Armathwaite

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Armathwaite
Cumberland
The Duke's Head Inn, Armathwaite - geograph.org.uk - 1158623.jpg
The Duke's Head Inn in Armathwaite
Location
Grid reference: NY505461
Location: 54°48’25"N, 2°46’16"W
Data
Post town: Carlisle
Postcode: CA4
Dialling code: 016974
Local Government
Council: Westmorland & Furness
Parliamentary
constituency:
Penrith and The Border

Armathwaite is a village in Cumberland, on the west bank of the River Eden in the rural midst of the county.

The village is served by Armathwaite railway station on the Settle-Carlisle Railway.

Armathwaite Castle stands on the west bank of the river was originally a pele tower with a large but undistinguished Edwardian extension.

Parish church

The parish church of Christ and St Mary was formerly a chapel-of-ease in the parish of Hesket-in-the-Forest and is one of the smallest parish churches in Britain. By the 17th century the original chapel had become ruinous but it was rebuilt before 1688 by Richard Skelton of Armathwaite Castle. It consists of a chancel and nave with a wooden roof and a small western bell turret.[1]

History and modernity

John Skelton, poet and tutor to King Henry VIII, is believed to have been born here.

An application to erect a wind turbine on a ridge to the south east of the village was considered by Eden District Council in 2014 and turned down. The application attracted 3 letters of support and 895 letters of objection.[2][3] Another wind turbine application for nearby Aiketgate is being considered by the Harmony Energy Ltd. on land at Barrock End Farm.[4]

Sport and leisure

Armathwaite Golf Club (now defunct) was founded in 1907. The club disappeared following WW1.[5]

Armathwaite is the starting point for the well-known and often controversial annual Cumbrian River Festival (or 'Floating Sesh') where hundreds of festival goers from across the country gather at Armathwaite bridge with rubber boats and alcohol to float down the River Eden towards Carlisle. The event is held in June or July each year, often coinciding with Armathwaite Open Gardens weekend. The event has been so popular it has been emulated in other parts of Britain and abroad.

Outside links

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about Armathwaite)

References

  1. Betjeman, J. (1968) Collins Pocket Guide to English Parish Churches: the North. London: Collins; p. 108
  2. 'Wind turbine plans attract more than 1,000 objections' in The Cumberland and Westmoreland Herald 19.7.2014
  3. 'We will continue our fight against turbines' in The Cumberland News 25 July 2014. Ainstable Turbine Action Campaign Group was set up to oppose the application.
  4. 'Don't alter our skyline' 'residents to oppose plans for 77 metre high mast' The Cumberland News 25.7.2014 page 19.
  5. "Armathwaite Golf Club", "Golf's Missing Links"