Photographs of the market town of Egremont and the village of Beckermet in West Cumbria.
The old 'Low Church' of St Bridget at Beckermet in West Cumbria.
This lovely small church has Norman origins with 13th century modifications and is now rarely used for worship. Calder Abbey appropriated the Church in 1160 and at the dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th Century, the Church was granted to the Le Fleming family who had been benefactors to the Abbey in the 12th Century.
In the churchyard are two ancient crosses.
Inside the old 'Low Church' of St Bridget at Beckermet in West Cumbria.
Two Anglo-Saxon crosses in the old St. Bridget's churchyard, Beckermet in West Cumbria.
The nearest cross has a Gaelic-Norse inscription dating to c1000 A.D. and its neighbour dates to the 10th century.
Two Anglo-Saxon crosses in the old St. Bridget's churchyard, Beckermet in West Cumbria.
This nearest cross has a Gaelic-Norse inscription dating to c1000 A.D. and its neighbour dates to the 10th century.
The Anglo-Saxon runic cross stump in the old St. Bridget's churchyard, Beckermet in West Cumbria.
This cross has a Gaelic-Norse inscription dating to c1000 A.D.
St John's Church, Beckermet in West Cumbria.
Built in the 1870s, but holds a number of anglo-saxon /viking and medieval stones.
NB: Cable removed.
Ancient cross stones in the porch of St John's Church, Beckermet, West Cumbria.
Ashlar stone font in the churchyard of St. John's Church, Beckermet.
The font is believed to be Medieval and was placed in its current positon in the 1930s.
War memorial in the churchyard of St Bridget's Church at Calder Bridge, West Cumbria.
Monks' Bridge on Cold Fell near Calder Bridge in West Cumbria.
A single span packhorse bridge over the River Calder situated above a deep, rocky gorge. Although traditionally thought to be a medieval structure associated with Calder Abbey some 4 km downstream, Monk's Bridge is now believed to have been either constructed or rebuilt in the 17th or 18th centuries. Also known as Matty Benn's Bridge after Martha Benn of Wilton who regularly crossed the bridge in a state of inebriation as she travelled on horseback to and from the Gosforth market at Boonwood.
Egremont Castle, Egremont, Cumbria.
Egremont Castle stands on a hill overlooking Egremont town and the River Ehen. The castle was built by William le Meschin around 1130 on the site of an older motte and bailey fortification. The gatehouse and curtain wall show signs of early Norman herringbone stonework. Egremont was sacked twice by Robert Bruce in the early 14th century. During the Rising of the North in 1569, several noblemen took part in a rebellion to place Mary Queen of Scots on the throne of England. The rebellion failed and Egremont Castle was destroyed. It crumbled into ruin, and only one room survived which was used as a courthouse until 1786. Grade 1 Listed
The gatehouse, Egremont Castle, Egremont, Cumbria.
Egremont Castle stands on a hill overlooking Egremont town and the River Ehen. The castle was built by William le Meschin around 1130 on the site of an older motte and bailey fortification. The gatehouse and curtain wall show signs of early Norman herringbone stonework. Egremont was sacked twice by Robert Bruce in the early 14th century. During the Rising of the North in 1569, several noblemen took part in a rebellion to place Mary Queen of Scots on the throne of England. The rebellion failed and Egremont Castle was destroyed. It crumbled into ruin, and only one room survived which was used as a courthouse until 1786. Grade 1 Listed
Inside the ruins of Egremont Castle, Egremont, Cumbria.
Egremont Castle stands on a hill overlooking Egremont town and the River Ehen. The castle was built by William le Meschin around 1130 on the site of an older motte and bailey fortification. The gatehouse and curtain wall show signs of early Norman herringbone stonework. Egremont was sacked twice by Robert Bruce in the early 14th century. During the Rising of the North in 1569, several noblemen took part in a rebellion to place Mary Queen of Scots on the throne of England. The rebellion failed and Egremont Castle was destroyed. It crumbled into ruin, and only one room survived which was used as a courthouse until 1786. Grade 1 Listed
The Horn of Egremont, Egremont Castle, Egremont, Cumbria.
The Horn of Egremont sculpture by Paul Bainbridge. This 2006 sculpture of a knight blowing the legendary Horn of Egremont stands in the grounds of Egremont Castle. According to legend only true heirs to the castle were able to blow the horn.
William Wordsworth wrote a poem entitled The Horn of Egremont Castle, the first verse of which reads:
'ERE the Brothers through the gateway
Issued forth with old and young,
To the Horn Sir Eustace pointed.
Which for ages there had hung.
Horn it was which none could sound.
No one upon living ground,
Save He who came as rightful Heir.
To Egremont's Domains and Castle fair.'
Florence Mine, Egremont, Cumbria.
Florence Haematite Mine was first sunk in 1914, but was forced to close in 1968 following nationalisation. Beckermet Mines (part of the British Steel Corporation) took it over, but closed the mine in 1980. Some redundant mine workers then invested their redundancy payments in the pit and re-opened part of the underground workings as the Egremont Mining Co. making Florence Mine the last deep working iron ore mine in Europe. It finally closed in 2007 due to the cost of pumping. A group of volunteers took it over as a heritage musuem, but failed to get public funding and the enterprise ended in 2007.
No public access.
Florence Mine, Egremont, Cumbria.
Florence Haematite Mine was first sunk in 1914, but was forced to close in 1968 following nationalisation. Beckermet Mines (part of the British Steel Corporation) took it over, but closed the mine in 1980. Some redundant mine workers then invested their redundancy payments in the pit and re-opened part of the underground workings as the Egremont Mining Co. making Florence Mine the last deep working iron ore mine in Europe. It finally closed in 2007 due to the cost of pumping. A group of volunteers took it over as a heritage musuem, but failed to get public funding and the enterprise ended in 2007.
Florence Mine, Egremont, Cumbria.
Florence Haematite Mine was first sunk in 1914, but was forced to close in 1968 following nationalisation. Beckermet Mines (part of the British Steel Corporation) took it over, but closed the mine in 1980. Some redundant mine workers then invested their redundancy payments in the pit and re-opened part of the underground workings as the Egremont Mining Co. making Florence Mine the last deep working iron ore mine in Europe. It finally closed in 2007 due to the cost of pumping. A group of volunteers took it over as a heritage musuem, but failed to get public funding and the enterprise ended in 2007.
Coast to Coast sculpture of Alfred Wainwright by Colin Telfer at Moor Row, Egremont.
Ponsonby Church near Calder Bridge, Cumbria.
Probably medieval origins with heavy restoration work carried out in 1840 and 1874. The church commands all round views, sitting on raised land surrounded by a dry moat. Ponsonby Church is unusual in that it has no dedication.
Ponsonby Church near Calder Bridge, Cumbria.
Probably medieval origins with heavy restoration work carried out in 1840 and 1874.
Henry Holiday windows in Ponsonby Church near Calder Bridge in West Cumbria.
The windows featuring Faith and Hope were designed by Henry Holiday and made by William Morris and Co.