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Rowrah is a village in
Cumbria Cumbria ( ) is a ceremonial county in North West England. It borders the Scottish council areas of Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders to the north, Northumberland and County Durham to the east, North Yorkshire to the south-east, Lancash ...
, England, and spans the
civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government. Civil parishes can trace their origin to the ancient system of parishes, w ...
es of
Arlecdon and Frizington Arlecdon and Frizington is a civil parish in the Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. The parish includes Arlecdon, Frizington, Rowrah and Asby. History Arlecdon was an ancient parish within the historic county of Cumberland. The pari ...
and
Lamplugh Lamplugh () is a scattered community and civil parish located in West Cumbria on the edge of the English Lake District and historically part of Cumberland. It had a population of 763 in 2001, increasing to 805 at the 2011 Census. The main A50 ...
. The majority of Rowrah is within Arlecdon and Frizington. The parish boundaries are formed from the Windergill Beck and Colliergate Beck: as such nine properties, Rowrah Hall Farm, Rowrah Hall, Ainsdale House, Rowrah Head, four properties on Pheasants Rise and Rowrah Station technically fall within Lamplugh. Until 1974 Rowrah was part of the county of
Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is an area of North West England which was historically a county. The county was bordered by Northumberland to the north-east, County Durham to the east, Westmorland to the south-east, Lancashire to the south, and the Scottish ...
. Like many of the towns and villages in Cumberland, Rowrah is not mentioned in the
Domesday Book Domesday Book ( ; the Middle English spelling of "Doomsday Book") is a manuscript record of the Great Survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 at the behest of William the Conqueror. The manuscript was originally known by ...
as in 1092, the date of the book, the majority of
Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is an area of North West England which was historically a county. The county was bordered by Northumberland to the north-east, County Durham to the east, Westmorland to the south-east, Lancashire to the south, and the Scottish ...
was within the kingdom of
Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
. Cumberland, and therefore Rowrah, did not permanently become part of England until 1273 with the signing of the
Treaty of York The Treaty of York was an agreement between the kings Henry III of England and Alexander II of Scotland, signed at York on 25 September 1237, which affirmed that Northumberland (which at the time also encompassed County Durham), Cumberland, and ...
.


General

Rowrah consists of two main residential roads, Rowrah Road (A5086) and Pasture Road. Pheasants Rise was built in 2000 by Swift Homes in between Edgars Garage and Rowrah Head, this was the first major build in Rowrah for over 100 years. The majority of houses in Rowrah are terraced and a few still have the original frontage that reflects the architecture of the time. There is a small row of houses on the approach to the old Railway Station. Rowrah Hall, Rowrah Head and Rowrah Hall Farm, until the construction of Ainsdale House in 1992, were the only buildings to the south of Rowrah Road. The A5086 Rowrah Road becomes Arlecdon Parks Road as it turns towards
Arlecdon Arlecdon is a village in Cumberland in Cumbria, England, near the town of Whitehaven. Toponymy Arlecdon comes from the Old English 'earn-lāce denu', meaning 'eagle-stream valley'. Church St Michael's Parish church is an historic Grade II li ...
, approximately 20 yards of Arlecdon Parks Road falls within the village boundary of Rowrah. File:Rowrah Road.JPG, Rowrah Road, Rowrah as viewed from the corner with Arlecdon Parks Road File:Typical terraced houses, Rowrah Road, Rowrah.JPG, Typical terraced houses, Rowrah Road, Rowrah File:Rowrah Road and Arlecdon Parks Road.JPG, Rowrah Road and Arlecdon Parks Road join each other with approximately 20 yards of Arlecdon Parks Road being in Rowrah.


Geography

Rowrah is situated in a minor valley with an east–west direction and is part of the
watershed Watershed may refer to: Hydrology * Drainage divide, the line that separates neighbouring drainage basins * Drainage basin, an area of land where surface water converges (North American usage) Music * Watershed Music Festival, an annual country ...
between the
River Ehen The River Ehen is a river in Cumbria, England. The river's source is at the west end of Ennerdale Water: it runs west through Ennerdale Bridge where it is joined by Croasdale Beck (flowing from Banna Fell). Ennerdale Water itself is fed by the ...
and the
River Derwent, Cumbria The Derwent is a famous river in the county of Cumbria in the north of England; it rises in the Lake District and flows northwards through two of its principal lakes, before turning sharply westward to enter the Irish Sea at Workington The n ...
. To the west flows the Windergill Beck contributing to the
River Ehen The River Ehen is a river in Cumbria, England. The river's source is at the west end of Ennerdale Water: it runs west through Ennerdale Bridge where it is joined by Croasdale Beck (flowing from Banna Fell). Ennerdale Water itself is fed by the ...
, the source of Windergill Beck is located within the grounds of Rowrah Hall. To the east flows the Colliergate Beck contributing to the
River Marron The River Marron is a river of Cumbria, England. Rising near the village of Asby, Copeland at the confluence of Colliergate Beck and Scallow Beck, the Marron travels north past Ullock and Branthwaite, picking up the waters of Lostrigg Beck ...
which in turn contributes into the
River Derwent, Cumbria The Derwent is a famous river in the county of Cumbria in the north of England; it rises in the Lake District and flows northwards through two of its principal lakes, before turning sharply westward to enter the Irish Sea at Workington The n ...
. Rowrah is 169m above sea level.


Railways


Connections

Before the formation of
London, Midland and Scottish Railway The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMSIt has been argued that the initials LMSR should be used to be consistent with London and North Eastern Railway, LNER, Great Western Railway, GWR and Southern Railway (UK), SR. The London, Midland an ...
on 1 January 1923, Rowrah was connected by three separate railway companies, two of which terminated in Rowrah thus giving four separate lines into and out of Rowrah for the conveyance of passengers and goods. # The Rowrah – Marron junction line connecting with Workington and Cockermouth line, part of
Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway The Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway was an English railway company which built and operated a standard gauge railway in Cumberland, England intended to open up the hematite orefield to the south-east of Whitehaven. It opened for goods ...
under the ownership of
Furness Railway The Furness Railway (FR) was a railway company operating in the Furness area of Lancashire in North West England. History Formation In the early 1840s, the owners of iron ore mines in the Furness district of Lancashire became interested in a ...
# The Rowrah – Workington Branch Via Arlecdon and Distington, part of the
Cleator and Workington Junction Railway The Cleator and Workington Junction Railway (C&WJR) was located in West Cumberland in Northern England, serving the towns of Cleator Moor and Workington and intermediate villages. It was mainly used for coal, limestone and iron ore traffic for t ...
, sometimes referred to as Track of the Ironmasters. # The Rowrah – Whitehaven line, part of
Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway The Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway was an English railway company which built and operated a standard gauge railway in Cumberland, England intended to open up the hematite orefield to the south-east of Whitehaven. It opened for goods ...
under the ownership of
Furness Railway The Furness Railway (FR) was a railway company operating in the Furness area of Lancashire in North West England. History Formation In the early 1840s, the owners of iron ore mines in the Furness district of Lancashire became interested in a ...
# Rowrah and Kelton Fell Railway, sometimes referred to as "Baird's Line"


Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway

On 1 February 1864 Rowrah was connected by the
Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway The Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway was an English railway company which built and operated a standard gauge railway in Cumberland, England intended to open up the hematite orefield to the south-east of Whitehaven. It opened for goods ...
. Rowrah station, located on Pasture Road, can be seen usin
this view from Google Street View
At the top of Pasture Road Rowrah had two hotels, The Railway Hotel and The Stork Hotel. The line was further extended to Wrights Green ("The Lamplugh Extension") and on 2 April 1866 the line was connected with the
Workington Workington is a coastal town and civil parish in the Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. The town is at the mouth of the River Derwent on the west coast, south-west of Carlisle and north-east of Whitehaven. At the 2021 census the ...
and
Cockermouth Cockermouth is a market town and civil parish in the Cumberland unitary authority area of Cumbria, England. The name refers to the town's position by the confluence of the River Cocker into the River Derwent. At the 2021 census, the built u ...
line at using a
Wye (rail) In railroad structures and rail terminology, a wye (like the'' 'Y' ''glyph) or triangular junction (often shortened to just triangle) is a triangular joining arrangement of three Track (rail transport), rail lines with a railroad switch (set of ...
(triangular track) arrangement at Marron Junction thus creating the
Whitehaven Whitehaven is a town and civil parish in the Cumberland (unitary authority), Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. It is a port on the north-west coast, and lies outside the Lake District National parks of England and Wales, National Park. ...
and Marron Junction branch line. At the opening of the "Lamplugh Extension" it was also announced that an
Electrical telegraph Electrical telegraphy is point-to-point distance communicating via sending electric signals over wire, a system primarily used from the 1840s until the late 20th century. It was the first electrical telecommunications system and the most wid ...
had been installed on the line at the demand of the
Iron ore Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, or deep purple to rusty red. The iron is usually found in the f ...
companies at a grand cost of £56. By 1875 Rowrah had become a sufficiently complex junction that it was deemed to require its own signal box, this resulted in the opening of Rowrah No1. Signal Box.http://www.signalbox.org/gallery/lm/rowrah.htm The Signal Box website


Cleator and Workington Junction Railway

The
Cleator and Workington Junction Railway The Cleator and Workington Junction Railway (C&WJR) was located in West Cumberland in Northern England, serving the towns of Cleator Moor and Workington and intermediate villages. It was mainly used for coal, limestone and iron ore traffic for t ...
was founded in 1876 and was given the nickname of "Track of the Ironmasters" due to the fact that its primary purpose was to transport trucks of
iron ore Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, or deep purple to rusty red. The iron is usually found in the f ...
down from mines located at Knockmurton and Kelton (via Rowrah) to the Iron works at Workington, Cleator Moor and Distington. On 1 May 1888 a joint application was made for a " tramway on the Rowrah Estate", this was between Thomas Dixon (the owner of Rowrah Head QuarryBulmer's History & Directory of Cumberland, 1901) and Anthony Joseph Steele Dixon of Rheda and the
Cleator and Workington Junction Railway The Cleator and Workington Junction Railway (C&WJR) was located in West Cumberland in Northern England, serving the towns of Cleator Moor and Workington and intermediate villages. It was mainly used for coal, limestone and iron ore traffic for t ...
. A further application was made on 1 October 1906 in respect to extension of lines to be constructed on the Rowrah Hall Estate between 1) the Cleator and Workington Junction Railway Company and 2) Thomas Dixon, Rheda and Anthony Joseph Steele Dixon, Lorton Hall. Initially the
Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway The Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway was an English railway company which built and operated a standard gauge railway in Cumberland, England intended to open up the hematite orefield to the south-east of Whitehaven. It opened for goods ...
only carried goods, specifically
iron ore Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, or deep purple to rusty red. The iron is usually found in the f ...
and
coal Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed as rock strata called coal seams. Coal is mostly carbon with variable amounts of other Chemical element, elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. Coal i ...
but it was later extended to carry passengers. Rowrah continued to have a passenger service until 1931 at which point both the
Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway The Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway was an English railway company which built and operated a standard gauge railway in Cumberland, England intended to open up the hematite orefield to the south-east of Whitehaven. It opened for goods ...
and
Cleator and Workington Junction Railway The Cleator and Workington Junction Railway (C&WJR) was located in West Cumberland in Northern England, serving the towns of Cleator Moor and Workington and intermediate villages. It was mainly used for coal, limestone and iron ore traffic for t ...
withdrew their service in the face of increasing competition from the bus service. Many of the local older residents have memories of reasonably frequent school services, charter trains,
Railtour A railtour is a special train which is run in order to allow people to experience rail travel which is not normally available using timetabled passenger services. The 'unusual' aspect may be the route of the train, the destination, the occasion, ...
s and various specials from Rowrah into the 1950s and 1960s.


