The Norman Era In The Lake District

To aid the process of Normanisation, a new bishopric was set up with its seat at Carlisle, the first bishop being consecrated in 1133. The struggle for supremacy hereafter fluctuated very violently for some time. By the mid-twelfth century the Scots had pushed their frontier south of Morecambe Bay, but this was a brief success. In 1172-3 they launched a big invasion of northern England with early success followed by a disastrous defeat. The greater resources and sophistication of the English and their castles in the Eden Valley steadily strengthened their position, and by the middle of the thirteenth century their hold over Cumberland and Westmorland was definitely established, though throughout the Middle Ages and beyond, they were unable to hold off Scottish raids, some of which were of alarming severity.

To control the land and its holders the Norman lord set up a series of castles, at centres outside the present Park (like Kendal, Appleby, Cockermouth and Egremont), but including in their baronies much land inside it.In the heart ofthe Lake District however, there was probably little of value to defend and there are few signs of the early fortifications of these days. A little later defended dwellinghouses appeared like the moated ' grange', a square or rectangular enclosure surrounded by a wide waterfilled ditch and palisade. Some traces of one of these remain at Trostermount on Ullswater. Later, especially after the Scottish invasions of 1316 and 1322, the local gentry built pele towers, a form of local defence widespread in the Border countries. These were simple towers of stone designed to provide refuge until the raiders had gone their evil way. They had three or four floors.

The bottom one was largely for stock and was entered by the smallest of doors. From it wall stairs led to the living quarters above. The roof had generally provision for a beacon and there seems to have been a careful system for signaling by these from one area to another. Of the few to be seen within the park, that at Dacre is notable and unusually elaborate. However, it must not be thought that the centuries after the Norman Conquest brought the Lake District nothing but woe.

By the late twelfth century both church life and economic life were expanding and were to continue to expand. The ancient kingdom of Cumbria was Christian at least in name and at an early date there were parish churches around the present National Park, and at least one in it, Crosthwaite Church near . Keswick dedicated to St. Kentigern (c. 570 A.D.). Wh,:n the Normans established their rule, the chiefparishes, houses to economic development. All of the local monastic houses exploited the good quality ironores of western Cumberland and Furness (on the borders of the existing Park).

More directly important from the thirteenth century onwards, was the steady development of the wool trade which led to utilisation of great areas of the present National Park as sheepwalks. Fountains Abbey, the richest Cistercian house in England, built up considerable estates here for this purpose, notably around Keswick and Borrowdale, and Furness had estates around Hawkshead and Coniston. An unusual side of monastic economy here was provided by the saltpans, almost all of them maintained along the coast to supply the salt, often so difficult to obtain at this time, and so valuable for the salted meat and fish which was a staple diet in much of the year in an age that knew not refrigerators. In bad seasons the local corn supply often failed and we find Furness and Cartmel import ing it from their possessions in Ireland. The monasteries helped and developed social life among their tenants in a variety of ways, main taining elementary schools, relieving poverty and illness and guarding against floods.