Ireleth is situated on the southern banks of the river Duddon, just a half mile east of its neighbour Askham in Furness, and seven miles from Barrow-in-Furness. The village dates back to the 17th century.
In the 17th century a free school was founded here when locally born Giles Brownrigg gave land and established a trust to endow a school for the children of Ireleth. St Peters Church here has an outstanding view of the Duddon Estuary.
The small township of Askham in Furness owes its origins to the establishment of a large ironworks built to exploit the finding of iron ore nearby. Smelting began in 1867 and continued through until 1919.
Askham in Furness is noted for having a long fine beach, with a profusion of flora and fauna. Additionally it is one of the prime breeding sites in the country of the rare (and protected) Natterjack Toad.
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