The village of Bolton lies on the banks of the river Eden four miles to the north-west of Appleby.
Evidence abounds that there was a settlement in Bolton over 1200 years ago, though the church of All Saints only goes back to the 12th century. It is relatively famous for its stone relief of two knights jousting...one of only two such reliefs in the country...and an indication of age is the fact that the other one is situated in Dorset and is dated 1110. One sculpture depicts a tournament and shows two mounted knights in chain mail with kite shields and lances. They are charging each other and the one of inferior rank, with a banner on his lance, appears to have broken the guard of his opponent. Another striking feature of the church is the oak screen in the chancel. It is of unusual design with open tracery, quatrefoils and geometrical patterns. Also in the chancel is a massive 16th century chest with three locks and against the south wall by the main door is a padlocked poorbox dated 1634. Oak beams in the roof are said to have sailed the seas in the bottom of a ship.
The 14th century ruins of Bewly (or Builly) Castle is located just over a mile south west. Its name derives from the French 'beau lieu'...meaning beautiful place. One time home of the Bishops of Carlisle, then later the deBuille family...though they died out in 1213. It was here that the Bishops found convenient refuge during Scottish incursions. As long ago as the 13th century, it was an episcopal residence with a chapel and Lord's Chamber restored by Bishop Strickland in 1402. Parts of these rooms still remain and there are broken arches with grandeur still left in them and barrel vaulted cellars still used to this day by the nearby farm, which itself was built from stone and have walls of five feet thick.
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