Ravenglass is an ancient and delightful Cumbrian coastal village, situated at the junction of the rivers Esk, Irt and Mite, where they form an estuary flowing into the Irish Sea.
Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, this little urban centre enjoyed a good coastal trade, for its ships could in those days dock right by the single main street for loading and unloading. The proximity of the Lakeland fells, the lower cost involved for shipping, and its handiness in avoiding expensive Whitehaven, encouraged growth of the village.
In Roman days, Ravenglass was the second largest port in Britain. In fact, it was the only natural harbour on the west coast between the Dee and the Solway. Additionally, the Romans under their General Agricola, built an important fort here in AD79, known at Glannaventa, though little remains of the fort these days. "Walls Castle" was the bath house for the fort and this can be visited just outside the village.
It is interesting to note that it has the highest standing walls of any Roman ruin in the North of England. They are over twelve feet high in parts. Roman cement can be seen clinging to the inside of the walls even today. It is thought by many that the fort had associations with King Eveling and King Arthur. Today, if you wish, you will still find Neolithic flints on the sand dunes.
The village received a market charter in the 13th century, drawing large numbers of people to its annual fairs and markets.
Today, the village is more famous for its railway...the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, better known as the "La'al Ratty". The R & ER operates a steam train service starting from this picturesque estuary and winding its way through the fells to the terminus at Dalegarth in the heart of Eskdale. Such is the prospect of riding in open carriages over this seven-mile route, from coast to the mountains, so to speak...that it attracts thousands of tourists almost daily during the season.
Muncaster Castle...the home of the Pennington family since 1208 is just a short distance away. The castle grounds in themselves have been one of Cumbria's principle attractions for many years, and thousands have flocked in spring and summer to see the massed rhododendrons and azaleas in the castle park. But as many visit to see the wonders of this beautifully kept castle too and be shown around on a hi-tech tour introduced personally by one of the family who still own and run the castle and grounds. There is also a display of owls.
The Penningtons have been one of the great families of "Cumberland" since the 11th century, and their forebears lived in Walls Castle before building, in the 13th century, the pele tower which was the corner stone of the present castle. The castle in its present form is relatively modern, no later than the 18th century, but the pele tower with its walls ten feet thick, still stands on the right of the castle facade.
Probably the most magnificent room on view to the public is the library, a vast octagonal chamber which soars up through two floors of the castle with a fine brass railed balcony running all around to bring thousands of rare books within reach.
Several of the bedrooms are open to the public, including what is referred to as the "King's Room". Solid carved oak Elizabethan four-posters are the focal points in these rooms and two of them have carved stone Elizabethan fire places which were brought by the Pennington from dismantled homes many years ago. Among the treasures on show are some excellent old tapestries, the best by far being four small framed pieces hung in the bedroom corridor, depicting allegorical scenes, including the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot's wife and all.
Muncaster Water Mill stands between the Ratty Railway and the River Mite and is open to visitors who can watch flour being ground as it has been for centuries.
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