland News reported William as wounded on 30 December 1916, as wounded and missing on 20 January the following year and finally on 2 February 1918 as missing over a year, presumed dead. There is a full article to be read in the issue for 20th January 1917. William was buried at Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval. His medal roll listing shows that he served with 3/5 Border The War Memorial at St. Philip’s Church – regiment with the service number 3670 th photograph Derek Denman and 11 with the number 27998. The register of soldiers’ effects showed a Cockermouth and was killed in action on balance of £3.0.0 to be sent to Mrs 18 September 1918. He gave his Hannah Porter. birthplace as Great Broughton and residence as Brigham. He initially enlisted Harry Robinson in the Border Regiment (39604) but was It has not proved possible to conclusively private 51416 of the 7th Battalion, East identify this man. A search of censuses did Yorkshire Regiment when he died. He is not produce a suitable candidate living remembered on the Vis-en-Artois locally, so I searched the database of men memorial. The 7th (service) Battalion, East killed in the war and the most likely is Yorkshire Regiment was formed at Henry Robinson who enlisted at Beverley on 16 September 1914 and came 8 under orders of 50th Brigade, 17th total - Martin, Hannah, John, Charles, (Northern) Division. It landed at Boulogne Fanny, Frederick and Florence. Although on 14 July 1915 and saw service on the the children were all born in Cumberland, Western Front. The date of Henry’s death the eldest at Graythwaite, the youngest 3 coincides with the battle of Epehy in which elsewhere in Mosser, their father George the 17th Northern Division was engaged. was from Castle Howard in Yorkshire and Returning to censuses, in 1901, there his wife from Lancashire. is a Henry Robinson resident at Great Nothing definite can be stated about Broughton who was born at Greysouthen his military career and there is nothing in in 1897. He was living with his parents newspaper indexes to throw any further William and Sarah and two younger light on his service. brothers Tom and Joseph. The father and There were two promising leads, both an older boarder who is also called William of which disappeared into the sand when Robinson are both coal miners. followed through. Firstly another man Information in this census suggests called Frederick William Storr is listed on Henry’s birth is that registered at the Canadian Virtual War memorial but the Cockermouth in Q3 of 1896. Henry’s date of birth given is 27 March 1892 which parents and two brothers were still living does not match our local man. He is at Great Broughton in 1911, but Henry probably the Fred Wm Storr whose cannot be found then. It is not clear why passage to Canada, along with other he is included on the Paddle Roll of family members has been found. But they Honour. can be matched to a family which appears It has been similarly difficult to match in censuses in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, him to newspaper reports. There are too so are not our local man. many H Robinsons and insufficient Walter Head found a William Storr additional information to make matches. who enlisted at Hull age 18yrs 4mths. This man joined the 2nd battalion, the Duke of William Routledge Wellington, West Riding Regiment, It has been impossible to identify this man formally East Yorkshire Regiment, number either in censuses, through military 24397. He was awarded the British War records or in local newspaper indexes. The medal and Victory medal and died on 3 closest match is a man who was the son of May 1917. As our man’s father was a butcher in Cockermouth Main Street in originally from Yorkshire it seemed feasible 1901 and 1911. If correct, his parents that he may have travelled there to join were Joseph and Kate Routledge and he relations and enlisted at Hull. Walter was born about 1880 at Bootle. In both advised me that Skelton Eland from Lorton censuses, he was named William G had served with the Duke of Wellington Routledge and the only apparent local Regiment. However this is clearly a connection is that he had a sister different man as he gave his birthplace as Catherine or Katie who was born at Hull and an address in Hull and can be Eaglesfield. The only William Routledge in traced in the 1901 and 1911 censuses with military records is from Upper Denton and family in Hull. He remains a mystery. was living at Carlisle before his military service. Observations It is very difficult to find patterns and Frederick William Storr common stories among these eight men. Frederick William Storr was born at Mosser Nothing can be said about the military and his birth was registered at careers of two; Routledge and Storr. Of Cockermouth in the 3rd quarter of 1891. In the remaining six, Moffat emigrated to 1911, he was a farm servant at Whinfell Canada, served with the Saskatchewan Hall, Whinfell, working for William Allason, Regiment and was killed at Vimy Ridge. while his widowed father was farming at Mossop served with the Royal Welsh Aikbank Mill. Ten years earlier in 1901, Fusilliers and died at an early stage in the the whole family was found together at battle of the Somme. Robinson began High Hollins, Brackenthwaite. Frederick’s service in the Border Regiment, but was parents were George Martin and Hannah serving with the East Yorkshire Regiment Storr and there were seven children in when he was killed at Epehy. Only three 9 men served throughout with the Border consequence the British forces made Regiment; Bartle who was wounded in the strikingly little progress on 1 July or in the early part of the Battle of the Somme, but days and weeks that followed. The French lived on to lose his life at Langemarck, part forces at the southern end of the line had of the Passchendale offensive; Long and more success, possibly because their Porter who were in the same battalion and advance bombardment was sprung only both died on the last day of the Somme. hours before the attack, thus ensuring a The names of Bartle, Long, Mossop, Porter degree of surprise. The British troops were and Robinson are all found on the British for the most part forced back into their war medal and victory medal roll. trenches by the effectiveness of the It was the Battle of the Somme that German machine gun response. Many touched more of these men than any troops were killed or wounded the moment other, so it seems appropriate to say a they stepped out of the front lines into No little more about it. It was the main Allied Man's Land. Many men walked slowly attack on the Western Front during 1916 towards the German lines, laden down and is famous chiefly on account of the with supplies, expecting little or no loss of 58,000 British troops (one third of opposition. They made incredibly easy them killed) on the first day of the battle, targets for the German machine-gunners. 1 July 1916, which to this day remains a This battle saw the first use of tanks, one-day record. The attack was launched with a renewed attack by British forces in on a 30 kilometre front, from north of the the north-east of the region on 15 river Somme between Arras and Albert, September. There were 50 in total, and ran from 1 July until 18 November, at sourced from the Machine Gun Corps, but which point it was called off. suffered from mechanical and other The offensive was planned late in failures which reduced their numbers to 1915 and was intended as a joint French- 24. They may have had a measure of British attack, predominately French. The surprise when first used against the main aim was to drain the German forces German opposition, but they proved of reserves, although territorial gain was a unwieldy and highly unreliable. secondary aim. In the event, British forces On 13 November the British forces comprised by far the bulk of the offensive made a final effort on the far east of the forces. salient in the Battle of the Ancre, in which The attack was preceded by an eight- they captured the field fortress of day bombardment of the German lines, Beaumont Hamel. Despite the slow but beginning on Saturday 24 June. The steady British advance, poor weather expectation was that the ferocity of the including snow brought a halt to the bombardment would entirely destroy all Somme offensive on 18 November. forward German defences, enabling the During the attack the British and attacking British troops to practically walk French had gained only 12 kilometres of across No Man's Land and take possession ground, the taking of which resulted in of the German front lines. 1,500 British 420,000 estimated British, plus a further guns, together with a similar number of 200,000 French casualties. German French guns, were employed in the casualties were estimated to run at around bombardment. However the advance 500,000. British commander, Sir Douglas artillery bombardment failed to destroy Haig's conduct of the battle caused - and either the German front line barbed wire or still causes - great controversy. Critics their heavily-built concrete bunkers. Much argued that his inflexible approach merely of the munitions used by the British proved repeated flawed tactics; others argue that to be 'duds' - badly constructed and Haig's hand was forced in that the Somme ineffective. Many charges did not go off offensive was necessary in order to relieve and even today farmers of the Western the French at Verdun. Either way, it was a Front unearth many tons of unexploded dreadful waste of young life 'iron harvest' each year. If anyone can help with further During the bombardment the German information about any of the men named, troops sought effective shelter in their or correct any errors I might have made, I bunkers and emerged only when the would be very pleased to hear from them. British artillery bombardment ceased. As a Ploughing with Horses 10

