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Location map |
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The village is built at the convergence of three rivers, the Esk, the Mite and the Irt., which if added to the Drigg Dunes and the Irt Estuary, you have what the Romans considered an ideal spot to establish a naval base. Up to one thousand men were stationed at Ravenglass during the Roman occupation, from AD78 until the third century. This was an important naval centre, providing a convenient sea port to link up with their garrisons further inland; Hardknott fort, Ambleside and Brougham, to name but three of them. |
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Ravenglass continued to prosper as a port under the influence of the Norse, Saxons, and up to as recently as the industrial revolution. At this time the narrow estuary and the sheltered situation which had thus far made for an ideal location, helped to cause the demise of the village as a successful sea port. The inevitable then happened and Ravenglass was unable to expand to anything bigger then a fishing village. I can remember coming here as a child for 'afternoon drives out' where we'd watch the fishing boats landing, and the fishermen literally giving fish away to people on the harbour side. Sadly that has almost disappeared now and I should imagine, as with most other places, the main "industry" is now tourism. A far cry from the time in 1208 when King John gave Ravenglass a market charter. |
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Today, the village is the home of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, 'La'al Ratty' as it's affectionately called. I should point out here that the 'La'al' in 'La'al Ratty' isn't a nickname as many people think; we do actually talk like that, it is a word which most people around here use every single day. 'La'al' is simply our local word for small.
The narrow gauge railroad was built in 1875 by the Whitehaven Iron Mines to carry ore from Nab Gill, seven miles away, to the Furness Railroad at Ravenglass. Passenger fares helped keep the trains rolling when the mines failed in 1882. Sadly, the railroad stopped running in 1913, but it was reopened two years later as a 15-inch gauge, carrying both passengers and granite from Beckfoot quarry. In 1960 the Preservation Society purchased the railroad that now provides a scenic ride for travellers and locals alike, using either steam or diesel engines. Again harking back to childhood; this was a popular destination for our school trips, at least it was for the infants and junior age groups. |
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