Today saw me turning the pages of industrial history, back to the days of gunpowder production in search of the remains of Wakefield's gunpowder legacy in the pastoral land surrounding Endmoor and Crooklands, the factory was actually at Gatebeck but the powder had to be transported to the railhead at Milnthorpe.
I parked the car at Crooklands Bridge where free boat trips are available on summer weekends, yes free, following the canal north I soon passed under Oldhall Bridge and Mattinson's Bridge on route to the Ivy swathed Field End Bridge, a longer than intended walk over tarmac followed as my intended route through High Commonmire looked quite private, so I followed the road through Low Commonmire to Lorimir Yeat where a finger post directed me to Row End, on reaching Row End I crossed the main road to enter and follow Gatebeck Road, after a 100yds another finger post signed footpath to Endmoor, across fields and into the village, from Endmoor I made my way along the banks of Peasey Beck to reach Crooklands and journeys end.
Endmoor from Crooklands. |
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My walk starts where Crooklands Bridge spans the Lancaster to Kendal Canal. |
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Across the canal Crooklands Hotel. |
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The remains of Wakefield's Wharf built in the nineteenth century to serve the gunpowder works at nearby Gatebeck. |
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The sky reflects in the canal at Crooklands. |
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Looking to Mattinson's Bridge. |
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Here's where I leave the canal, Field End Bridge, over the bridge and up the tarmac lane. |
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On Field End Bridge looking south. |
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And in the other direction. |
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After walking between high hedge rows this is the first view for quite a while, West Viver Hill. |
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From the field gate on the other side of the lane the distant skyline of the Lake District. |
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Strolling across the rolling pastures above High Commonmire with outstanding views to the north. |
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Another view from the same place, across the valley of the River Kent to the blue/grey hills of Lakeland. |
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Climb higher and the Howgill Fells come into view. |
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From Row End Lane stunning views over the Kent Valley. |
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Whitbarrow Scar seen over High Commonmire. |
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Crossing the fields off Gatebeck Road on route to Endmoor. |
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Looking to Endmoor with Farleton Fell rising behind. |
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On the banks of the once industrial Peasey Beck. |
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The remains of the tramway servicing the Wakefield Gunpowder Works, built in 1874 to link the factory with their wharf at Crooklands, the gauge of the tramway was believed to be between 3ft 6in and 4ft, with the closure of the Gatebeck Works in 1937 the tramway and the Wakefield's Wharf soon became derelict. |