Rowrah and Kelton Fell Railway

Rowrah was also the terminus of the 3 Mile Rowrah and Kelton Fell Railway that was constructed to reduce the cost of the conveyance of
Iron ore Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, or deep purple to rusty red. The iron is usually found in the f ...
and
Limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...
from the Knockmurton and Kelton mines. Prior to the construction of the railway the cost of transport via road to Rowrah / Wrights Green was three and six a ton (17.5p). A single locomotive of the Rowrah and Kelton Fell Railway was preserved by the
Scottish Railway Preservation Society The Scottish Railway Preservation Society is a registered charity, whose principal objective is the preservation and advancement of railway heritage in Scotland. The society's headquarters are at Bo'ness, in central Scotland. Overview The soc ...
and can be seen at their
Falkirk Falkirk ( ; ; ) is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland, historically within the county of Stirlingshire. It lies in the Forth Valley, northwest of Edinburgh and northeast of Glasgow. Falkirk had a resident population of 32,422 at the ...
Museum located at the
Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway The Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway is a heritage railway in Bo'ness, Scotland. It is operated by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS), a registered charity, and operates a total of over of track (between Bo'ness and Manuel Juncti ...
. The Rowrah and Kelton Fell Railway was opened in January 1877 and the track eventually lifted in 1934, the route was only ever used for the carriage of goods, specifically
Iron ore Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, or deep purple to rusty red. The iron is usually found in the f ...
.


Railtours and special services

Visiting
Railtour A railtour is a special train which is run in order to allow people to experience rail travel which is not normally available using timetabled passenger services. The 'unusual' aspect may be the route of the train, the destination, the occasion, ...
s that came to Rowrah after 1931 include:-


West Cumberland Railtour, 5 September 1954

: Organiser:
Stephenson Locomotive Society The Stephenson Locomotive Society (SLS) was founded in the UK in Autumn 1909 for the study of rail transport and locomotives. More recently, on 1 January 2017, the SLS became a private company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales ...
and Manchester Locomotive Society : Traction: Furness Railway Class D5 0-6-0 No. 52494 : Traction: Furness Railway Class D5 0-6-0 No. 52501 : Formation: 5 carriage . : Route:
Sellafield Sellafield, formerly known as Windscale, is a large multi-function nuclear site close to Seascale on the coast of Cumbria, England. As of August 2022, primary activities are nuclear waste storage, nuclear waste processing and storage and nucle ...
,
Egremont Egremont may refer to: Places * Egremont, Cumbria, England * Egremont, Merseyside, England * Egremont, Massachusetts, United States * Egremont, Alberta, Canada Other uses * Earl of Egremont Earl of Egremont was a title in the Peerage of Gr ...
,
Moor Row Moor Row is a village in Cumbria, North West England. It is in Egremont civil parish and lies on a minor road off the A595, south-east of Whitehaven. In 2018 it had an estimated population of 759. History Moor Row is a residential community ...
, Cleator Moor Goods, Birks Bridge Jn, Eskett Jn, Rowrah, Ullock Jn, Marron Jn,
Workington Workington is a coastal town and civil parish in the Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. The town is at the mouth of the River Derwent on the west coast, south-west of Carlisle and north-east of Whitehaven. At the 2021 census the ...
Bridge Jn, Derwent Jn,
Workington Workington is a coastal town and civil parish in the Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. The town is at the mouth of the River Derwent on the west coast, south-west of Carlisle and north-east of Whitehaven. At the 2021 census the ...
, Derwent Jn, Siddick Junction, Dock Jn, Calva Jn, Seaton, Buckhill, Seaton, Calva Jn, Cloffocks Jn,
Workington Workington is a coastal town and civil parish in the Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. The town is at the mouth of the River Derwent on the west coast, south-west of Carlisle and north-east of Whitehaven. At the 2021 census the ...
Central,
Harrington, Cumbria Harrington is a suburban village on the southern outskirts of Workington, in the Cumberland (district), Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. It was formerly a separate village and parish; it has been administered as part of Workington since ...
Jn,
Distington Distington () is a large village and civil parish in Cumbria, England, south of Workington and north of Whitehaven. Historically a part of Cumberland, the civil parish includes the nearby settlements of Common End, Cumbria, Common End, Gilgar ...
, Moresby Parks,
Cleator Moor Cleator Moor is a town and civil parish in the Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. The parish was historically called Cleator. During the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, the new settlement of Cleator Moor was built on the moo ...
Jn,
Moor Row Moor Row is a village in Cumbria, North West England. It is in Egremont civil parish and lies on a minor road off the A595, south-east of Whitehaven. In 2018 it had an estimated population of 759. History Moor Row is a residential community ...
, Mirehouse Jn, Corkickle,
Whitehaven Whitehaven is a town and civil parish in the Cumberland (unitary authority), Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. It is a port on the north-west coast, and lies outside the Lake District National parks of England and Wales, National Park. ...
(Bransty)


The Solway Ranger Railtour, 13 June 1964

: Organiser: R.C.T.S. (West Riding Branch) : Traction:
LNER Class D40 The GNSR Classes V and F is a type of 4-4-0 steam locomotive built by Neilson, Reid & Co., Inverurie Works, North British Locomotive Co. and GNSR Inverurie Works for the Great North of Scotland Railway (GNSR). It consisted of GNSR class V (in ...
Great North of Scotland Railway The Great North of Scotland Railway (GNSR) was one of the two smallest of the five major Scottish railway companies prior to the 1923 Grouping, operating in the north-east of the country. Formed in 1845, it carried its first passengers the fro ...
No. 49 'Gordon Highlander' : Traction: Caledonian Railway Single 123 : Traction: SR Merchant Navy class No. 35012 'United States Lines' : Traction:
LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Stanier Class 5 4-6-0, commonly known as the Black Five, is a class of steam locomotives. It was introduced by William Stanier and built between 1934 and 1951. A total of 842 were built, initially ...
No. 45394 : Traction:
LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0 The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0 is a class of steam locomotive designed for light mixed traffic. Design Elderly 0-6-0s formed the backbone of the low-powered locomotives within the LMS fleet. William Stanier ...
No. 46426 : Traction:
LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0 The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0 is a class of steam locomotive designed for light mixed traffic. Design Elderly 0-6-0s formed the backbone of the low-powered locomotives within the LMS fleet. William Stanier ...
No. 46458 : Traction: Unknown
Diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple-unit train powered by on-board diesel engines. A DMU requires no separate locomotive, as the engines are incorporated into one or more of the carriages. Diesel-powered single-unit railcars are also ...
: Route: Leeds City South, Shipley Leeds Jn, Keighley, Snaygill, Skipton, Hellifield, Settle Jn, Clapham, Wennington Jn, Carnforth East Jn, Carnforth F & M Jn, Carnforth No.2 Jn, Carnforth Jn, Oxenholme, Tebay, Shap Summit, Penrith No.1, Penrith, Blencow, Penruddock, Threlkeld, Keswick, Braithwaite, Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cockermouth Jn, Derwent Jn, Workington Main (
Diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple-unit train powered by on-board diesel engines. A DMU requires no separate locomotive, as the engines are incorporated into one or more of the carriages. Diesel-powered single-unit railcars are also ...
replaces steam), Moss Bay Iron Works, Whitehaven Bransty, Corkickle, Moor Row, Rowrah (14.23a ~ 14.38d),
Moor Row Moor Row is a village in Cumbria, North West England. It is in Egremont civil parish and lies on a minor road off the A595, south-east of Whitehaven. In 2018 it had an estimated population of 759. History Moor Row is a residential community ...
,
Egremont, Cumbria Egremont is a market town and civil parish in the Cumberland (unitary authority), Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. It is situated just outside the Lake District National Park, south of Whitehaven and on the River Ehen. The parish also ...
, Beckermet Mines Jn,
Sellafield railway station Sellafield is a railway station on the Cumbrian Coast line, Cumbrian Coast Line, which runs between and . It serves Sellafield, in Cumbria, England; it is situated north-west of Barrow-in-Furness. The station is owned by Network Rail and manag ...
, Nethertown, St Bees, Corkickle, Whitehaven Bransty, Moss Bay Iron Works, Workington Main, Aspatria, Wigton, Carlisle No.8, Carlisle (Steam replaces
Diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple-unit train powered by on-board diesel engines. A DMU requires no separate locomotive, as the engines are incorporated into one or more of the carriages. Diesel-powered single-unit railcars are also ...
), Carlisle No.3, Canal Jn, Drumburgh, Silloth, Drumburgh, Canal Jn, Carlisle No.3, Carlisle, Petteril Bridge Jn, Lazonby & Kirkoswald, Appleby West, Ais Gill, Blea Moor, Settle Jn, Hellifield, Skipton, Snaygill, Keighley, Shipley Leeds Jn, Leeds City South


