The picturesque village of Torver is situated some three miles south-west of Coniston.
Probably the earliest traceable reference to Torver arises from a land dispute between the Abbot of Furness and William Fitzgilbert in 1163 in the reign of Henry II although prehistoric evidence in the form of stone circles and cairns scattered over High Common above the village indicates settlement of the area dating back 3,500 years to the time of the great forest clearances.
When the railway came to the village in 1859 life was made a lot easier for the residents as it was then able to carry the stone and slate from the extensive quarrying industry, as well as iron from the bloomeries and bobbins, together with swills and charcoal from the many woodland crafts. The railway continued through until 1958.
The original chapel of Torver came with the founding of the priory of Conishead sometime between 1154 and 1189. The dead of the parish would have had to be taken to Ulverston for burial...a journey in excess of 16 miles all over mountain track. The chapel was later consecrated as a church by 1884.
A farming tradition is kept alive here by the formation of the Walna Scar Shepherd's Meet. It is an organisation of local shepherds for the exchange of stray sheep...an annual meeting being held in July, together with an annual show in November. Today it is a social ocassion with a show of hill sheep, sheep dog trials, fell races and hound trails.
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