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Lat/Long: 54.652960, -03.275976
OS Grid ref: NY 17685 29412
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After a pleasant drive to Wythop Mill I parched in the wide
verge below the old School. I walked down the lane passing the
private house that used to be the Globe Inn, though there is no
sign of its former use. At the bridge I turned right to follow
the narrow lane up towards Fisher Wood. There were some
allotments of the right by Wythop Beck but no houses. I crossed
over Brumstone Bridge and up the steep hill to Eskin. The farm
buildings were set up for horses and there were several in the
fields as I continued on to Old Scales. I was here last week
when I was visiting the site of the old Chapel ruins in Chapel
Wood. |
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Wythop Beck valley. |
Wythop Hall. |
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Today I am continuing to Wythop Hall farm which I’ve not seen
before. There are no public footpaths shown on the map but I was
pleased to see no Keep Out notice on the open access gate at the
end of the adopted road. I walked along the access track to the
farm buildings. The actual Wythop Hall building is not obvious
from the track and I had to walk round some of the main farm
buildings to see it. |
Lintel showing 1678. |
I saw a woman and her dog and asked about datestones,
She pointed out one on the side door of 1678 and another over a
barn door of 1855. The farmer came out and asked what I was
doing. I explained I was just passing through and having a look.
I asked about the annual Aug service in the old chapel ruins and
he said they were still doing them. |
Wythop barn. |
Wythop barn lintel datestone 1855. |
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I left and followed the track east then south to the ruins of
the old Silica mine or quarry. The foundations are mostly
concrete and mostly date from the 1930s. The whole brick making
operation doesn't seem to have been very successful. At the
higher end there is a concrete column about 4m high which looks
like it was for a cable way. I followed the track south and
through a gate heading for Lord’s Seat. Up ahead I could see
another gate on the hillside where there was an old track
heading diagonally upwards. I followed it generally in a SW
direction trying to avoid the large beds of ferns. |
Wythop Silica workings. |
Workings |
Possible cable way. |
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As I approached the summit ridge the ground was very rough but
when I reached the main path between Lord’s Seat and Broom Fell
it was flat and easy. I walked across the mostly flat ground to
the tall cairn on Broom Fell t3hen the steep descent towards
Widow Hause. I met a man walking up as I descended. My original
plan was to descend after Graystones but when I reached the
felled plantation I decided to descend directly to Wythop Moss
as the map shows a track at the base of the mountain. |
Broom Fell cairn and stone shelter. |
Wythop Moss. |
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When I got there it was an
indistinct path but soon improved as I continued west. The map
shows it terminating at the next boundary wall but thankfully it
continued towards the next boundary fence where I continued down
to the remains of the old reservoir banks. It was even disused
at the time of the old Ordnance Survey map in the 1860s. I'm
guessing it was originally to collect storage water for a mill
downstream. I soon found a green track heading down to the south
and followed it through agate to Tom Rudd Beck where I hopped
across and took the west track to the road. |
Corner of the old reservoir. |
Sharp bend in the road. |
Turning right I descended to the zigzag road that Wainwright in
his ‘North Western fell’ guide book describes as “Is this the
sharpest double zigzag on a Lakeland road!”. At Highside Farm I
followed the narrow tarmac (but private) road down to St
Cuthbert’s Church. I was relieved that it was open and was able
to go inside. There was a note about the grave of Ann Sewell who
was murdered on 26th March 1860. The note described her grave’s
location so I went outside to have a look. I was surprised how
large and tall most of the gravestones were. Her gravestone was
adjacent to the north wall.
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St Cuthbert’s Church |
St Cuthbert’s Church. |
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Gravestone of Ann Sewell:
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Grave of Ann Sewell. |
To THE MEMORY of
ANN SEWELL |
Sacred
To the memory of
Ann Sewell
Whose life was
terminated
By the hand of an assassin
While in the
discharge of her humble
Duty on the 26th day of March
AD
1860 aged 26 years.
Stay mortal man oh stay and shed a
tear
For the untimely death recorded here.
Sad proof alas
how quickly sin destroys
The airy fabric of all earthly joys
And while you read so near the hallow'd spot
Reflect how soon
the grave may be your lot
And may the solemn thought
instruction give
To be prepared for death e'en while you
live. |
==
On the 26th March 1860 Ann Sewell was discovered murdered
at Beckhouse Farm. On the 6th April George Cass who was born at
Eaglesfield and who also worked at Beckhouse Farm was arrested
for her murder. He was found guilty at his trial on 2nd August
and hanged at Carlisle on 17th August 1860. His guilt has
subsequently been questioned. The last public hanging at
Carlisle was in 1862, when George was executed in 1860 screens
were erected to shield him from public view.
Ann was buried
in Embleton churchyard and a headstone paid for by public
subscription reads as follows :- Sacred to the memory of Ann
Sewell whose life was terminated by the hand of an assassin
while in the discharge of her humble duties on the 26th day of
March 1860 age 26 years.
==
Ann Sewell was an orphan,
hired at the Cockermouth Martinmas Fair, 1859, to be a house
servant at Beckhouse Farm. On 26 March 1860 the farmer and his
wife were away to market. Five day labourers at the farm were
served their midday meal by Ann, including George Cass from
Eaglesfield, who was the last to go back to work. His woman and
their illegitimate daughter had come earlier in the day to beg
money from him. George slit Ann's throat in an argument, taking
her purse containing one sovereign and a half crown. George was
tried at the Carlisle assizes, 2 August 1860, and was hanged on
17 August before a large crowd of spectators. |
==
I returned to the road and walked about a mile back to
the car.
On the way home I stopped at the Bassenthwaite Lake
Railway Station cafe to take a photo of the replica train. |
Bassenthwaite Station. |
Waiting room cafe. |
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