by Walter Head pattern was where the ploughing started in the middle of the field and worked out Ploughing is the process of turning over towards the edges of the field. The second the upper layer of earth to bring fresh method was the Casting pattern where the nutrients to the surface, aerate the soil ploughing started at each edge of the field and to bury the perennial weeds and and worked towards the centre of the field. remains of previous crops. There was great personal pride in being The gradual introduction during the able to plough a straight furrow, especially early 1950s of tractors, especially the little if it could be seen from various vantage grey Fergie, onto Cumbrian farms spelt the points. Two methods were in use to make end of the reign of the large Clydesdale the first furrow, either three or more horse as the main powerhouse on the stakes called sighting poles were put into farm, but in the 1940s and into the 1950s the ground across the field and these were some ploughing was still carried out using kept in line during the first plough, or a horses. Spring marked the start of the certain fixed point in the distance was ploughing process which was carried out aimed for. A lesson learnt by one novice on dry days. ploughman during his first attempt when he didn’t use stakes and aimed for a cow Preparing the Horses in the distance, the cow moved. The day started with the preparation of two horses. The horses were well fed to Ploughing Operation prepare them for the arduous task ahead. The first furrow was started approximately The first task was to put on the braffin or six feet in from the edge of the field and collar over the horses head, next the the plough lifted again approximately six harness was attached to the sides of the feet from the other edge of the field. This braffin. Following this a leather band unploughed area was known as the rigging approximately 4” wide was put over the and was to allow the horses room to turn middle of their back with long chains round before making the next furrow in attached which reached from the collar to the reverse direction. It was important to whatever implement was to be used, eg keep going at 90 degrees to the far dyke plough. Two swing lines and a threaptree or hedge right to the end of the furrow to fitted between the horses and the plough. prevent a curve at the end of the furrow. One farmer when told that his furrows The Plough bent to the right at the end of each furrow The plough in the advertisement and said “as long as the two ends don’t meet photograph on the front cover was made to form a circle I don’t care”. Once the first by W. Robinson of Cockermouth. At the furrow was made in each direction then front of the plough was a cutter which cut one horse walked in the furrow bottom a way through the ground, this was which had just been made to ensure followed by the plough point called a further furrows were parallel to the first. plough shoe. The shoes would gradually The ploughman followed behind the horses wear away but could be replaced with a on foot and steered the plough by holding new one. Behind this was the mouthboard onto the stilts or handles, he also held two or mouldboard which turned over the long reigns to steer the horses. The ground to the right making a furrow ploughman had to be aware that the approximately nine inches wide and four to plough would tend to deviate if the plough five inches deep. Two wheels could be struck a large stone and also that the attached to the sides of the plough to ground varied from soft areas to hard enable it to be transported from the farm compacted portions. When the field had to the field been ploughed the area called rigging was ploughed to complete the process. There Preparing the Field was a break taken at lunchtime when the At this time most farms were relatively horses were fed again back at the farm. small, typically 50 to 100 acres and They were fed again at the end of the day. subsequently the fields were quite small in Approximately half an acre of ground size. There were two established methods would be ploughed in one day. of ploughing the field. The Gathering 11

