Kirkoswald

(See also Kirkoswald Castle)

Kirkoswald, in the Eden valley, is named after Saint Oswald, king of Northumbria in the 7^th century. He visited the area after which St Oswald's church was named in his honour. The present church, on the site of several former church buildings, dates from 1800s. A sacred spring lies under the nave and its well is on the church's west wall. In the church are a number of monuments. A separate 19^th century bell tower sits on a hilltop near the river Eden.

The Kirkoswald college building began as a pele tower built in 1450. In 1523 it was used as a priests' college, founded by Thomas Lord Dacre. The college was only open until 1547 (due to Henry VIII), after which the building fell into private hands. The entrance dates from 1696.

The village was given a market charter in the 13^th century. A fair was held on St Oswald's day, August 15. Its cobbled market place is looked down on by red sandstone Georgian buildings. An inn dates from the 17^th century. Near the village is the privately owned Nunnery, a Georgian house built in 1715, so named because it was built around a c1200 nunnery.

Kirkoswald suffered from Scottish raiders in the 14^th century, and over a period of many years, from bad harvests and outbreaks of diseases. The plague killed 2/3 of the people in 1598. Raven Beck runs through the village and its water power was once used for three corn mills, a paper mill, and a mill for carding and spinning wool.

Kirkoswald castle was once a presence in the village. In the 17^th century and again in 1715 the site was plundered for building material. Only scattered bits and pieces of stone and the remnants of a tower remain surrounded by a moat and embankment.

Kirkoswald, on a steep hill, is connected with the village of Lazonby by a bridge over the river Eden.

Location Map of Kirkoswald
Kirkoswald is on the B6413 north of Penrith.

Photos courtesy of Graeme Dougal

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