Solway Railtour of West Cumberland by brake van, 7 May 1966

: Organiser: The Railway Enthusiasts Club of Farnborough, Hants : Traction:
LMS Ivatt Class 4 The LMS Ivatt Class 4 2-6-0 is a class of steam locomotive primarily designed for medium freight work but also widely used on secondary passenger services. The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) ordered 162 of this type between 1947 and ...
, 43006 : Route:
Workington railway station Workington railway station serves the coastal town of Workington, in Cumbria, England. It is a stop on the Cumbrian Coast Line, which runs between and . It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains. History The first Wor ...
(main), Siddick junction, Calva junction, Buckhill RNAD (the Dump), Siddick,
Parton railway station Parton railway station is a railway station serving the village of Parton in Cumbria, England. It is on the Cumbrian Coast Line, which runs between and . It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains. Immediately north and so ...
, No 4 pit siding (Lowca),
Parton railway station Parton railway station is a railway station serving the village of Parton in Cumbria, England. It is on the Cumbrian Coast Line, which runs between and . It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains. Immediately north and so ...
,
Whitehaven Whitehaven is a town and civil parish in the Cumberland (unitary authority), Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. It is a port on the north-west coast, and lies outside the Lake District National parks of England and Wales, National Park. ...
(Corcickle),
Moor Row Moor Row is a village in Cumbria, North West England. It is in Egremont civil parish and lies on a minor road off the A595, south-east of Whitehaven. In 2018 it had an estimated population of 759. History Moor Row is a residential community ...
, Rowrah,
Moor Row Moor Row is a village in Cumbria, North West England. It is in Egremont civil parish and lies on a minor road off the A595, south-east of Whitehaven. In 2018 it had an estimated population of 759. History Moor Row is a residential community ...
,
Sellafield railway station Sellafield is a railway station on the Cumbrian Coast line, Cumbrian Coast Line, which runs between and . It serves Sellafield, in Cumbria, England; it is situated north-west of Barrow-in-Furness. The station is owned by Network Rail and manag ...
,
Millom Millom is a town and civil parish on the north shore of the estuary of the River Duddon in southernmost Cumberland, Cumbria, England. It is situated just outside the Lake District National Park, about north of Barrow-in-Furness ( by road) and ...
,
Workington railway station Workington railway station serves the coastal town of Workington, in Cumbria, England. It is a stop on the Cumbrian Coast Line, which runs between and . It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains. History The first Wor ...