Joe Benn with Jewel

My thanks go to Joe Benn for his help with article. Joe was born at Whinfell Hall, Lorton on 24th September 1928 to parents Margaret and Isaac Benn. The family moved to Dean in 1932. Plough Shoe 12

Discovering Derventio: a Papcastle’s Roman fort, somewhat View of Roman Papcastle. hidden at the highest point of the village, by Roger Asquith without public access or over view, was occupied from late first century until early The Society’s November talk, by Mark fourth century. Past archaeological Graham, provided an interesting and investigations have been limited such that entertaining insight into the recent the layout has been only partly archaeological discoveries at Papcastle. established.1 Knowledge of the vicus, the Mark, a local resident and lead extra mural settlement, derived from archaeologist with Grampus Heritage, many chance finds and, in recent years, facilitated and directed the investigations, from small scale archaeological work initially as part of the Heritage Lottery preceding housing development. Time funded Bassenthwaite Reflections Team, in 1998, took their customary three community archaeology project, and days to reveal remains of strip houses in a thereafter, from July 2011 to the close of garden and to conclude that the vicus 2015, as the Heritage Lottery funded extended further than previously recorded, Discovering Derventio project. The night of at Sibby Brows. The Archaeological the talk was notably wild and wet, limiting Assessment Report of Cockermouth and the attendance, so in view of the Papcastle, 2006, observed that ‘the nature significance of the discoveries from both of the Roman vicus at Papcastle is local history and wider perspectives, a unknown … , the extent of the vicus is still recap is given here. uncertain.’ Also, incidentally, ‘there is no evidence of Roman settlement in Cockermouth’. The November 2009 floods scoured Broomlands, the area bounded by the river Derwent and Low Road, behind and beyond The Lakes Home Centre, exposing Roman remains and suggesting that the Roman settlement of Derventio may have extended south of the river, far beyond its known limits. The more sceptical view was that the Romans would not have built on the flood plain, and, even if they had, centuries of river meandering and flood events would have destroyed any archaeology. The Broomlands investigation, involving a full geophysics survey and targeted excavation, proved particularly revealing. Significant Roman features covered those parts not wiped away by flood water, relating to a period of intensive occupation extending from early second century to late third century, with some level of occupation in the first and fourth centuries.

The mill with timber lined mill race. 1 Hartley, S. 2006 County Council and The wheel would have been undershot, English Heritage. Extensive Urban Survey. around 2.5m diameter. Photograph Roger Archaeology Assessment Report: Cockermouth Asquith and Papcastle. 13

The SW end of Broomlands held a of the site showed military characteristics, civilian settlement with timber structures, with a large rectangular building, 17m by enclosures with domestic/small scale 8m, the corner of what was probably a industrial activity. A section of Roman temporary marching camp and a large road, some 8.5m wide, was uncovered sub-circular feature, circa 50m across, aligned NE/SW, parallel to the Derwent, built over a ditch, the fill of which included opposite the present lane from Papcastle first Century pottery. The most spectacular village down to the river bank. The NE end discovery was the water mill, with timber- 14

How complex can a bath complex get? buildings, a mansio – the travel lodge of its Photograph Roger Asquith. time for officials/dignitaries - and bath house complex, revealed below the village lined millrace, one of the most complete near the river. Several phases were examples yet recorded in Britain. Massive evident, the early mansio and bath house stone block walls on clay and cobble with underfloor heating being followed by foundations characterise the military two further substantial buildings with buildings, including the mill. The lack of similar function. Preservation was good, occupation layers prevented further some walls standing to 1m, the most interpretation of the rectangular building spectacular having three complete arches. or the circular feature – an amphitheatre This was evidently a significant centre or equestrian training arena? from late first century onwards, declining So far, no river crossing and no through third century and largely cemetery. The geophysics techniques abandoned by the mid-fourth century. A having succeeded beyond expectation at skeleton discovered in the underfloor Broomlands the survey area was extended heating system proved to be that of a local greatly to the north, west and east of man of the late Roman era, rather than Papcastle - along the Roman roads that of an over-worked 21st century towards Maryport and Carlisle looking for volunteer! the cemetery, and along the Derwent’s On the east side of the present north bank looking for the river crossing. village, below The Mount estate, was found Only where landowner permission was not a section of Roman road, a continuation of forthcoming did gaps remain – including the Carlisle – Papcastle Roman road, the area of the fort itself. clearly heading towards the mansio/bath Still no river crossing and no house complex, a river crossing and on to cemetery. Any disappointment was offset the coast rather than to the fort east gate. by the spectacular and substantial civic 15

