Cark in Cartmel is a village two miles south of Cartmel on the sharp bend of the Grange to Haverthwaite road, a little way inland from the sea (the B5278 Haverthwaite to Flookburgh road).
This village had a burst of prosperity in the 18th and 19th century, when several mills were established in the locality. The first was a paper mill erected in 1782 and later cotton mills. One of these used a steam engine to pump water back to the mill dam, and it is from this that the Engine Inn located here takes its name...though there are many locals hereabouts who will disagree and say that the name relates to the fact that the horse-drawn fire engine used to be kept there!
The mill was one of the first cotton mills erected in England. Cotton was brought in by ship, as Cark was a busy port in the 1700s. Ships were built by the river near Crook Wheel, and trade was carried out with the Baltic, America and the West Indies.
Cark Hall nearby was built by Thomas Pickering. The Hall has mullioned windows and a magnificent entrance. George Fox was once held prisoner here.
The most famous landmark in the vicinity is Holker Hall, home of Lord and Lady Cavendish, famous for its annual hot air balloon extravanganza, the gardens, its countryside festival, motor museum, and deer park.
The railway here was opened in 1857, and Cark station is on the line between Ulverston and Carnforth.
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