Steam Hauled Railtour of Ravenglass and Rowrah, 15 March 1969

: Organiser:
Stephenson Locomotive Society The Stephenson Locomotive Society (SLS) was founded in the UK in Autumn 1909 for the study of rail transport and locomotives. More recently, on 1 January 2017, the SLS became a private company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales ...
and Manchester Locomotive Society : Traction: Unknown : Formation: Unknown : Route:
City of Lancaster The City of Lancaster, or simply ''Lancaster'' (), is a non-metropolitan district, local government district with City status in the United Kingdom, city status in Lancashire, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Lancaster, Lanca ...
,
Carnforth Carnforth is a market town and civil parish in the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England, situated at the north-east end of Morecambe Bay. The parish of Carnforth had a population of 5,560 in the 2011 census, an increase from the 5,350 reco ...
,
Grange-over-Sands Grange-over-Sands is a town and civil parishes in England, civil parish on the north side of Morecambe Bay in Cumbria, England, a few miles south of the Lake District Lake District National Park, National Park. In the United Kingdom Census 201 ...
, Plumpton Jn,
Conishead Priory Conishead Priory is a large Gothic Revival building on the Furness peninsula near Ulverston in Cumbria. The priory's name translates literally as "King's Hill Priory". Since 1976, the building has been occupied by a Buddhist community. History ...
Branch, Plumpton Jn,
Ulverston Ulverston is a market town and civil parish in Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria, England. Historic counties of England, Historically in Lancashire, it lies a few miles south of the Lake District Lake District National Park, National Park and j ...
,
Dalton-in-Furness Dalton-in-Furness is a town in Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria, England, north east of Barrow-in-Furness. Along with the rest of the Furness peninsula, it was historically part of Lancashire. It is in the parish of Dalton Town with Newton, a ...
,
Askam and Ireleth Askam and Ireleth is a civil parish close to Barrow-in-Furness in Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria, England. Historically part of Lancashire, it originally consisted of two separate coastal villages with different origins and histories which, i ...
(Askham),
Foxfield railway station Foxfield could refer to: Horse Racing: * Foxfield Races, a biannual steeplechase race in Albemarle County Places: * Foxfield, Colorado, United States * Foxfield, County Leitrim, Ireland * Foxfield, Cumbria, England * Foxfield, Carrickmacross, Co ...
,
Millom Millom is a town and civil parish on the north shore of the estuary of the River Duddon in southernmost Cumberland, Cumbria, England. It is situated just outside the Lake District National Park, about north of Barrow-in-Furness ( by road) and ...
,
Sellafield railway station Sellafield is a railway station on the Cumbrian Coast line, Cumbrian Coast Line, which runs between and . It serves Sellafield, in Cumbria, England; it is situated north-west of Barrow-in-Furness. The station is owned by Network Rail and manag ...
,
Egremont, Cumbria Egremont is a market town and civil parish in the Cumberland (unitary authority), Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. It is situated just outside the Lake District National Park, south of Whitehaven and on the River Ehen. The parish also ...
,
Moor Row Moor Row is a village in Cumbria, North West England. It is in Egremont civil parish and lies on a minor road off the A595, south-east of Whitehaven. In 2018 it had an estimated population of 759. History Moor Row is a residential community ...
, Rowrah Jn,
Arlecdon Arlecdon is a village in Cumberland in Cumbria, England, near the town of Whitehaven. Toponymy Arlecdon comes from the Old English 'earn-lāce denu', meaning 'eagle-stream valley'. Church St Michael's Parish church is an historic Grade II li ...
, Rowrah (14.02a ~ 14.12d),
Moor Row Moor Row is a village in Cumbria, North West England. It is in Egremont civil parish and lies on a minor road off the A595, south-east of Whitehaven. In 2018 it had an estimated population of 759. History Moor Row is a residential community ...
, Corkickle,
Whitehaven Whitehaven is a town and civil parish in the Cumberland (unitary authority), Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. It is a port on the north-west coast, and lies outside the Lake District National parks of England and Wales, National Park. ...
Preston Street Jn,
Whitehaven Whitehaven is a town and civil parish in the Cumberland (unitary authority), Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. It is a port on the north-west coast, and lies outside the Lake District National parks of England and Wales, National Park. ...
Preston Street Goods,
Whitehaven Whitehaven is a town and civil parish in the Cumberland (unitary authority), Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. It is a port on the north-west coast, and lies outside the Lake District National parks of England and Wales, National Park. ...
Preston Street Jn, Corkickle,
St Bees St Bees is a coastal village, civil parish and electoral ward in the Cumberland district of Cumbria, England, on the Irish Sea. Within the parish is St Bees Head which is the only Heritage Coast between Wales and Scotland and a Site of Spec ...
,
Ravenglass Ravenglass is an English coastal village in west Cumbria that lies between Barrow-in-Furness and Whitehaven, on the estuary of three rivers: the Esk, Mite and Irt. It is the only coastal village in the Lake District National Park. Formerly in ...
, Dalegarth for Boot railway station,
Ravenglass Ravenglass is an English coastal village in west Cumbria that lies between Barrow-in-Furness and Whitehaven, on the estuary of three rivers: the Esk, Mite and Irt. It is the only coastal village in the Lake District National Park. Formerly in ...
,
Carnforth Carnforth is a market town and civil parish in the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England, situated at the north-east end of Morecambe Bay. The parish of Carnforth had a population of 5,560 in the 2011 census, an increase from the 5,350 reco ...
,
City of Lancaster The City of Lancaster, or simply ''Lancaster'' (), is a non-metropolitan district, local government district with City status in the United Kingdom, city status in Lancashire, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Lancaster, Lanca ...


Rowrah Station and staff

Such was the ad hoc passenger traffic and special services that Rowrah railway station continued to be staffed until 1967, 36 years after passenger services officially ceased. Identified railway staff from Rowrah include: * George Stoddart was the last station master at Rowrah serving from 1947 to May 1967, leaving into retirement. * Samuel Hastings, railway clerk, married Miss Mary Ann Yates both of Rowrah – 18 March 1882


Closure

The line to the north of Rowrah (Wrights Green – Marron Junction) was lifted in 1964. The route of the old
Cleator and Workington Junction Railway The Cleator and Workington Junction Railway (C&WJR) was located in West Cumberland in Northern England, serving the towns of Cleator Moor and Workington and intermediate villages. It was mainly used for coal, limestone and iron ore traffic for t ...
ceased
coal Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed as rock strata called coal seams. Coal is mostly carbon with variable amounts of other Chemical element, elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. Coal i ...
and coke traffic, for the general public on 14 August 1967, and regular goods, from 15 August 1966. The signal box remained operational until 1967 at which point traffic had become so low that the whole of the line between Rowrah and Whitehaven was deemed as a single block (see
British absolute block signalling Absolute block signalling is a British signalling block system designed to ensure the safe operation of a railway by allowing only one train to occupy a defined section of track (block) at a time. Each block section is manually controlled by a ...
) with point switching being carried out by the train driver / guard. The Rowrah No. 1 Signal box was the last surviving box of the
Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway The Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway was an English railway company which built and operated a standard gauge railway in Cumberland, England intended to open up the hematite orefield to the south-east of Whitehaven. It opened for goods ...
. A stretch of the
Cleator and Workington Junction Railway The Cleator and Workington Junction Railway (C&WJR) was located in West Cumberland in Northern England, serving the towns of Cleator Moor and Workington and intermediate villages. It was mainly used for coal, limestone and iron ore traffic for t ...
remained until October 1980 as the
backshunt A backshunt is a railway track configuration in situations where a change in (almost opposite) direction is required and a traditional curve cannot fit. There are two main applications of a backshunt. # To climb or drop a steep incline using a Zi ...
into Rowrah Hall quarry for the remaining goods traffic on the old route of the
Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway The Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway was an English railway company which built and operated a standard gauge railway in Cumberland, England intended to open up the hematite orefield to the south-east of Whitehaven. It opened for goods ...
. The
backshunt A backshunt is a railway track configuration in situations where a change in (almost opposite) direction is required and a traditional curve cannot fit. There are two main applications of a backshunt. # To climb or drop a steep incline using a Zi ...
ran from Rowrah almost as far as
Arlecdon Arlecdon is a village in Cumberland in Cumbria, England, near the town of Whitehaven. Toponymy Arlecdon comes from the Old English 'earn-lāce denu', meaning 'eagle-stream valley'. Church St Michael's Parish church is an historic Grade II li ...
Station. The line to the south of Rowrah continued to serve the Rowrah Hall / Eskett Quarry as the primary way to move
Limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...
until 23 March 1978 when the last Rowrah
Limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...
was sent to the
Blast furnace A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical furnace used for smelting to produce industrial metals, generally pig iron, but also others such as lead or copper. ''Blast'' refers to the combustion air being supplied above atmospheric pressure. In a ...
s at Workington Ironworks. All private siding movements were suspended on 1 April 1978. The line was officially closed to traffic on 2 February 1980 and remained in place until October of the same year. The quarry remained open for two years after the departure of the railway with all
Limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...
being transported by road. During the rail removal process the track was lifted and loaded on to a train, the track being lifted behind it as it travelled back to Whitehaven. The train formation consisted of a
British Rail Class 25 The British Rail Class 25, also known as the Sulzer Type 2, is a class of 327 diesel locomotives built between 1961 and 1967 for British Rail. They were numbered in two series, D5151–D5299 and D7500–D7677. The first 25 locos became known as ...
locomotive (25202 and 25036), two rail wagons and BR/LMS guards van. 25036 was the last locomotive to ever visit Rowrah.


