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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE AREA |
The history of Austwick began millions of years ago when the
rocks forming its basis, slates, limestones and sandstones ,were first laid down
in prehistoric seas. In addition to the obvious influence on the
construction of houses, farm buildings and field walls, there was the effect on
agriculture both in soil formation and in the use of limestone for soil
improvement.
Much later came the great Ice Ages which cut the valley, built
the low rounded hills (which usually have names ending in ‘ber’), decided the
drainage patterns and strongly influenced the climate and vegetation, both wild
and cultivated, as well as leaving us with the perched blocks (erratics) on the
hill called Norber.
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for detailed information of the Geology of
the surrounding area
Please click on the link below
Geology of the area
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Prehistory
People have lived, died and been buried in and around Austwick
for over 4000 years. Near the footpath leading from Austwick to Clapham there is
an extensive settlement and metal detecting has uncovered a wide range of finds
dating from the Bronze Age to modern days. Above Crummock there are the remains
of an Iron Age settlement and not far away was found a large copper cooking
vessel. There was a prehistoric cave burial in Feizor Nick and a ‘bog
burial’ in Austwick Bog (or Moss).
Like most places with a long history,
Austwick has experienced a variety of fortunes and fulfilled several functions.
Austwick has passed through many phases, both in importance and in ways of
earning its living. There have been times of prosperity and times of
dearth; times of joy and times of tragedy; times of rising population and times
of semi-desertion such as the period after the Civil War when Austwick was
described as “…wherein there are many blind, lame and aged persons; the
inhabitants are impoverished by plundering, billeting and assessments.”
The Manor
Austwick was one of a group of four manors forming the parish
of Clapham:- Austwick, Clapham, Newby and Lawkland, each with its own
lord.
In Doomsday Book, Austwick was at the head of a group of 12
manors, spread along the route north (now roughly the line of the A65) and
was obviously of importance. The manorial history with its various
lords is very interesting in itself. The Anglian lord at the time of
the Norman Conquest in 1066 was Thorvin. (Incidentally, a field not far from
Field House on the A65 bears the name ‘Thorvin Croft’- a connection or just
a coincidence?) The Manor Court Books provide a great amount of information
about the manor and its functions, mostly concerning the agricultural
workings of the area. Since 1782 the Farrer family has held the
Lordship of the Manor of Austwick, the present Lord being Dr John Farrer of
Clapham.
Agriculture
Throughout its life, Austwick has been concerned with agriculture, sometimes
as its main occupation and sometimes in a subservient role such as in the
times when the manufacture of textiles provided the main means of earning a
living. Although, at present farming is entirely pastoral with a variety of
breeds of cattle, the terracing on the hillsides points to earlier arable
fields and this is borne out in the written record. In 1297, although
most people with land had animals, cattle, sheep and goats, nearly half grew
oats. The growing of corn was essential for bread and beer until
communications improved enough for it to be imported from elsewhere in the
country. As late as 1851, it is mentioned that Austwick had 151 acres of
arable out of a total acreage of 8000.
Industry
The earliest known mention of quarrying is in a document of circa
1200 and refers to a slate quarry.
Another industry that continued from
at least the Middle Ages until the second half of the nineteenth century was the
weaving of textiles: first wool, then linen and finally cotton. There are still
reminders of this inexistence, the remains of a 'spinning gallery' is still to
be found in a private house in the centre of Austwick.
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