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The parish of Beckermet occupied for 5,000 years according to pre-historic finds...is situated just two miles south of Egremont and is actually two villages. St John's Beckermet, and St Bridget Beckermet, named somewhat naturally after its respective churches.
The church of St John has many interesting pre-Norman stones in the churchyard, which include the old font, a collection of corbels, coffin lids, together with fragments of eleven crosses.
The 13th century St Bridgets church stands between the sea and the village...has four services a year, though the churchyard is still occasionally used for burials. These two churches are reputed to have been a nunnery (St Bridget) and a monastery (St John) in pre-Norman times, though unfortunately there is nothing to confirm this. Both however were served by secular monks from the Cistercian Abbey at Calder until the suppression of that Abbey in the 16th century. In the churchyard of St Bridget's stand two interesting cross shafts; the heads vanished long ago. They are of a form not found anywhere else in the locality. One carries an inscription that has long baffled antiquarians..so far five translations have been produced.
The natural mounds located hereabouts actually mark the motte of Caernarvon Castle, the Roman area itself offering views towards Scafell Pike and the Roman fort of Hard Knott.
Visitors should note, on common land opposite the river, the old open truck, a relic of Beckermet's iron ore mining days. A railway engine is reputed to be buried in the bogland close by.
Village events here include fete, sports days, and Christmas fair and party.
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