Mines, quarries, and natural resources

Rowrah is built on a large and very pure deposit of Limestone and from 1888 until the 1980s Limestone was quarried from at least one of the four quarries in Rowrah. # Rowrah Head Quarry (1888 to the 1980s) # Kelton Head Quarry ( to 1950) # Salter Hall Quarry ( to 1927) # Stockhow Hall Quarry ( to 1909) The remnants of all the quarries of Rowrah and the connecting trackbeds is clearly visible i
this google map overlay


Rowrah Hall Quarry

Rowrah Hall Quarry, later called the Rowrah Quarry, was owned by Thomas Dixon of Rheda and at its peak employed 24 men with an average yield of 130 tons of limestone per day. Although owned by Thomas Dixon the quarry was leased to various parties throughout its productive life, some of the leases in date order are:- * 5 January 1910, Lease of Rowrah Hall Limestone Quarry between 1) Thomas Dixon, Rheda and Florence Dixon, Lorton Hall and 2) the Workington Iron and Steel Company Limited * 13 June 1939, Lease of the Rowrah Hall Quarry, Lamplugh, between 1) Henry Raven Courtenay Musgrave, Highbury, Stocksfield, Northumberland and Vera Owen Musgrave, Redcroft, Moor Crescent, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne and 2) the
United Steel Companies The United Steel Companies was a steelmaking, engineering, coal mining and coal by-product group based in South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, England. History The company was registered in 1918 and the following year saw a joining together of ste ...
Limited In the 1980s Rowrah Quarry was (owned? and) operated by Eskett Quarries Ltd.


Incidents

* 1 March 1897 – Accident with Explosives – 1 injured. The man was engaged in firing "pop" holes. He had lighted the fuse and retired to a safe distance. He was returning to the place after the shot had exploded, thinking all was safe, when he was struck on the head by a small stone. * 19 January 1898 – Accident with explosives – 1 injured. Accident due to injured person's own reckless conduct. A vertical hole, 7 feet deep, was charged with gelatine dynamite with the view of merely "cracking" the rock. The shot-firer lit the fuse, and then proceeded to pour in some fine stemming, ramming it down with a copper tube. Explosion probably caused by this stemmer coming in contact with the detonator. * 20 February 1900 – Accident with Explosives – one man injured. The injured man had moved away about 100 yards from the quarry face, and was watching the shot. It was snowing at the time, and this prevented him seeing clearly. (Gunpowder.) * 23 February 1900 – Accident with Explosives – two men injured. A hole 10 feet deep, and containing a charge of 10 lbs. of powder, had missed fire on the previous day. The presumption is that the two men were unramming the hole when the explosion occurred. (Gunpowder.) * 6 March 1914 – Fatality: Gilmore, Thomas, 6 March 1914, aged 38, Shot Firer. After firing a "shaking" shot on a ledge 12 feet from the quarry top, deceased returned to recharge the hole, and while in a stooping position a mass of rock, weighing several tons, fell from the quarry face and struck him, killing him instantly


Kelton Head Quarry

Kelton Head Quarry is located one mile to the east of the Rowrah, this was in active use until 1950. In the early 1960s Kelton Head quarry was purchased from the owner, farmer Joseph Wren, for £300 by Iredale Edgar for the purpose of converting it into the new home of The Cumbria Karting Club. File:The Karting pits area Rowrah. - geograph.org.uk - 97267.jpg, The Karting pits area Rowrah. – geograph.org.uk – 97267 File:Kart racing at Rowrah - geograph.org.uk - 546522.jpg, Kart racing at Rowrah – geograph.org.uk – 546522


Salter Hall Quarry

Salter Hall Quarry (to 1927) was used for the quarrying of
limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...
and was served by the Rowrah and Kelton Fell Railway. The quarry was owned by Salter Quarry Co. Ltd. In 1922 it employed 47 people (36 workers, 11 office) Although Rowrah Hall Quarry and Salter Hall Quarry were entirely separate, later quarrying activity and the eventual flooding of both has resulted in them now appearing as one single entity when viewed from the air. Although there is no documented evidence many locals are aware of the remnants of two tunnels between the two quarries. The earlier of the two tunnels had a narrow gauge track and the latter was sufficiently wide to allow the passage of road wagons. Eventually the two tunnels were used to create the open space between the two quarries. File:Salterhall Quarry, part of Rowrah Quarry - geograph.org.uk - 92808.jpg, Salterhall Quarry, part of Rowrah Quarry – geograph.org.uk – 92808


Incidents

* 14 June 1900 – Accident with Explosives – one man injured. He was sheltering behind a bogie when he was struck by a stone, which rebounded from an angle of the quarry face. (Gunpowder.)


Stockhow Hall Quarry

Stockhow Hall Quarry ( to 1909) was used for the quarrying of
limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...
and was served by the Rowrah and Kelton Fell Railway. The local name for Stockhow Hall Quarry was "Bainsey Wood Quarry".