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This road looks more like an extension to have existed nearby. What, we might the coast of the Stanegate, as opposed to wonder, lies (or lay) under the railway simply a link between forts. Finds from embankment and road? several roadside buildings and enclosures The Romans are renowned for their again pointed to late first century to roads, these were direct (i.e. often steep) early/mid-fourth century occupation. to allow rapid communication and With Derventio straddling the river deployment of troops. So how were there had to be a convenient crossing materials and supplies delivered to the point; likewise, somewhere, a cemetery. fort? It seems most likely that the heavy The final phase of the project revisited amphorae of olive oil or wine from Broomlands. By a process of deduction, southern Spain or Gaul, for example, based on known road lines, one abutment would have been transported up the and one pier of a bridge were excavated a Derwent in small barges rather than few metres from the present course of the carried on ox carts. The reputedly Roman Derwent, showing there had been a slight earth work at Papcastle, known locally as shift of the river over the last 1500 years. ‘Friars Walk’, a well-constructed, graded An abundance of worked stone, re-used as road leading from the riverside towards rubble in-fill, showed that the construction the fort, fits with this theory. Firm was of a later, or even post, Roman evidence, or another plausible explanation, period. More likely, perhaps, the bridge for the feature is yet to be found. The was repaired at that time – using two function and date of a large wooden fragments of inscriptions, two fragments of building (warehouse/granary or Viking altars, two carved statue heads and the hall?!), which showed up, as post holes, on base of a third statue. Interpretation of the geophysics survey near the Derwent these provides tantalising links to those just west of the Papcastle by-pass, are still early inhabitants: their lives, beliefs and to be determined. As to the Friars and origins. The garrison, at the time of one where they were going – well that is particular dedication, was a part-mounted another question and another era. Also in cohort of 1000 men. ‘Classis Moesica’ the wider landscape to the North and West figures in another dedication – what of Papcastle the geophysics survey brought men of the Roman Danube/Black confirmed a small number of probable Sea fleet to these parts? The sculpture round houses. One of these, in a ‘D’ heads of Attis and Cybele suggest a cult shaped enclosure, was excavated. Pottery temple nearby. found in the enclosure ditch would point to The river gods, however, were third Century occupation. obviously not happy with the It could be said that Discovering archaeologists. The water level rose Derventio has exceeded expectations, rapidly, flooding the bridge excavation and putting Roman Papcastle on a par with curtailing the investigation, though not Corbridge and Carlisle. Or that, by virtue before samples of structural timbers had of the Broomlands discoveries, been taken. Cockermouth has now acquired a Roman The SW corner of Broomlands, next to heritage! the old railway embankment, proved This article is based on Mark Graham’s challenging, with little structure but many talk and the Discovering Derventio finds of a ritual/funerary character. Small website, where updates and reports will votive offerings included a deer, a boar continue to be added.2 Due to space and an axe of copper alloy, also miniature limitations little has been said here oil lamps and libation cups. Perhaps the regarding the large assemblage of finds – star find was a stone relief depicting the coins, pottery, personal effects – which Genius Loci or ‘spirit of the place’, a figure nevertheless provided essential dating and displaying both classical and Celtic usage information. A selection of items can features, holding a cornucopia. Cremation– be viewed in the Discovering Derventio type deposits (burning, bone, pot shards) display at Cockermouth Town Hall. proved to be non-human. A temple structure and cemetery would logically 2 www.discoverderventio.co.uk

