Orton is a small market town established since the reign of Edward I, in the 13th century...in fact the All Saint's Church still has many mediaeval remains.
Nearby, at Crosby Ravensworth are the remains of a large late iron age settlement at Ewe Close, reputed to be one of the finest in the North of England.
Orton village, though small, is well sign-posted off the A685 Kendal to Kirkby Stephen road. Little activity goes on here and its very much a village which has hardly been touched in the past 700 years. Today, visitors could be just as likely to be visiting the chocolate factory here, or the tea-rooms..as history itself.
Orton's main claim to fame is that the Duke of Cumberland stayed in the village at the time he was chasing Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745...successfully too, for Charlie never returned, wandering through the Highlands with a price of £30,000 on his head before eventually escaping to France. The ale-house he stayed at was re-named 'The Duke of Cumberland'..but unfortunately no longer exists. The building however, can still be seen in Orton. After his defeat at the battle of Culloden in 1746, the Stuart Pretender made his way to the west coast of Scotland in an attempt to flee to France. Whilst he waited for transport, two French ships arrived, bringing him some 35,000 gold coins. As English ships had been sighted, the gold had to be taken ashore and hidden hastily so that the Frenchmen could escape. The coins were later retrieved and split into six casks which were stored at several sites. It is known that some of the money was later collected by the Prince's followers, but it is certain that much of it remained unfound, and to this day still lies buried waiting to be recovered.
The village, for some unexplainable reason has a reputation for longevity, and a remarkable number of its inhabitants have reached a century and one even lived to the grand old age of 106.
There are two halls, both at the south end of the village. Petty Hall is Elizabethan and once belonged to the Birkbeck family whose initials GB and MB and the date 1604 are on a panel over the doorway. A strong oak beam in stone sockets is still used to fasten the heavy door.
Also at the south of 'Town End' of the village stands Orton Hall, a fine Jacobean mansion house
dating from 1662. The Hall, standing in its own grounds, was for many years the home of the Burn family and is now a Grade II listed building being of fine architectural importance. The Hall has now been carefully converted into self catering apartments.
Once known as 'The Fleece', today the George Hotel is located directly in the centre of town, and is very much the centre of activity for the villagers. Twice yearly, for example the fox-hunt meets here (December and January) ...and without horses incidentally...which at least gives the foxes a sporting chance.
The village seems to attract large numbers of walkers, mainly due to Wainwright's coast to coast walk (St Bee's Head to Robin's Hood bay, Whitby) which passes this way.
The background of Orton Scar is a pleasant setting for the village. If you approach from Appleby you will have a magnificent view of the Howgills and Lune Gorge, with the hills of Fawcett Forest and Shap Fells in the distance.
Orton lies at the foot of the hill and overlooking the village is the beautiful old parish church of All Saints. The large tower dates from the year 1504. Inside will be found many relics of past ages, one is a large box said to have been hollowed out of a tree grown in Lowther Park...and probably the original parish chest....and another is the old bread charity chest into which loaves were put out for the poor of the parish.
At the northern end of the village is Mill House which had a water wheel which at one time was the largest in 'Westmorland', with four stones for grinding. There is a date of 1693 on a cupboard in the house, which also served as the Post Office.
On the fells above the village is BLACK DUB with its monument to the time when King Charles II regaled his army on the way to the Battle of Worcester in 1651.
George Whitehead, who with George Fox was one of the founders of the Quaker movement, was born here in 1636. His theological mission took him all over England, several times to gaol, helping John Bunyan, and eventually drawing up rules that allowed protection for Quakers by Act of Parliament.
|
