Natland
Encyclopedia
Natland is village and civil parish
about two miles (3 km) south of Kendal
in the South Lakeland
district of Cumbria
, close to the village of Oxenholme
. At the time of the 2001 census the population was 747.
The civil parish of Natland covers 892 acres (3.6 km²) of open countryside on the east bank of the River Kent
. It extends from the river to the sudden steep slope of Helm, which rises to 185 metres above sea level providing a fine viewpoint. Natland village stands at the centre of the parish.
Village landmarks include St Mark's Parish Church, built 1910,(the third church on the site and an excellent example of the work of Lancaster architects Paley and Austin), St Mark's Church of England Primary School, the Village Hall and the Village Store & Post Office (formerly a public house
, the Horse and Farrier). The village green
, with its Coronation oak tree (1952), picnic table and two memorial seats, is a popular venue for locals and visitors alike.
The Village Green and Helm are both common land
owned by the Strickland family, who live nearby at Sizergh Castle.
There is a long standing legend that Natland has a Treacle Mine. What is certain is that there is a cave system running under the village from Helm to the river although the precise route is not known. For more information see Natland Treacle Mines http://www.natland.info/Treacle.html and Natland Treacle Tours http://www.natland.info/Cavestour.html.
The Lancaster Canal
ran through the west of the parish until its closure in 1947. Plans are now afoot to restore the canal and link it to the national waterways network.
Natland is served by a regular bus service between Kendal and Silverdale and a mobile library
. Yan, Hamilton
and Woody
of the rock band British Sea Power
were raised in the village, as was their former manager Roy Wilkinson
.
fort. It is likely that the Romans
used The Helm in conjunction with the Roman fort at Watercrook situated on the banks of the Kent, at the most northerly tip of the Parish. This 4 acres (16,187.4 m²) site was occupied by the Romans from the 1st century to the 4th century AD and many Roman artefacts have been found.
Opinions differ as to the origin of the name Natland. The English Place Names Society gives the derivation of Natland as the Old Norse Natlundr, meaning 'Nati's wood', Nati being either a mythological name or a proper name and lundr meaning 'a small wood, a sacred grove'. However Nicolson and Burn's 1777 History and antiquities of the counties of Westmorland and Cumberland describes Natland as "a small manor
or lordship, containing only about 30 families. It seems to have had its name from the Nativi or bondmen probably placed there, as attendant upon the capital lord at Kendal castle to do servile offices."
The earliest recorded use of the name is in 1164. Natland Hall farm was granted permission for a chapel in 1246 and is probably the oldest building in the village. Natland Abbey, an agricultural community and a sub-branch of Furness Abbey
, is another 14th-century building. Watercrook Farm, Natland Mill and Cracalt Farm are also of early origin. In 1674, the Dissenter
Richard Frankland
founded the Natland Academy which tutored more than three-hundred-and-fifty students until 1693.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
about two miles (3 km) south of Kendal
Kendal
Kendal, anciently known as Kirkby in Kendal or Kirkby Kendal, is a market town and civil parish within the South Lakeland District of Cumbria, England...
in the South Lakeland
South Lakeland
South Lakeland is a local government district in Cumbria, England. Its council is based in Kendal. It includes much of the Lake District.The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972...
district of Cumbria
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...
, close to the village of Oxenholme
Oxenholme
Oxenholme is a village in England just south of the town of Kendal, with which it has begun to merge. It is best known for Oxenholme Lake District railway station on the West Coast Main Line. Because Oxenholme does not have its own church it is technically a hamlet.-History:Oxenholme station opened...
. At the time of the 2001 census the population was 747.
The civil parish of Natland covers 892 acres (3.6 km²) of open countryside on the east bank of the River Kent
River Kent
The River Kent is a short river in the county of Cumbria in England. The river originates in hills surrounding Kentmere, and flows for around 20 miles into the north of Morecambe Bay. The Lake District National Park includes the upper reaches of the river within its boundaries.The river passes...
. It extends from the river to the sudden steep slope of Helm, which rises to 185 metres above sea level providing a fine viewpoint. Natland village stands at the centre of the parish.
Village landmarks include St Mark's Parish Church, built 1910,(the third church on the site and an excellent example of the work of Lancaster architects Paley and Austin), St Mark's Church of England Primary School, the Village Hall and the Village Store & Post Office (formerly a public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, the Horse and Farrier). The village green
Village green
A village green is a common open area which is a part of a settlement. Traditionally, such an area was often common grass land at the centre of a small agricultural settlement, used for grazing and sometimes for community events...