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In The News Moreover, there were still new places to by Roz Southey go, roads over which motors had allegedly never travelled. The Liverpool Echo on 30 If places like Loweswater had ever been June 1914 printed a rare account (under isolated from the goings-on in the rest of the heading of Motoring Adventure the country, that period was long gone by amongst the Fells) of what purports to be the first thirty years of the 20th century. the first crossing of such a road, although Improvements in transport had opened up claims of this sort abounded and were areas previously difficult to reach – these often contradictory. ‘Mosser Fell, improvements combined with the Cockermouth,’ says the paper, ‘was for the increasing wealth and leisure time of the first time crossed by motor-car. A party middle classes to promote recreational travelling from Workington to Loweswater travel. More people looked to get away got astray and took the fell route. They from sprawling urban centres with all their completed the passage safely after attendant difficulties, to places they stopping to allow their red-hot brakes to perceived to be quieter and more problem- cool.’ The paper then allowed a whiff of free. Romance to creep into its description of As knowledge of the Lake District the road. expanded and travel to it became easier, reports on events within the region The road, which is as steep as increasingly appeared in newspapers as far Kirkstone Pass, is a rough mountain afield as Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Exeter, track, mainly used by the Fell as well as in journals. Newspapers shepherds. Cut along the Fell breast, reports have their problems – they are it commands one of the loveliest rarely comprehensive, their accounts may views in Lakeland, Loweswater Lake be incomplete or biased, or based on lying at the foot of a precipitous slope, second- or even third-hand reporting. It is some hundreds of feet below. often difficult to put the events they relate into context and to establish their Even more adventurous outings could significance or typicality. But on the other be had by those who were prepared to go hand, they excel at relating everyday take risks. It’s easy to forget how rapidly events which are not generally chronicled technology seemed to be moving at the in more official documents, and for that time, particularly in the field of transport, reason can be unequalled in bringing the with the development of the bicycle, motor minutiae of the past to vivid life. car and motor bike, and ultimately, the aeroplane – and how daring such things *** could seem. Three months before the party from Workington had their Motoring was a relatively new experience unexpected and accidental adventure on at the beginning of the 20th century and the Mosser road, an elderly Loweswater still carried a sense of adventure with it, resident had travelled south with the particularly in a mountainous area such as deliberate intention of trying something the Lake District. Roads could be new. As the Western Times of 9 March rudimentary and were designed for a 1914 recounted: different type of traffic, provoking letters from irate motorists to bodies such as the Mr T Robinson of Loweswater, a Cockermouth Rural District Council Cumberland dalesman, has returned complaining about poor surfaces, difficult home from London with a certificate drainage, and dangerous corners such as from Mr Graham White that he has Rannerdale Hause on the road from been aloft with him in an aeroplane at Buttermere to Loweswater. Cars too were Hendon. Mr Robinson is seventy-two still in the process of development and years of age, and Mr White informed improvement, and their confident owners him that he was the oldest passenger tended to believe they could do anything he has yet flown with. and go anywhere, sometimes running into difficulties in the process (as explained in a The extent to which this would have previous article on Honister Pass). been regarded as an amazing exploit by 18 local residents is attested by the fact that local knowledge to newcomers. Guide Robinson felt it necessary to bring back a books like Jenkinson’s Guide to the English certificate to show that his story was true. Lakes of 1876 advised visitors on where to Identifying the particular Mr Robinson go for such help, listing such things as who had this adventure, however, charges for conveyances, ponies and demonstrates some of the difficulties of guides, and commenting on the comfort or using newspaper records. The 1911 census otherwise of various local hotels. shows only two Robinsons who might have Those non-residents who decided to go been the gentleman in question (who it alone and rely on their own resources should have been 68 or 69 at the time of often came to grief, as even the census), and neither are satisfactory knowledgeable individuals such as E. F. matches. Neither of them had the initial T Dodgson found. Mr Dodgson was secretary – though to make an error in an initial of the Derwent Fishery Board and a would have been easy enough – and both lieutenant in the Border Volunteers, and as of them were recorded as being only 62 such must have thought himself a capable years old. Moreover, John Jefferson man with a sporting gun, but, as the Robinson of Mockerkin identified himself Edinburgh Evening News reported, things on the census as a ‘manager and director’ went very wrong when he decided to and Joseph Henry Robinson of Foulsyke celebrate the opening of the hunting merely noted that he had ‘private means’. season with a lone expedition. To describe either of them as a ‘dalesman’ (usually denoting a yeoman farmer) would Mr Dodgson … was grouse shooting by therefore have been stretching a point, himself on Carling Knot, near although it is worth noting that both of Loweswater, when a shot bird fell them would have had sufficient money to down a precipitous slope. In following, undertake what must have been an the sportsman slipped, and the gun expensive outing. falling from him stock first, the heather twigs discharged it, and the *** contents of one barrel entered his ankle and the other his thigh. The Robinson, and the party crossing the wounded man was not found until Mosser road in their motor car in 1914, half-past nine the same night, when a might have regarded their exploits as sheep farmer named Swinburn [one of great fun but it is more doubtful whether the three brothers at Oak Bank] heard another visitor to Loweswater, Mr E. H. cries, and found Mr Dodgson waving a Dodgson of Cockermouth, would have white handkerchief, much exhausted agreed with the assessment of the through loss of blood. He was first Edinburgh Evening News that his conveyed to Scale Hill Hotel, where he experience in August 1906 was a ‘sporting received medical attention, and then adventure’. home. From the middle of the nineteenth century, Loweswater had been described Whenever anyone came to grief in the by papers as ‘capital sporting country’. valley, they were apparently always ‘Sport’ had a narrow definition at this transported first to Scale Hill Hotel, where period, referring to country pursuits such presumably there were resources for as hunting, shooting and fishing rather medical treatment, and from where than to activities like athletics, cricket and messages could be sent requesting further football. Houses put up for sale frequently assistance. targeted gentlemen from outside the area by emphasising the wonderful hunting or *** shooting available, and many local inhabitants earned their living from Mr Dodgson was acting entirely legally, if a catering for sporting visitors, from the trifle rashly, in going out on his own. Some women who rented out rooms or cottages, years later an example of decidedly to the fishermen on Crummock Water who unsporting behaviour took place at the operated and hired out boats, or the local Loweswater and Brackenthwaite Show in farmers and huntsmen who imparted their an incident that has a startlingly modern 19 feel. The show was some sixty or so years overnight in isolated fields. The proximity old in 1929, and was always highly of the motorway then enabled the slate competitive although well-regulated and thieves to get away from the scenes of well-run. The world of hound trailing had their crimes relatively quickly, and their been suffering some recent scandals, booty, heavy as it was, could be carried however, including one occasion on which away in vans. the favourite in the Cumberland and The thieves who got away with a Westmorland Hound Trails had been substantial haul in July 1921, however, allegedly ‘nobbled’. This accusation had had no such aids, and their strength and never been proved but many involved in tenacity, and determination to carry out the sport were uneasily convinced that their crime, are oddly admirable, or would underhand activity was taking place, and be if those virtues had been turned to the Loweswater show in September raised more socially acceptable ends. The thieves’ allegations of interference with races, choice of place to carry out the crime could possibly coupled with odd betting patterns. not have been more remote – Floutern Mr J Crowle, Secretary to the Hound Tarn, high in the mountains behind Trailing Association, who was officiating at Melbreak – and their illicit gains consisted the Show trails, became suspicious of one of a very substantial haul of fish, or so the of the dogs on the starting line. The Lancashire Evening Post reported, Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer although it isn’t clear how the paper could reported on 14 September that: be so precise.

