Bouth is a small village (of Norse origin) situated in the Furness Fells...once famous for its woodland industries. Years ago, after farming, coppice products supplied wood for bobbins, barrel hoops, staves and ships fenders. In fact nearby at Spark bridge, the trade of bobbin making, together with the making of reels and wrought iron work, is still continued. Oak bark was used for tanning leathers and Bouth still has its Bark House to this day.
A few Kiln Cottages survive too..
Close to Bouth House, horses were kept to pull the coppice wood up the hill. The hill is still called Horses Hill.
Bouth was at one time called the capital of Colton. It has a very attractive village green and has for many years won the coveted 'Best Kept Village in South Lakeland'. Adjacent to the village green stands The White Hart with its unusual inn sign....white hart, couchant, wearing a golden crown round its neck, and tethered to the ground by a golden chain. In olden days the White Hart would have been an important coach stop.
Close by on the Broughton to Furness road is the 14th century 'Farmers Arms' originally a farmhouse with spinning gallery.
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