Kents Bank
| Kents Bank | |
| Lancashire | |
|---|---|
 Kents Bank railway station | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SD397757 |
| Location: | 54°10’25"N, 2°55’27"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 1,623 |
| Post town: | Grange-over-Sands |
| Postcode: | LA11 |
| Dialling code: | 015395 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Westmorland & Furness |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Westmorland and Lonsdale |
Kents Bank is a small village on the Cartmel Peninsula in Lancashire, by the shore of the River Kent estuary, from which the village receives its name. It is to be found two miles south-west of Grange-over-Sands.
The long, perilous footpath over the Kent Sands and Warton Sands begins here, followed for Kent Bank to Hest Bank, joining the main body of Lancashire to Lancashire North of the Sands.
There is a large hotel in Kents Bank called Abbot Hall which opened in 1916 and is owned by the Christian Guild.[1] The one shop which included a Post Office closed early 2016.
History
Kents Bank takes its name from the River Kent which once ran close to the village. Kents Bank railway station opened in 1857. Abbot Hall and an inn existed close to the shore where the cross-sand route over Morecambe Bay from Lancaster met the land. Abbot Hall was the poor house for the area until 1822 and a building is reputed to have existed here since the 12th century.[2] Expansion of the settlement started around 1870 and at least three private schools were established in the hamlet. Further expansion continued over the years.
The Queen's Guide to the Sands, whose job is to lead walkers across the sands, is based nearby at Guide's Farm.
Geography
Kents Bank lies on Morecambe Bay. The River Kent used to run to the sea wall by the railway but since 1993 the Kent has moved out towards Arnside and the sands have become overgrown. From the shore at Kents Bank the village is built on a hill that forms part of Hampsfield Fell. Before Kents Bank was built there were forests covering the area, most of which has been cut down.
About the village
Kirkhead Tower
To the south of Kents Bank is Kirkhead Tower. Little is known about the tower other than it was built as a summer house in the Gothic style. It appears on a map published in 1826. It is said that the tower is on the site of an ancient church that dates from before the construction of Cartmel Priory however this is a legend but it is said that it is how Kirkhead got its name. The tower is sometimes used for open air Sunday worship.[3]
Humphrey Head
- Main article: Humphrey Head
To the south of Kents Bank lies Humphrey Head which is a limestone outcrop that stretches out to Morecambe Bay.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Kents Bank) |
References
- ↑ Abbot Hall Hotel, near Grange-over-Sands
- ↑ Stockdale, James (1872). Annals of Cartmel. Ulverston: Kitchin.
- ↑ Kirkhead Tower