Ravenglass
 Castles |
Lying in a sheltered position, at the estuary of three rivers, Ravenglass provided an ideal location for an important Roman naval base. The 2nd century port provided a supply point for the military zone around Hadrian's Wall, and for their fortified camp of Glannaventra. Located on the cliffs above the town, this camp housed around 1000 troops. Little remains of the 4-acre fort, except for the impressively preserved walls of the Bath House. These red-sandstone walls, covered with ivy, are some 12ft in height, and are probably the tallest Roman remains in Britain.
In the 18th century, Ravenglass was a base for smugglers, bringing contraband in from coastal ships; this consisted mostly of tobacco and French brandy. Through the centuries, it has remained a seafaring town.
The Ravenglass and Eskdale miniature railway, runs daily services for 7 miles along Eskdale, from Ravenglass to Dalegarth and back. Originally used to carry minerals, the railway was first opened to passengers in 1876. Such is its popularity, that 300000 people a year now come, from all parts of the world, to ride on one of the most enchanting train journeys in England. The history of this century-old railway line is brought to life in the Railway Museum, at the Ravenglass station.
One mile to the east of Ravenglass, stands the impressively preserved Muncaster Castle. This is a castellated mansion, owned by the Pennington family since 1208, but with 19th century reconstructions. It is open to the public, and its collections include tapestry, silver and porcelain. Of architectural note, are the Great Hall, the octagonal library, and the barrel ceiling in the drawing room. In 1464, the Pennington family gave sanctuary to Henry VI, after his defeat at Hexham, in the War of the Roses. On his departure, the king made a gift of a glass cup with gold and enamel gilding, known as the 'Luck of Muncaster', saying, that the family will prosper so long as the cup remains unbroken.
The castle is renowned for its woodland gardens, covering some 77 acres.Included herein is an Owl Centre, again open to visitors. The Muncaster Water Mill can be traced back to 1455, although, like the nearby castle, it may well have been built on an earlier Roman site. This is a working mill open to the public.