Farming - Borrowdale Story

Farming in the valley
Farming in Borrowdale dates back to at least a thousand years, when Scandinavians settled the valley as refugees from Ireland. This mountainous environment was likely familiar to them, and they cleared the land, called 'thwaites', to form settlements and set up summer pastures, 'saetres', for their livestock. Many of the hamlets in Borrowdale have the suffix 'thwaite', hinting at a long history of inhabitation.

Archaeological remains at Thorneythwaite near the head of the valley were recently identified as Iron Age, providing further evidence of the area's rich past.
The Abbey Factor

The Norman Conquest led to the creation of numerous baronies in the north of England, with Borrowdale being part of them.

In 1209, Alice de Rumelli sold a portion of her land, including the Manor of Borrowdale, to Furness Abbey. Monks from Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire also owned and managed land in the area.

Historical Abbey records mention Herdwick sheep, the true native breed of the Lake District, and Herdwick wool was used to make the monks' habits.

For almost 350 years, the monks farmed the valley, not only for wool, but also for rye, oats, and barley.
The Monks of Borrowdale

The Cistercian monks of Grange-in-Borrowdale were known for their industriousness, and are thought to have drained and cultivated the land, built field walls and traded their produce.

Evidence of their monastic routes, with packhorse bridges, which ran east and south from Borrowdale over the fells, can still be seen today. Although the routes leading north to Keswick and west into Buttermere were established later, the monastic land passed into the hands of private owners after the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII.
Medieval practices and beyond

During the medieval period, Borrowdale's inhabitants would have been much more self-sufficient than today.

The region's land was largely arable, with crops grown to sustain the locals and livestock raised for food.

Evidence of the "ridge and furrow" created by ox-drawn ploughs can still be seen in the area, most visible in low sunlight or when snow-covered.

Around Rosthwaite, the 'ridge and furrow' is particularly noticeable.
Clearance Cairns
You will see piles of stones or cairns, especially around the edges of former fields – imagine the work it took to clear the fields of stones.

Field Barns
You can see some surviving examples of field barns which were used for livestock and storage. Imagine the fell sides covered with oak, rowan, birch, holly and hazel about 300 years ago; the woodland provided much needed timber for local use and making charcoal. The increase in sheep farming has prevented regeneration of natural woodland and many of the fells are grass covered now. Borrowdale has more surviving woodland than many Lakeland valleys.

Farming in the valley

Archaeological remains at Thorneythwaite near the head of the valley were recently identified as Iron Age, providing further evidence of the area's rich past.

The Abbey Factor

The Monks of Borrowdale

Medieval practices and beyond

Clearance Cairns

Field Barns