Alston Moor
Encyclopedia
Alston Moor is an area of moorland and civil parish in Cumbria
, England
, based around the small town of Alston
. The parish had a population of 2,156 at the 2001 census. As well as the town of Alston, the parish includes the villages of Garrigill
and Nenthead
, along with the hamlets of Nenthall, Nentsberry, Galligill, Blagill, Ashgill, Ayle, Leadgate
, Bayles and Raise. Alston Moor is part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
, the second largest of the 40 AONBs in England and Wales.
Under the Local Government Act 1894
, the parish, then known as Alston with Garrigill, which had previously been a rural sanitary district on its own, became one of the few single-parish rural district
s. This remained in existence until 1974 when it became part of the Eden
district. The parish is divided into the wards of Alston (which includes Leadgate), Garrgill and Nenthead.
The parish is drained by the River South Tyne whose source is located in the fells above Garrigill and also by the Rivers Nent and Black Burn which along with many other smaller streams flow into the Tyne. The Rivers Tees
and Wear
also have their sources on the borders of the parish.
The manor
of Alston or Alston Moor was held for many centuries by the Radcliffe family who held the title Earl of Derwentwater
, but after the part in the failed 1715 Jacobite Rising
, the lands were confiscated, and Alston became the property of the naval
hospital
at Greenwich in London.
Greenwich Hospital remained the principal landowner in the parish and owner of the extensive mineral rights up until the 1960s when the estate was transferred to the Trustees for Catholic
Purposes who a few years ago sold their remaining properties in Alston Moor.
The poet W. H. Auden
was to travel a great deal in Britain and abroad, but it is the wild region between the River Tees
and the Roman Wall which provides the backdrop to many poems and plays of the ‘20s and ’30s, and echoes at intervals throughout his life. In America in 1947, an Ordnance Survey
map of Alston Moor hung on the wall of Auden’s chaotic shack on Fire Island.
According to his brother John
, Auden came to love Alston Moor more than any other place. The poem entitled ’Alston Moor’ dates from 1924, as does ’Allendale’.
Close to the river South Tyne, 2 miles north of Alston, lies Randalholme Hall, a 17th century house incorporating a fourteenth century pele tower
.
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, based around the small town of Alston
Alston, Cumbria
Alston is a small town in Cumbria, England on the River South Tyne. It is one of the highest elevation towns in the country, at about 1,000 feet above sea level.-Geography:...
. The parish had a population of 2,156 at the 2001 census. As well as the town of Alston, the parish includes the villages of Garrigill
Garrigill
Garrigill, Cumbria is a small village in the North Pennine region of the UK situated on the banks and close to the source of the River South Tyne...
and Nenthead
Nenthead
The small village of Nenthead in the county of Cumbria is one of England's highest villages, at 1,500 feet. It was not built until the middle of the 18th century and was one of the earliest purpose-built industrial villages in Britain...
, along with the hamlets of Nenthall, Nentsberry, Galligill, Blagill, Ashgill, Ayle, Leadgate
Leadgate, Cumbria
Leadgate is a small hamlet located at the foot of Hartside Fell between the town of Alston and the village of Garrigill in the parish of Alston Moor in Cumbria, England....
, Bayles and Raise. Alston Moor is part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
North Pennines
The North Pennines is the northernmost section of the Pennine range of hills which runs north-south through northern England. It lies between Carlisle to the west and Darlington to the east...
, the second largest of the 40 AONBs in England and Wales.
Under the Local Government Act 1894
Local Government Act 1894
The Local Government Act 1894 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales outside the County of London. The Act followed the reforms carried out at county level under the Local Government Act 1888...
, the parish, then known as Alston with Garrigill, which had previously been a rural sanitary district on its own, became one of the few single-parish rural district
Rural district
Rural districts were a type of local government area – now superseded – established at the end of the 19th century in England, Wales, and Ireland for the administration of predominantly rural areas at a level lower than that of the administrative counties.-England and Wales:In England...
s. This remained in existence until 1974 when it became part of the Eden
Eden, Cumbria
Eden is a local government district in Cumbria, England. Its council is based in Penrith. It is named after the River Eden which flows north through the district toward Carlisle....
district. The parish is divided into the wards of Alston (which includes Leadgate), Garrgill and Nenthead.
The parish is drained by the River South Tyne whose source is located in the fells above Garrigill and also by the Rivers Nent and Black Burn which along with many other smaller streams flow into the Tyne. The Rivers Tees
River Tees
The River Tees is in Northern England. It rises on the eastern slope of Cross Fell in the North Pennines, and flows eastwards for 85 miles to reach the North Sea between Hartlepool and Redcar.-Geography:...
and Wear
River Wear
The River Wear is located in North East England, rising in the Pennines and flowing eastwards, mostly through County Durham, to the North Sea at Sunderland.-Geology and history:...
also have their sources on the borders of the parish.
The manor
Feudalism
Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.Although derived from the...
of Alston or Alston Moor was held for many centuries by the Radcliffe family who held the title Earl of Derwentwater
Earl of Derwentwater
Earl of Derwentwater was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1688 for Sir Francis Radclyffe, 3rd Baronet. He was made Baron Tyndale, of Tyndale in the County of Northumberland, and Viscount Radclyffe and Langley at the same time, also in the Peerage of England. He was succeeded by...
, but after the part in the failed 1715 Jacobite Rising
Jacobite rising
The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...
, the lands were confiscated, and Alston became the property of the naval
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
at Greenwich in London.
Greenwich Hospital remained the principal landowner in the parish and owner of the extensive mineral rights up until the 1960s when the estate was transferred to the Trustees for Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
Purposes who a few years ago sold their remaining properties in Alston Moor.
The poet W. H. Auden
W. H. Auden
Wystan Hugh Auden , who published as W. H. Auden, was an Anglo-American poet,The first definition of "Anglo-American" in the OED is: "Of, belonging to, or involving both England and America." See also the definition "English in origin or birth, American by settlement or citizenship" in See also...
was to travel a great deal in Britain and abroad, but it is the wild region between the River Tees
River Tees
The River Tees is in Northern England. It rises on the eastern slope of Cross Fell in the North Pennines, and flows eastwards for 85 miles to reach the North Sea between Hartlepool and Redcar.-Geography:...
and the Roman Wall which provides the backdrop to many poems and plays of the ‘20s and ’30s, and echoes at intervals throughout his life. In America in 1947, an Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
map of Alston Moor hung on the wall of Auden’s chaotic shack on Fire Island.
According to his brother John
John Bicknell Auden
John Bicknell Auden was an English geologist and explorer, and an official with the World Health Organization.Auden was born in York, the second son of George Augustus Auden and older brother of W. H. Auden. He was educated at St Edmund's School, Hindhead, Surrey, then at Marlborough College and...
, Auden came to love Alston Moor more than any other place. The poem entitled ’Alston Moor’ dates from 1924, as does ’Allendale’.
Close to the river South Tyne, 2 miles north of Alston, lies Randalholme Hall, a 17th century house incorporating a fourteenth century pele tower
Peel tower
Peel towers are small fortified keeps or tower houses, built along the English and Scottish borders in the Scottish Marches and North of England, intended as watch towers where signal fires could be lit by the garrison to warn of approaching danger...
.
Related websites
- Cybermoor community website with news, comment, webcams and information about Alston Moor
- North Pennines AONB - information about what's happening in this protected landscape
- South Tynedale Railway Official Website
- Wright Bros Coaches Website
- Northumbrian Railways
- Screensavers of Alston by Sam Burt
- Alston Moor Newsletter