, with its Coronation oak tree (1952), picnic table and two memorial seats, is a popular venue for locals and visitors alike.
The Village Green and Helm are both common land
Common land
Common land is land owned collectively or by one person, but over which other people have certain traditional rights, such as to allow their livestock to graze upon it, to collect firewood, or to cut turf for fuel...
owned by the Strickland family, who live nearby at Sizergh Castle.
There is a long standing legend that Natland has a Treacle Mine. What is certain is that there is a cave system running under the village from Helm to the river although the precise route is not known. For more information see Natland Treacle Mines http://www.natland.info/Treacle.html and Natland Treacle Tours http://www.natland.info/Cavestour.html.
The Lancaster Canal
Lancaster Canal
The Lancaster Canal is a canal in the north of England, originally planned to run from Westhoughton in Lancashire to Kendal in south Cumbria...
ran through the west of the parish until its closure in 1947. Plans are now afoot to restore the canal and link it to the national waterways network.
Natland is served by a regular bus service between Kendal and Silverdale and a mobile library
Bookmobile
A bookmobile or mobile library is a large vehicle designed for use as a library. It is designed to hold books on shelves so that when the vehicle is parked the books can be accessed by readers. It usually has enough space for people to sit and read books inside. Mobile libraries are often used to...
. Yan, Hamilton
Hamilton (musician)
Neil Hamilton Wilkinson is the bassist and second vocalist in British Sea Power.Earlier in the band's career, he was the secondary songwriter, his brother Yan writing the majority of the tracks for their first two albums...
and Woody
Wood (musician)
Matthew Wood born and under the is British Sea Power's drummer. He also helps design most of the artwork for the sleeves....
of the rock band British Sea Power
British Sea Power
British Sea Power are an indie rock band based in Brighton, England, although three of the band members originally come from Kendal in Cumbria. Critics have likened their sound to a variety of groups, from The Cure and Joy Division to the Pixies and Arcade Fire. The band are famed for their live...
were raised in the village, as was their former manager Roy Wilkinson
Roy Wilkinson
Roy Wilkinson is a British music journalist and band manager.As a journalist he is best known for his work in Sounds, Select and Q, but has contributed to various other publications. Considered an authority on the Pixies, he appears in their 2002 documentary Gouge, available on the 2004 Pixies DVD...
.
History
Signs of the earliest occupation of the parish include earthworks on the summit of Helm, which could be an Iron AgeIron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
fort. It is likely that the Romans
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
used The Helm in conjunction with the Roman fort at Watercrook situated on the banks of the Kent, at the most northerly tip of the Parish. This 4 acres (16,187.4 m²) site was occupied by the Romans from the 1st century to the 4th century AD and many Roman artefacts have been found.
Opinions differ as to the origin of the name Natland. The English Place Names Society gives the derivation of Natland as the Old Norse Natlundr, meaning 'Nati's wood', Nati being either a mythological name or a proper name and lundr meaning 'a small wood, a sacred grove'. However Nicolson and Burn's 1777 History and antiquities of the counties of Westmorland and Cumberland describes Natland as "a small manor
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
or lordship, containing only about 30 families. It seems to have had its name from the Nativi or bondmen probably placed there, as attendant upon the capital lord at Kendal castle to do servile offices."
The earliest recorded use of the name is in 1164. Natland Hall farm was granted permission for a chapel in 1246 and is probably the oldest building in the village. Natland Abbey, an agricultural community and a sub-branch of Furness Abbey
Furness Abbey
Furness Abbey, or St. Mary of Furness is a former monastery situated on the outskirts of the English town of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. The abbey dates back to 1123 and was once the second wealthiest and most powerful Cistercian monastery in the country, behind only Fountains Abbey in North...
, is another 14th-century building. Watercrook Farm, Natland Mill and Cracalt Farm are also of early origin. In 1674, the Dissenter
Dissenter
The term dissenter , labels one who disagrees in matters of opinion, belief, etc. In the social and religious history of England and Wales, however, it refers particularly to a member of a religious body who has, for one reason or another, separated from the Established Church.Originally, the term...
Richard Frankland
Richard Frankland (tutor)
Richard Frankland was an English nonconformist, notable for founding the Rathmell Academy, a dissenting academy in the north of England.-Biography:...
founded the Natland Academy which tutored more than three-hundred-and-fifty students until 1693.