The Civil Parish of Bassenthwaite

The parish of Bassenthwaite is quite large and includes not just the village but a large part of the surrounding country. Starting from the summit of Skiddaw, England's fourth highest mountain, the boundary runs west along Longside Edge to the summit of Ullock Pike, then down through Dodd Wood and over the A591 to meet the waters of Bassenthwaite Lake just to the south of Mirehouse.

In the middle of Bassenthwaite Lake the boundary turns north-west and runs down the Lake to rejoin the dry land where the River Derwent exits at Ouse Bridge on its way to Cockermouth. Here it turns North-east and heads towards High Bewaldeth, turning East just before it. After crossing the Ireby/Uldale road, the boundary turns South-east until it meets Hall's Beck which it then follows East. Crossing the Orthwaite Road at Cassbeck Bridge, the boundary continues with the beck, now called Dash Beck, to Whitewater Dash Falls, a noted landmark, where it turns South-west to climb over Bakestall to return to the summit of Skiddaw.

Boundary Walk

Every ten years the villagers turn out to beat the bounds. Volunteers swim the lake section, and hot refreshments are served on the summit of Skiddaw. The next walking will probably be in 2016.

Communities

As well as the village, there's a distinct community at the Underskiddaw end of the parish - the area around Mirehouse. A cluster of houses sits at Scarness, about a mile and half from the village on the banks of the Lake, and where the lane from there crosses the A591 there is the little group at Chapel, named for the Chapel of Ease built at the crossroads in the fifteenth century. Going north from Chapel on A591 there is a line of fine houses including the Old Police House, and a, sadly now defunct, Garage, and, on the west side of the road, Trafford's Caravan Park. Turning into Winding Gate, which leads to the village, is the new close of Butt's Meadow with modern houses including the new Vicarage.

Hotels

North of the village on the A591, the Castle Inn is a local navigation mark as well as a hotel - and there is a small cluster of houses there too. West from the Castle Inn, on the B529, set in spectacular grounds stands Armathwaite Hall Hotel. On the A591, south of the village, on an imposing stone rampart, the Ravenstone Hotel looks out over the Lake.

Farms.

There are three working farms actually in the Village proper, but also numerous other fine farms dotted about the area. Most farmers mix sheep and cattle, and there is little, if any, arable farming. The Sheep are mostly Swaledale and Texel, but several other breeds are about too. Some fine pedigree herds of cattle can be found here too, the Limousins seem to do well at show (as well as at table).

The Village

Bassenthwaite village surrounds a fine Green, with a magnificent line of Lime Trees planted for Queen Victoria's Jubilee, and now in their prime. As well as the three farms mentioned above, the village contains a friendly Methodist Chapel, the famous Sun Inn, and many private houses. Quite a large number of houses are now holiday lets.

Unfortunately, there is now no shop or post office in the village, but there is a shop at Trafford's Caravan Park on the A591 during the holiday season. A travelling Post Office visits the village on Fridays at 10am.

On the lane from Chapel to the village (School Road) there is Bassenthwaite Primary School, a state school with an excellent reputation, and The Parish Room (not to be confused with the Church Room, see below) which is available for functions and for private holiday lets.

The Churches

Bassenthwaite has a Methodist Chapel, part of the Keswick and Cockermouth Circuit, in the village (just to the west of The Green down Winding Gate), but the Church of England buildings are all outside the village.

St Bega's Church, two and a half miles away from the village proper, is the ancient Parish Church of Bassenthwaite, and dates from before 950 AD. In the fifteenth century the villagers obtained permission to build a Chapel of Ease nearer to the village, and this still stands in the area named for it on the A591. In 1878, a local philanthropist built the new Church of St John, with its spire and bells nearby the chapel, and the chapel was converted to be the Church Room.

The Church of England parish is now part of the Binsey Team Ministry in the Diocese of Carlisle, and two stipendiary priests, the Team Vicar in Bassenthwaite and the Team Rector in Torpenhow, serve nine parishes (and twelve churches).

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