St Mary's Church, Ennerdale Bridge: In 1535 William, Abbot of St Mary's, York, granted the people of Ennerdale the right to burial in their own churchyard, provided they maintained a chapel and paid a curate. The early chapel remained in use until it was demolished in 1857, prior to the construction of the current church. This church was completed in 1858 in a Romanesque style, with a number of 'Norman' features, including the south doorway.
There are some interesting church records for the nearby parish of Lamplugh, such as registers detailing deaths within the Parish between 1658 and 1663:
"Kild at Kelton fell races ....3
Took cold sleeping in church .... 2
Frightened to death by fairies....4
Old woman drowned upon trial for witchcraft....3
Broke his neck robbing a hen roost....1
Crost in love....1
Hanged for clipping and coyning....7
Mrs Lamplugh's cordial water....2
Knocked on ye head with a quart bottle....1
By Parsons bull....2
Old age....57"
I wonder what was in Mrs Lanplugh's cordial water !!
lol What a beautiful shot again Graham. Such a peaceful place. Love to read the headstones, they tell all sorts of stories. I'm with you...Mrs Lamplugh sounds like the sort of woman to be avoided!! and crost in love....awww
This looks like something out of a fairytale to me... marvelous architecture, wonderful stone facade, the tombstones, the shadows and clearing of green! Love it!
@raineyday Clipping and coyning is money fraud. Clipping was literally clipping slivers of the gold or silver from coins in such a way that they looked okay, but actually were shorted on their weight, leaving them with less value. Coyning was another word for forgery--making coins that looked real but were mostly base metal. (Yes, I know way too much useless trivia after years of reading anything that caught my fancy in the public library...)
The cause of death that intrigued me was the "Frightened to death by fairies"; they must have been from the Winter Court...
Lovely, lovely photograph, Richard. I'm so grateful you choose to share these beautiful and interesting places with us.
Absolutely magical! This looks like something from a fairy tale storybook...and apparently there are a few fairies around as they seem to be responsible for four homicides. :)
A beautiful tranquil scene. @bernicrumb Thanks for the "clipping and coyning" explanation. Fascinating info! "Frightened to death by fairies" is the interesting one for me, and of course "Mrs Lamplugh's cordial water".
Great shot and wonderful info, Graham. Those dashed fairies! As for Mrs Lamplugh's 'cordial', obviously to be avoided at all costs. I wonder if she stood trial along with the clipper and coyner? Parson also seems to have had a bit to answer for with that fearsome bull!
Hi Graham, and greetings from Connecticut, USA. All this is "right up my alley": I adore the English, Scottich, Irish, and Welsh scenery , history, and oddities, especially when they are skillfully photographed, such as this one. Love how you framed the church with the trees.
I took a quick breeze through your "365", and you have an impressive, high-interest, engaging, and marvelous body of work; well done! Though I'll be following you, I am sort of taking the summer off, so I'll check in when can. Take care, Les
Faved because it's a lovely pic but also because of the amazing death records - 'frightened to death by fairies' and 'Mrs Lamplugh's cordial water' ...!
I love "knocked on ye head by a quart bottle." surely avoidable. This is such a great commentary of medieval life complete with witches (poor women) & fairies.
The cause of death that intrigued me was the "Frightened to death by fairies"; they must have been from the Winter Court...
Lovely, lovely photograph, Richard. I'm so grateful you choose to share these beautiful and interesting places with us.
I took a quick breeze through your "365", and you have an impressive, high-interest, engaging, and marvelous body of work; well done! Though I'll be following you, I am sort of taking the summer off, so I'll check in when can. Take care, Les