Photographs of the remote village of Burgh by Sands on the Solway Coast AONB of Cumbria.
St Michael's Church, Burgh by Sands, Cumbria.
This late 12th century church was built on the site of the Roman fort Aballava, and the stones from the fort and probably Hadrian's Wall were using in the building of the church. With 2 metre thick walls, the west tower is the finest and earliest surviving example of a fortified church tower in Cumbria. A narrow window in the base of the tower provided a vantage point to protect the door. After the Reformation the church began to decay, but the tower was still needed as a defence against the looting of Border Reivers.so a firing loop replaced an earlier arrow slit..After the death of King Edward 1, his body was brought to St Michael's where it lay in state until it was moved to Westminster Abbey. Grade 1 listed
King Edward 1 Monument, Burgh by Sands, Cumbria.
Erected in 1685 as a memorial to King Edward 1st of England, the 'Hammer of the Scots'. This lonely spot on the vast expanse of salt marsh of the Solway Firth is claimed to be the place Edward 1 died. Edward had invaded Scotland in 1296 and put the Scots under English rule, but he faced one rebellion after another for the next ten years. In 1306 Robert Bruce took up the cause of Scottish independence and was crowned King of Scots. Edward, now in poor health, was determined to do battle once more but was incapable of riding so was carried north to Carlisle by horse-litter. He stayed at Lanercost Priory while his armies ravaged Scotland. The following year Robert the Bruce rallied his troops for battle and Edward, determined to lead his men into battle one last time, only made it to Burgh by Sands. He died there of dysentry at the age of 68.
Statue of King Edward 1, 'Hammer of the Scots' at Burgh by Sands on the Solway Coast, Cumbria.
This statue by Christopher Kelly was erected on the village green in 2007 to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the death of King's Edward 1 on the saltmarsh at Burgh by Sands.
Drovers Rest, Monkhill, Cumbria.
This old tavern standing close to a narrow crossing point of the River Eden, would have provided a welcome break for many of the Scottish drovers, who had crossed a Solway ford to Bowness en route to the cattle market at The Sands in Carlisle. From spring to autumn these old droving routes would have been thick with herds of cattle and sheep, some even travelling to the south of England.
Drovers Rest pub sign, Monkhill, Cumbria.
This old tavern standing close to a narrow crossing point of the River Eden, would have provided a welcome break for many of the Scottish drovers, who had crossed a Solway ford to Bowness en route to the cattle market at The Sands in Carlisle. From spring to autumn these old droving routes would have been thick with herds of cattle and sheep, some even travelling to the south of England.