Other geological interest

The soil in Rowrah often has a reddish colouring due to the high concentration of iron-ore.


Cycling

The disused railway in Rowrah now forms part of the 140-mile
Sea to Sea Cycle Route The Coast to Coast or Sea to Sea Cycle Route (C2C) is a cycle route opened in 1994. Combining sections of National Cycle Route 7, 14, 71 and 72; it runs from Whitehaven or Workington on the west coast of Cumbria, and then crosses the Lak ...
(C2C) Cycle Route, Britain's most popular "challenge" cycle route which is route 71 of the National Cycle Network. The cycle route between Rowrah and Whitehaven follows the disused railway line for its entire length, making it an excellent traffic free and gentle bike ride with a selection of local sculptures to keep the casual cyclist entertained. File:C2c signpost rowrah.jpg, C2C (Route 71) Sign Post showing Whitehaven 91/2 Miles (all downhill), Keswick 21 Miles and Sunderland 120 Miles File:C2c milepost rowrah.jpg, C2C Milepost showing Rowrah, Arlecdon, Frizington, Cleator Moor, Moor Row and Whitehaven. At the top of the post is a depiction of a quarry rail cart used to move iron-ore and limestone. File:Sculpture on the C2C cycle route at Rowrah.jpg, A typical sculpture on the C2C cycle route at Rowrah File:A stone with Cumbrian Dialect writing, Rowrah.jpg, A stone with Cumbrian Dialect writing, Rowrah on the route of the Rowrah and Kelton Fell Railway. "and then among t'herdwicks ah've oft heard it sed she could hannel a tip just as weel as owld Ned. She culd tell gimmer...."


Notable buildings


Rowrah Hall

Brief History to Present Day Rowrah Hall is a fine, imposing Grade II listed building, originally built in 1703 during the reign of Queen Anne, and was the home of John Skelton. The property was extended in 1729 and the next few generations made it their home. At some point c.1800's, the Skelton's left to live in London and the Hall saw various tenants, before being sold by the family in the 1930s. The Hall and estate were bought by a local farmer, but its upkeep was neglected and for a number of years, it lay derelict. It was bought and renovated in the 1980s when it became a field centre, until 2001. Later it was completely renovated and was transformed into a charming guest house. The adjoining cottage, The Old Hayloft, which is within Rowrah Hall's curtilage, was given a separate title c.2003 and later converted to boutique holiday cottages. The property remains in private ownership, having been sold in 2021 and continues to flourish under its new stewards. The building is almost in its original "as built" form and can be seen from the C2C Cycle Route at Rowrah, which runs alongside the Hall's three-acre estate. Over 7,000 tulip bulbs were planted in 2021, creating a spectacular display in the Spring time. The gateway to Rowrah Hall was originally located directly on the main road but was altered in 1861 with the arrival of the railway. Access to Rowrah hall is via two disused railway bridges that were underfilled in the 1990s. Natural Water Source A natural spring within the grounds, feeds two ponds and is the source of Windergill Beck, feeding into the River Ehen, which supports the largest freshwater pearl mussel ''Margaritifera'' population in England, and is designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Grade II Listing Rowrah Hall was given Grade II listed status on 9 March 1967 and is a traditional Cumberland farmhouse design of five bays, made of rendered limestone, with local slate roof and originally had sandstone mullions and transoms to the windows throughout. The Listing gives its building as 1705, from a date on the barns (now gone), but from the evidence of a carved oak cupboard, it was probably built in 1703. It had two large inglenook fireplaces, one of which survives, and a comparatively large number of windows (expensive at the time). Queen Anne to King George The extension in 1729 was built in part, to accommodate Richard Skelton's growing family and there is a marked contrast in style between the Queen Anne design of the original house and the Georgian style of the newer. Richard was the eldest son of John, and also built the massive gate piers (also listed), with large acorns on top, and the walled garden. At the time, there was a long drive straight up to the main road, where the entrance was marked by two beech trees (cut down about 1980). Richard died in the late eighteenth century, while his wife Deborah lived on into her late 90's. The original Ordnance Survey maps of the coincided with the building of the first railway in the 1805's: the Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont. It shows that "Rowrah" is simply Rowrah Hall, Rowrah Hall Farm and Rowrah Head. It is possible that Rowrah Hall was the only building in Rowrah during the early 1700s.


The Shop

Located at 9 Rowrah Road the shop was the last general retail premises in Rowrah, now closed and a private residence. Previously it was a Fish and Chip shop.


The Doctors House

The doctors house is one of the largest houses in the original row of terraced houses on Rowrah Road, it is detached and set back from the other houses in the row.


Rowrah Chapel

In 1895 a 300 capacity Wesleyan Chapel was constructed from part rendered local sandstone, now a private residential property.


The Cooperative

The Cooperative building has had many uses. As the Cooperative it was a funeral parlour. In the mid-1970s it was used as a jewellery shop called Magnus Maximus Designs. It is now a private residence under the name of Magnus House.


The Railway Hotel

The Railway Hotel, located at 49 Rowrah Road, was the property of the
Jennings Brewery Jennings Brewery was established as a family concern in 1828 in the village of Lorton, between Buttermere and Cockermouth in the Lake District, England. The brewery was started by John Jennings Snr, son of William Jennings (a maltster). Jen ...
, Cockermouth. The property was leased to various landlords throughout its life under
Jennings Brewery Jennings Brewery was established as a family concern in 1828 in the village of Lorton, between Buttermere and Cockermouth in the Lake District, England. The brewery was started by John Jennings Snr, son of William Jennings (a maltster). Jen ...
ownership, some of the tenants included:- * Joseph Cameron Boyd: Railway Hotel, Rowrah – 1924 * William Joseph Brough: Railway Hotel, Rowrah – 1928 The Railway Hotel underwent alterations in 1955–1956 while remaining under the ownership of the
Jennings Brewery Jennings Brewery was established as a family concern in 1828 in the village of Lorton, between Buttermere and Cockermouth in the Lake District, England. The brewery was started by John Jennings Snr, son of William Jennings (a maltster). Jen ...
. Additional National archive records, held in Cumbria Record Office and Local Studies Library, Whitehaven, indicate the sale of The Railway Hotel in 1956 The Railway Hotel is now a private residence. After nearly 160 years, following the death of Noreen Dockeray, (owner of 40 years), The Railway Hotel and its Ostler's cottage are now separate properties and owned by 2 separate families.


