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Perched on the south-western edge of the Lake District national Park, Millon was once a small village complete with its Norman castle. To many visitors the town seems out of character with its setting, set as it is in a sparkling landscape of sea, sand and mountains. The estuary of the River Duddon bites deeply into the Millom coastline, and to the north the land rises sharply to the summit of Black Combe Fell.
In the 19th century, it became a boom town. Rich iron ore deposits were discovered south of the town at Hodbarrow in 1843. By 1880 the mine was producing over 300,000 tons of ore annually. The decline (to many regretfully) came in the 1920s
There is a rather pleasant folk museum here which effectively tells the Millom story...its history of the mines...the development of the iron trade.
Millom was the birthplace of Norman Nicholson, the Lake Poet, and the town figures prominently in his poetry and books.
Nearby at Haverigg is an extensive RSPB reserve on the old iron mine site at Hodbarrow, and which shares an artificial lake with a water ski centre. Very many species of sea birds can be seen here.
The parish church of Holy Trinity dates back to the Norman period...in fact during a recent restoration, fragments of a cross shaft and head were found in the north wall of the chancel...the workmanship clearly dating it as late 11th century.
The 14th century Millom Castle stands in a position where lines of approach were limited, and observation easily maintained, and was originally the Hudleston family home. (John Hudleston was the man who administered the last sacrament to Charles II at his bedside).
In its great days the castle stood in a fine park, and though never very big it was very strong, some of the walls still left are seven feet thick. The Lords of Millom wielded power of life and death over a very wide area, and we are vividly reminded of this in what is known as the Gallows Field not far away.
The castle was largely destroyed around 1460 during the War of the Roses, but during the 16th century the pele tower was built and today is the only part of the castle which is inhabited...as a farmhouse!
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