Mr Crowle challenged a hound in the Floutern Tarn, at the foot of Great line for the start of the trail, as being Borne, in the Ennerdale Fells, was an unentered hound about to be netted by poachers at the week-end, slipped [started] under the name of who succeeded in draughting very one that had been entered. At the thoroughly the waters, which are finish of the trail the hound that ought about 400 yards long and 150 yards to have been slipped, but for which broad, and in securing five large bags the unknown puppy had been of trout. substituted, is reported to have come The poachers, from whatever district in with the other competitors. It is they came, had a long journey to alleged that the entered hound had in make to reach the tarn, and, laden accordance with a pre-arranged plan, with their booty, they must have had been put on the trail a short distance a tedious journey home. Floutern Tarn from home, in ignorance of Mr lies in the route of Lake country Crowle’s challenge. Both hounds were tourists travelling from Ennerdale to detained, and an inquiry instituted. Loweswater, or vice versa. This is not the first time Floutern Tarn Unhappily, this is one of those has been netted. It was visited twenty occasions on which the papers did not years ago by poachers, and a similarly follow up a story, and further research good haul made then. The tarn is with the relevant bodies would be needed occasionally fished by anglers, and to find what, if anything, became of the was reputed to hold a goodly stock of incident. Given the amount of money that trout. could be won at such events, it’s clear, however, that racing-fixing was not Where the poachers could have disposed uncommon. of such a large quantity of a highly perishable commodity is difficult to *** envisage, but, assuming they could have done so – and they no doubt had a market And finally … in mind before they went out poaching – The very remoteness of some of the the trip could have been extremely fells can encourage crime, as was shown profitable. by the spate of thefts of slates from barn roofs in the late twentieth century, when thieves found they could work unobserved 20

How Many Sheep were in was part of the parish of St Bees, its tithes the property of the Abbey there. The Loweswater Township in tithes, including wool and lambs, were 1839? taken and sold by the crown. Those for the by Derek Denman chapelry of Loweswater came down to the Fletchers of Cockermouth, then to the The answer is 6,324 in Loweswater Fletcher Vanes of Armathwaite Hall. belonging to thirty different owners, with Similarly the tithes of the parish of 737 lambs belonging to Loweswater farms Brigham, which covered most of the which were wintered outside of the Society’s townships, became the property township. It was only in 1801 that there of the Lowthers. Society members will was a count of the people in Loweswater recall that Lord Lowther, having both the for the first census, and only in 1841 that advowson (the right of nomination) and the census enumerator made records of the tithes, appointed William Wordsworth’s each household. So why was there an son, John, as vicar of Brigham. enumeration of sheep and lambs by owner Over the centuries the nature of tithes in 1838/9, and how is there a record? changed, as it became inconvenient to collect in kind one in ten of the increase of Tithes and the need to count sheep every animal or vegetable farm product, The answer lies in the tithes. In 1839 the such as sheaves of corn, duck eggs or tithes of Loweswater were commuted to a swarms of bees, for holding in the tithe rent charge under the Tithe Commutation barn. Often cash payments were agreed in Act of 1836. Tithes have biblical origin, lieu, but practices varied greatly, and the and represent the one tenth of the rights to tithes, like other property, were increase in living things which were due to frequent subjects of disputes and litigation, maintain the priests for their services. as well as increasing objections on When the medieval English parishes were principle. For example by Quakers, who created, the tithes of the farms within the could not accept the validity of tithes as a parish boundaries were the major source form of property. Even among people who of support for the parish priest. Tithes did accept tithes, there were numerous were due and collected in kind, and so disputes, such as that in 1763 over tithes from sheep the parish priest would have of wool and lambs in other chapelries in St every tenth fleece and every tenth lamb – Bees Parish, in the Eskdale and Wasdale which he would take and use, or sell, or area, where tithes were owned by the exchange. These tithes of wool and lambs Stanley family. This can be read on David were the major element of Loweswater Bradbury’s ‘Past Presented’ website at tithes, and the cause of the need to count http://www.pastpresented.ukart.com/eskd sheep in Loweswater before 1839. ale/tithes2.htm . In rectorial parishes, the rector retained the tithes as a part of the living, The Tithe Commutation in but by the 1530s some 40% of parishes, Loweswater, 1839 and their greater tithes, had become The Tithe Commutation Act of 1836 was monastic property. After the dissolution of passed within a reforming period when a the monasteries those parishes were belief in political economy, or economics, returned to the reformed church, but their was driving policy. All the old practices and tithes, like other monastic property, were agreements were to be swept away, taken by the crown and were sold to lay together with the costs of the professionals owners. Those parishes were vicarial, with who exploited the disputes, to be replaced the vicar usually having the right to the by a tithe rent charge on the land, which lesser tithes, but also being supplied with a would be paid to the tithe owner. In some living from the lay impropriator of the places this had already been done, often greater tithes. The greater tithes were when the commons were enclosed, but usually the ‘predial’ tithes of corn, hay and otherwise the tithe payers in every tithing wood, while lesser tithe generally the place were required to agree a rent charge ‘mixed’ tithes from stock, but of course in and to the apportionment of that charge northern wool was a very over farms and land. The commutation important part of the produce. Loweswater was made either by agreement where 21

