Winster Vicarage down to Holme - distance 6 miles

LRO ref DDX/51

Starting a new sheet near Gurnell Bridge but continuing with the distance readings, they passed through the woods and two houses near Low House Beck. John Braithwaite’s house on Smithy Hill, was located a furlong before they came to Draper Bridge now Birks Bridge. This bridge was shown as a way to Windermere, Ulverston and Egston. This latter place spelt “Egton under Newton” on Yate’s map, now Egton-cum-Newland a small quiet hamlet just off the busy A590. It was once famed for its iron furnace, one of the largest of the old bloomeries, and its buildings still remain. Penny Bridge, the main heart of the parish, is a place name that came into use after a local family built a stone bridge over the Crake, thus making obsolete the old ford.

After Draper Bridge the route followed with fells on their left and “Lutherburn” on their right. Next came The Wood Farm at 1 : 2 ; 20 with a small bridge over the river. Half a mile further along the datum line changed direction through 160 degrees 20 minutes. Here at the bridge by Hartbarrow the measurement readings on the next line started at zero. John Strickland’s abode was at Barkbooth followed by John Philipson’s near the ford at, appropriately named, Borderside, both in Westmorland. Ed. Harryson lived at the Hollins, one furlong from the river on the Lancashire side.

At “Bolan Bridg” [Bowland Bridge] two and a half miles from Winster were three houses, one of which is now an inn. Down stream near Burblethwaite Hall was a forge taking its power from the river Winster to drive the bellows. This site eventually became Burblethwaite Mill, now derelict. There would appear to be an error here as Gregory King did not record the presence of a house at the site of Burblethwaite Hall. But a mile and three quarters further down stream at the location of Thorphinsty Hall he named this house Burblethwaite Hall with a sketch and the name of Mr Knipe. It is probable that when writing up the second draft from his site notes Gregory King made the mistake of putting Burblethwaite Hall and Mr Knipe in the wrong place. (A gentleman’s son from this area called Knipe along with about twenty other young striplings rashly decided to attack Colonel Lilburne’s parliamentary military HQ at Brindle in August 1651, the day before the battle of Wigan Lane. None escaped but were either slain or taken prisoner. Knipe was killed along with Hesketh, Butler and Wilding and others. John Clifton was grievously wounded and taken prisoner)

Further along lived Thomas Swaneson on the Lancashire side of Winster Bridge opposite Cowmire Hall. Up the hill was Will Hoggon’s four-chimney house of Hoggs Hill adjacent to Cartmel Fell Chapel. A mile down stream was Thorphinsty Hall, four furlongs from the river opposite Middle Low Wood. Burblethwaite Hall, Cowmire Hall, Thorphinsty Hall and Will Hoggan’s [now written as Hodge] house are extant and are fine examples of medieval dwellings.

Finally after another direction change came Helton Tarn and the two arched Witherslack Bridge alternatively called “Blag Cradg Bridg” [Black Cragg Bridge] after nearly six miles.