The above view looking west from
Skelmore Head Fort, situated to the north east of Great Urswick,
shows Hallier How in the middle distance and the white properties at
Mascalles in the left distance. Clearly evident are the rolling contours of this
inland portion of the parish, formed by glacial till
draped over the faulted limestone bedrock beneath.
The increasingly popular use of white masonry paint can steal the eyes'
attention from the parish landscape and persist in drawing it back, in this
instance, to the former old farmhouse of Beckside Farm. This
modern-day small
hamlet, located alongside Gleaston Beck, which drains Urswick Tarn
to Morecambe Bay, results from the conversion of the old farm's former
outbuildings to three dwellings. The more distant and more
isolated farmstead of Harbarrow may be seen on the far horizon,
sitting on the highest drumlin in the parish. The drumlins become
increasingly massive towards the parish's southern border and continue to
grow in size across neighbouring Aldingham Parish. Whilst each
drumlin itself amounts to a huge amount of material carried south
from the Coniston Fells by glacial ice, the collective of drumlins
on the Furness peninsular is earth movement on a truly gigantic scale.
This elevated position in Dimples Hole Lane affords views to the
neighbouring high ground where Causey Wood Farm may be seen in front
of the more distant Woodside Farm, itself nestling beneath the flat
plateau of Skelmore Head Fort. There are several similar lanes
throughout the parish providing access to farmland remote from the
country roads. In modern times they are particularly popular
with walkers and not uncommonly provide connections with other
strands of the extensive network of footpaths across the district.
Hawkfield, now a small quiet hamlet, was formerly, and for many
generations, the farmstead seat of the Cranke family.
James Cranke the elder (1707-1780) and his son, James Cranke the
younger (1746-1826), became nationally known portrait artists,
and it is worthy that examples of both their work forms part of the
religious decoration of Urswick Parish church. The hamlet now
consists of the converted original large dwelling, its converted
outbuildings, plus two bungalows constructed in the 1950s for
employees at nearby Bolton Manor Farm.
Highfield, together with its near neighbour,
Skells Lodge Farm, are close to the western border of Urswick Parish.
Their location on the rolling fertile grasslands belies the massive
amount of limestone beneath, but the great depth of Crown Quarry, in
close proximity to their south, is inescapable evidence of the once
tropical location of this now pastoral place.
Holme Bank, to the northeast of the village of
Little Urswick, has been for very many years, and remains, a centre of
agricultural activity. Whilst the commercial pressures on
agriculture necessitate an increasingly intensive focus, in this
instance, on beef and sheep farming, at Holme Bank one is likely also to
see genuine free range poultry, ducks and the occasional litter of
piglets - a satisfying reminder of rural England as it was in times
which can still be remembered, but has, at immeasurable cost, almost
disappeared.
Mascalles occupies high ground looking towards Lindal in Furness and
the Furness Fells. Originating from the time when the nearby
extensive haematite mining facilities were being dismantled and
their materials sold on for second use, this hamlet now enjoys views
over fields and distant hills which would have looked unrecognisably
different when the Furness peninsular was one of the richest sources
of iron ore then known.
Skells Lodge is a farmstead which has remained unspoilt from its
original form to the present day, and still operates as a small
country farm. Fronted by a splendid line of mature trees and
located on a quiet country road, this is a rare treasure indicative
of what was once so common around these parts.
The white properties in the middle distance are the tiny hamlet of
Skeldon Moor which is made up of a total of five dwellings scattered
along a quarter mile of country road. Across the fields beyond
may be seen Hawkfield, behind which, on the skyline, is Devonshire
Quarry located at Stainton with Adgarley. Despite its small
size, Skeldon Moor once had a pub, now a private house, which was
named 'officially' as The Traveller's Rest but, for some reason, was
always known to locals as 'The Wax'. The pub was owned by the
local brewers, Cases Ales. This photograph again illustrates
the rolling topography of Urswick Parish with its strands of
north-south aligned drumlins and its enclosed fields of rich
pasture.
Well Cottage, dating from 1642, and a small number
of other old properties make up the small hamlet of Well House located
at the end of an extremely quiet cul-de-sac, accessible by a small
country road from Bardsea village, or via a footpath from Birkrigg
Common. With the high common ground to the west, the sea of
Morecambe Bay to the east and woodland to the north and south, Well
House is truly gifted.
Enclosed on three sides by mature trees and sitting
in an elevated position adjacent to Hooks Lane; Woodhead, which consists
of five dwellings, is easily missed and not known to many. It is
neighbour to Dimples Hole Lane, alongside which new agricultural
developments have commenced in the form of a stock housing shed and
apparently supporting resources.