there was a sufficient consenting majority, tithe owner of both great and small tithes or by legal force from the Tithe was Sir Francis Fletcher Vane of Commissioners – such as was necessary in Armathwaite Hall, but he was neither Loweswater and in Mosser, where the present nor represented. He had leased many Quakers could not participate the tithes, and their collection, to Jonathan voluntarily, not recognising tithes. Pearson, yeoman farmer of Low Park in In 1839 Loweswater received its visit Loweswater. ‘I have been lessee of the from the Assistant Tithe Commissioner, Loweswater tithes since 1833. I have pd John Job Rawlinson, Esquire, Barrister at £50 a year rent, clear of all rates. I did not Law, who stayed at Graythwaite, in draw the tithes. I let them for the most Mosser, in May 1839. He conducted the part for each year. … I gave notice on the business at the Kirkstile, reaching a Church door that I was going to look at the conclusion in September. He needed to different stocks and the sheep of the establish the current practice and recent township. I did accordingly … go round … level of the tithes, to determine the and take account of the different stocks. It amount of rent charge which was now to took me four days at least … . It took more be apportioned on a different basis. The time to collect than to value, it took more 22 than a week to collect [the money]’. In number of 727 lambs. The table attempts 1839 Jonathan Pearson was also taking on to relate the holdings of sheep with the a role as a trustee of the new school in farm tenements, their owners and farmers. Loweswater. The rights to graze sheep on the common Over the seven years to 1835, up to were associated with the ownership of the the passing of the Act, the gross tithes various farm tenements in Loweswater, assessed per annum averaged £73 6s and as these were customary rights they 7¼d. The tithes of wool and lambs was the could not be detached from the farms and greatest part of this total, because the sold (setting aside stinted pastures and old predial tithes, of corn, hay and wood, for monastic rights). Therefore there should the whole of the township of Loweswater be a numerical link between the sheep amounted to a prescription totalling just counted by Jonathan Pearson and the £2 5s 8¾d. Just this small sum had been customary rights or quotas of Loweswater levied on the enclosed land in Loweswater, landowners to keep sheep on the common. Thackthwaite, Mockerkin and Sosgill. From In the table, columns 1-3 are taken now on, the major value of the tithes of directly from Jonathan Pearson’s records wool and lambs, and the smaller amount supplied for assessing the tithes of wool from cattle, would be removed from the and lambs. Columns 4 and 5 are derived owners of the animals and charged on the from the tithe apportionment, which list all land of the farms. The grazing rights on the owners of farm tenements, and the the six thousand acres of unenclosed farmers who have leased their farms from commons, depastured by the sheep, arose the owners. Column 4 gives any from those farm tenements. Loweswater farm owned by those on From the gross tithes of £73 6s 7¼d, Jonathan Pearson’s list, which would give and after poor rates, expenses and bad direct rights for the sheep. Column 5 gives debts, the lessee of the tithes, Jonathan any Loweswater farm where the person Pearson was left on average with £64 14s named by Jonathan Pearson had a farm 7¼d. That £64 14s 7d became the new tenancy, which could give the right to have rent charge awarded to Sir Francis Fletcher sheep on the common. Vane, considerably more than the £50 that In Loweswater in the seventeenth he had received from the lessee. Thus the century it was the norm for a landowner to whole of the monetary benefit of the live on the farm, farm the land directly, change that had resulted from the work of and keep sheep on the common, as a the tithe payers and officials came to Sir yeoman farmer. The general rule was that Francis, who had not needed to lift a the owner should keep no more sheep on finger, except to instruct his agent to write the common in summer than they could in acceptance. overwinter on their enclosed land. In the Fortunately the tithe payers were table, Richard Bell of Latterhead spared the expense of a survey for a tithe exemplifies that practice, the Bells being plan, because they agreed to use, with the last statesman farmers in Loweswater modifications, the plan which John into the twentieth Century. However, it can Marshall had commissioned for his manor be seen that in 1839 this was becoming a of Loweswater in 1819. Except that rare example, and probably an ineffective Mockerkin and Sosgill were in the manor of method of controlling numbers. There is a Derwentfells, and so a new and very fine large mismatch both in names and sheep survey and plan was made there. numbers between Jonathan Pearson’s sheep owners and the owners, tenants and Loweswater’s sheep and their owners sizes of farms. There are many sheep In Loweswater the tithes of wool and owners who cannot be linked with farms, lambs were clearly the major element of or where the quantities look unreasonable, the value, much more so than those of and also many farms, not listed, where grain. Those sheep were on the 5871 acres neither the owner nor the farm tenant of unenclosed fells in summer, and given owns sheep. the very limited capacity of the enclosed It must be that the farm tenancies lands of Loweswater, there is little surprise and the rights to keep stock on the that lambs were overwintered elsewhere, common had been managed separately, though there may be surprise at the and had been let to different people. Those 23

Name Numb Number Farms owned Farmed for/rights of other owner er of of lambs by that name Sheep wintered out of the township

