Observing the Newlands Valley

Created By: Tom Bishop

Currently Used By: Tom Bishop

Learning Objectives

The aim of the project is to:

• Introduce some factual information about the history of the valley, from the last glaciation to the recent past
• Convey the idea that the history of a place is part of the geography of a place
• Encourage students to study their environs for clues to the history
• Practice articulating intuitive thoughts

Instructions

The project is based around a walk from Newlands Activity Centre to Littetown and back. Much of the factual material is derived from Susan J. Grants book "The Story of the Newlands Valley" (2006).

Newlands Activity Centre

The students are issued a range of historic and contemporary maps of the area, including ordnance survey maps from 1860, 1900 and 1950. They are asked to locate the activity centre and any accompanying annotation.

The activity centre was opened in 1905 by the Co-operative Holiday Association and the Holiday Fellowship Ltd. (inc. T. Arthur Leonard). Renovating an old graphite mill, they planned to turn it into "a place of sweetness and light", providing full board accommodation and guided walks for workers from large industrial areas of the north and midlands as well as church and youth groups. It remained in the hands of the Holiday Fellowship Ltd. until 1989 when it was sold to three local business-men who pledged to continue running it as an activity centre.

The Farm Buildings

The students are asked to discuss their own self-identity as "rural" or "urban", and what those concepts mean to them. They are asked to speculate on the economics of farming in the area, and the need for diversification, especially into tourism.

Skelgill is a farm dating back to the 14th century, part of which has been run as a 12-bedded camping barn. Keskadale farm is a traditional sheep and beef cattle farm, and has been in the Harryman family for generations and also offers accomodation.

Along the Path 1

We stop and discuss the glacial history of the valley. Students are asked to identify the features of the landscape that and likely to be glacial in origin. A brief overview of the last ice-age, particularly its termination and the Younger Dryas is provided.

Along the Path 2

We stop and discuss the human settlement of the valley. The earliest signs of settlement are at Ullock, where there is evidence of Bronze Age burial - there is also a Celtic workshop at Portinscale. Viking herdsmen arrived in Cumbria after 800 AD - many of the present day place names in the valley have their origins from this time - for example, "Keskadale", "Skelgill", "Birk Rigg", "High Snab" and "Uzzicar". One name that hasn't survived is the Norse name of the area, "Rogersat" or "Rogersyde", from the Old Norse "Roger-Saetr" (Roger's summer pasture).

The name "Newlands" came into use after the 13th century, used to describe usable land created between Portinscale and Braithwaite by draining of a marsh. Rents increased at the beginning of the 14th century as cultivated areas were extended and population increased. Some families have lived here for many generations, with Fischers, Tickells, Thwaites, Graves and Maysons all mentioned in manorial records from the 15th through to the 20th century.

Yewthwaite Mine

The students are asked to spend 5-15 mins. exploring the workings, without being told anything about them. They are asked to explain what process, incident or activity led to the landscape present today.

The valley has been extensively mined for many centuries - Pb, Cu, Au and Ag. Goldscope mine on Hindscarth has operated since the 16th century. The German miners who worked it were brought over for their skill in this industry, especially in working deep workings require extensive pumping of water. The name comes from the German name for the mine, "Gottesgab" (God's gift). It closed at the end of the 19th century become it was uneconmoical to pump - the vein was not exhausted.

Using the geological map for reference, the nature of the mineral vein is explained, and the method of working is explained, with vertical shafts from the top of the vein, with material extracted and loaded from the adit below. The terrace for loading carts, and the old mine office is pointed out. We climb to the lintel of the adit and feel the cold draft it issues. Yewsthwaite mine ceased operation in 1893.

Little Town

The chapel was visited by Wordsworth in 1826, writing a stanza about it in "To May". Littletown used to have its own school, closed in 1967. There are many stories from the school teachers of the hardship of childhood in the valley, including long hours of farm work and inadequate clothing for the harsh weather. Littetown also used to have its own pub, but this was converted into farm buildings many years ago.

Rowling End Farm Bridge

A diversion for time, it is a really nice place to stop. Students are asked to guess the age of the bridge. The original washed away in Storm Desmond (December 2015), and was replaced in 2020. That storm left over 100,000 homes without power.

Summary

Students reflect on the importance of both geographic location and the history of a place in explaining and shaping a place. Some discussion could also be made of the notional "English Countryside", and how the reality of the importance of immigration, and conceptions of "nature" often explicitly relate to historic agricultural and industrial landscapes rather than truly "natural" ones.

Equipment

Each student should have:

• appropriate clothing
• water
• snack

Staff require:

• maps from 1860, 1900 and 1950 and modern (from Edina Digimap)
• geological map showing mineral deposits and fault lines (from Edina Digimap)