The Stork Hotel

The Stork Hotel Rowrah is located on the corner of Rowrah Road and Pasture Road. There are archive records regarding The Stork Hotel as follows:- * Sale particulars, copy deeds and papers relating to the acquisition of the Stork Hotel, Rowrah – 1932–1933 The Stork Hotel was the last remaining public house and hotel in Rowrah, when it closed in January 2022. It is now a private residence.


Notable people

* Paul Dale, the first CTO to be appointed to the management board at
ITV plc ITV plc is a British media company that holds 13 of the 15 regional television licences that make up the ITV (TV network), ITV network (Channel 3), the oldest and largest commercial terrestrial television network in the United Kingdom. ITV plc ...
, biggest commercial television network in the UK. * Derrick Bird, the gunman responsible for the
Cumbria shootings The Cumbria shootings was a shooting spree that occurred on 2 June 2010 when a lone gunman, taxi driver Derrick Bird, killed twelve people and injured eleven others in Cumbria, England. Along with the 1987 Hungerford massacre and the 1996 D ...
in 2010, lived at 26 Rowrah Road.


Religion

Rowrah for many years was a religious hub for the surrounding area and in 1895 a 300-capacity
Wesleyan Wesleyan theology, otherwise known as Wesleyan–Arminian theology, or Methodist theology, is a theological tradition in Protestant Christianity based upon the ministry of the 18th-century evangelical reformer brothers John Wesley and Charle ...
chapel was constructed. This chapel later became a
Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a Protestant Christianity, Christian Christian tradition, tradition whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's brother ...
church for the local community until declining numbers forced the closure and sale of the property. The chapel is now a private residence. Many of the
Wesleyan Wesleyan theology, otherwise known as Wesleyan–Arminian theology, or Methodist theology, is a theological tradition in Protestant Christianity based upon the ministry of the 18th-century evangelical reformer brothers John Wesley and Charle ...
meetings were documented and some have been transcribed available online. The Reading Room was established in 1896; the members, who numbered about 40, subscribed for 2d. weekly. 4 items from the "Wesleyan Chapel Rowrah" are part of the local historical collection housed at The Beacon in
Whitehaven Whitehaven is a town and civil parish in the Cumberland (unitary authority), Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. It is a port on the north-west coast, and lies outside the Lake District National parks of England and Wales, National Park. ...
. These items are:- # BWHHMG:1997.47.5, Cup, White china tea cup, black transfer printed inscription "Wesleyan Chapel Rowrah", thin gold band of decoration around rim. # WHHMG:1997.47.6, Saucer, White china saucer, black transfer printed inscription "Wesleyan Chapel Rowrah", thin gold band of decoration around edge. # WHHMG:1997.47.7, Plate, White china tea plate, black transfer printed inscription "Wesleyan Chapel Rowrah", thin gold band of decoration around edge. # WHHMG:1997.47.8, Plate, White china dinner plate, black transfer printed inscription "Wesleyan Chapel Rowrah", thin gold band of decoration around edge.


Wildlife

Rowrah is a rural village and has diverse wildlife, including wild deer,
cuckoo Cuckoos are birds in the Cuculidae ( ) family, the sole taxon in the order Cuculiformes ( ). The cuckoo family includes the common or European cuckoo, roadrunners, koels, malkohas, couas, coucals, and anis. The coucals and anis are somet ...
,
barn owl The barn owls, owls in the genus '' Tyto'', are the most widely distributed genus of owls in the world. They are medium-sized owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long, strong legs with powerful talons. The ter ...
,
fox Foxes are small-to-medium-sized omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull; upright, triangular ears; a pointed, slightly upturned snout; and a long, bushy tail ("brush"). Twelve species ...
,
red squirrel The red squirrel (''Sciurus vulgaris''), also called Eurasian red squirrel, is a species of tree squirrel in the genus ''Sciurus''. It is an arboreal and primarily herbivorous rodent and common throughout Eurasia. Taxonomy There have been ...
,
smooth newt The smooth newt, European newt, northern smooth newt or common newt (''Lissotriton vulgaris'') is a species of newt. It is widespread in Europe and parts of Asia, and has been introduced species, introduced into Australia. Individuals are brown ...
,
hare Hares and jackrabbits are mammals belonging to the genus ''Lepus''. They are herbivores and live Solitary animal, solitarily or in pairs. They nest in slight depressions called forms, and their young are precociality, able to fend for themselves ...
, and
rabbit Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae (which also includes the hares), which is in the order Lagomorpha (which also includes pikas). They are familiar throughout the world as a small herbivore, a prey animal, a domesticated ...
. Rowrah has a pair of nesting
peregrine falcon The peregrine falcon (''Falco peregrinus''), also known simply as the peregrine, is a Cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan bird of prey (raptor) in the family (biology), family Falconidae renowned for its speed. A large, Corvus (genus), cro ...
s, in April 2009 they made the national headlines when a pigeon laced with poison was used in an attempt to poison them. To the south-east of Rowrah, along the C2C cycle route prior to Sheriffs Gate there is High Leys, which has been designated a national nature reserve. The status of national nature reserve was awarded to High Leys due to its meadow status and the traditional hay-making and grazing methods employed during the land's working lifetime. In 2010 there were sightings of a large black cat, local myth often refers to such unknown creatures as "Boggles".


Post Office

The nearest
Post Office A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, such as accepting letter (message), letters and parcel (package), parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post o ...
is at
Arlecdon Arlecdon is a village in Cumberland in Cumbria, England, near the town of Whitehaven. Toponymy Arlecdon comes from the Old English 'earn-lāce denu', meaning 'eagle-stream valley'. Church St Michael's Parish church is an historic Grade II li ...
.


See also

*
Listed buildings in Arlecdon and Frizington Arlecdon and Frizington is a civil parish in the Cumberland (unitary authority), Cumberland district, Cumbria, England. It contains seven Listed building#England and Wales, listed buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for Eng ...


References


External links

{{authority control Villages in Cumbria
Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is an area of North West England which was historically a county. The county was bordered by Northumberland to the north-east, County Durham to the east, Westmorland to the south-east, Lancashire to the south, and the Scottish ...