Christopher 40 Hill 83a (acres) - Mary Ann Wood Graham Jonathan Iredale 100 Thackthwaite 34a Thackthwaite 69a - late John Iredale Jos Iredale 30 Redhow 81a Oakbank 50a - Thomas Smith Esq Peter Burnyeat 250 50 Latterhead 52a Richard Bell 40 Latterhead 54a Stephen Cowper 60 None Unknown rights Jos Bank 50 None Riggbank & Potter Gill 99a - John Marshall Esq Jonathan Rolin 700 80 None Jonathan Rawlings, Godferhead 150a - Agnes Skelton Edward Nelson 350 50 None Church Stile 23a - Agnes Skelton Jonathan 400 40 None High Cross & Mill Hill 141a - James Simpson Robertson Walker John Birkett 80 None Unknown rights Wm Wilkinson 280 30 None Ask Hill 23a - Mary Wilkinson, and Note: 80 to many Miresyke & Spout House 39a - John Wilkinson John Simon 80 None Watergate 78a - John Cuthbertson Wm Dixon 4 Bottom Jenkinson Place 49a - Daniel (Waterend) 62a Jenkinson Henry Nixon 40 None Unknown rights John Fearon 350 40 Sosgill 2 total Sosgill 4a - Friends MH Pardshaw 131a Jos Fisher 70 None Mockerkin 70a - John Fletcher John Fletcher 40 Mockerkin 4 total 243a (3 farms let) Joseph Mitchell 40 None Mockerkin 49a - Henry Clark, 12a John Stordy, 12a John Sla--- Henry Robinson 150 30 None Rights probably from John Robinson, Place 20a John Bushby 50 Mockerkin 57a, Crabtree Beck & Thrushbank 48a Isaac Dodgson 140 40 Mockerkin 124a Thos Holiday 30 None Fangs 76a - Glebe of Loweswater and Newlands chapels Simnion Proday 200 40 Iredale Place Iredale Place 34a Dinah Hudson 33a, Simeon Prudea Francis Moore 250 30 None Unknown rights Joseph Walker 500 50 None High Nook 105a - Ruth Ann Skelton Wm Simon 1300 160 None Kirkhead 195a - John Hudson, and probably other Hudson holdings Wm Tyson 130 40 Park 14a Jonathan Pearson 550 68 Park 63a Park 7a - John Steel, Gillerthwaite 29a - John Tyson, Muncaster House 4 -Henry Muncaster Richard Clark 20 9 None Probably John Clark 4a and John Jopson 4a, both Buttermere Dubs Total 6324 727

Jonathan Pearson’s enumeration of Loweswater sheep for the tithes of wool and lambs, 1838/9, plus an identification of tenement’s commons rights

24 listed as ‘unknown rights’, John Birkett, generally, the new fixed tithe rent charges Stephen Cowper, Henry Nixon and Francis drove farmers to maximise sheep. Moore, were neither owners of land nor Attempts had been made to enclose and farm tenants, but must have held and divide the commons in 1824 and 1830, used rights to keep sheep from the with the intention, in part, to stop landowners or by sub-letting from the farm overgrazing. But it was not until the 1860s tenants. Francis Moor, who owned 250 that this was accomplished and sheep sheep in 1839, lived in Thackthwaite with farmers could no longer exploit the his wife and family in 1841, being listed in common resource. the census as an agricultural labourer. There was clearly also some Sources specialisation among farmers in keeping Township of Loweswater Tithe File, sheep by leasing a number of additional TNA/IR18/694, Tithe Apportionment, rights or quota, as exemplified by TNA/TR29/7/108, Tithe Maps Jonathan Pearson himself, the lessee of TNA/IR30/7/108 the tithes of wool and lambs. He had 550 Township of Mosser Tithe File, sheep himself and 68 lambs wintered out, TNA/IR18/708 assuming they are additional, which could Township of Buttermere Tithe File, not be explained by his holding at Park of TNA/IR18/591 63 acres. He leased land from his The tithe maps and tithe apportionments neighbours, but clearly leased additional are well known socio-economic sources rights to have sheep on the common from and provided information, with the 1841 more than just the farms identified. This is census, for the Township Maps which the supported by a number of yeomen or of Society has produced. The information on tenant farmers having no sheep. The sheep numbers and owners is from the ability to overwinter sheep on a farm may tithe file for Loweswater. The tithe files for have been lost because the land had been every place provide a record of the process let to others, hence a need to over-winter of the commutation, rather than the more stock outside of the township. But it results, and contain records of meetings, would be very difficult for the manor court information gathered and disputes. While to control the overall numbers on the fells copies of the maps and apportionments in those circumstances, and the pasture are held at county record offices, the tithe would degrade. files are only at The National Archives. The After the tithe commutation there Society holds copies for its townships. were no more tithes of wool and lambs to pay, which also encouraged more sheep The Journal because the tithe rent charge was fixed no Journal 58 will be published for 1st August 2016. matter how many sheep were grazed. Nor Please send contributions by 7th July. was there a need to count sheep in future. Back issues of The Journal are available on-line at During the Buttermere commutation www.derwentfells.com/journal Copyright remains Robert Jopson of Wood House objected to with the individual contributors. a rent charge on his land, which derived Editor Dr Derek Denman. Published by Lorton & from sheep numbers, while he had no Derwent Fells Local History Society, 19 Low Road Close, Cockermouth CA13 0GU or sheep. This was resolved by John Marshall [email protected] taking that charge on Gatesgarth Side. But L&DFLHS – Programme for 2016 Date Event 10th March ‘Emergency – life in the Lake District before 999’ – Judith Schingler 12th May ‘Cumbria’s medieval towns’ – Professor Angus Winchester 9th June The Society’s AGM. Talk to be announced. 14th July ‘Diary of a wood – the life and times of The Holme, Loweswater – Professor John Macfarlane. 8th September ‘From Peasant to Estatesman – the Cumbrian Yeoman Farmer’ – Chris Craghill 10th November ‘Happy Days? Educating the masses – elementary schooling 1818-1918 in Cumbria’ – Dr Michael Winstanley.

Talks are held at the Yew Tree Hall in Lorton at 7.30pm. Visitors £3.00 with refreshments.