England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Bassenthwaite St Bega

The Parish

The parish of Bassenthwaite lies in western Cumberland roughly 5 miles northwest of the town of Keswick. Bassenthwaite sits a half mile northeast of the A591 road which links Keswick with the A595 road (Cockermouth to Carlisle). Bassenthwaite is a small village sitting on a neck of land between two rushing mountain streams, the Dash & Chapel Becks, with most properties sitting upon the southern banks of the former. Bassenthwaite is, however, a dispersed parish with smaller settlements at Kilnhill and Scatness both sitting upon the out-wash fan formed by those two becks upon reaching Bassenthwaite Lake which occupies over 20% of the parish acreage. Bassenthwaite is an upland parish which contains some of the highest land within England, the mighty fell of Skiddaw, much of the land is upland unimproved grazing for hardy Herdwick sheep although the richer pastures by the lake are more suitable for cattle. Some extractive industries have been set up and faded over the years with lead and antimony being extracted at various times. Today it is tourism that drives Bassenthwaite's economy, the village is a base for some of the intense hikes to Skiddaw's top, Longside Edge being a route for connoisseurs. The area's scenery attracts thousands of visitors for its romantic delights. Both becks drain into Bassenthwaite Lake from which exits the River Derwent westwards passing through Cockermouth to reach the Irish Sea through the port of Workington. Bassenthwaite is sited at around 100 metres above the sea but mighty Skiddaw rises from its back-doors to reach 931 metres at its top, making it one of the elite 3,000 foot mountains of England. Bassenthwaite parish covered an extensive area, as do most upland parishes, covering 7,000 acres and supporting a population of around 550 parishioners. This far to the north of England Domesday Book has no coverage so Bassenthwaite is mentioned in that book.

The Church

St Bega's church sits on the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake over 2 miles south of the village which it serves, so much so that in 1878 a more convenient church of St John was built adjacent to the A591 and much closer to its parishioners. St Bega takes a little finding as it is approached only by roughly surfaced tracks from the A591. Sadly there is little to show of the early foundation of this church which is documented as being transferred to the support of Jedburgh Abbey in the 12th century. That early period is manifest only in twin arches that of the chancel arch and the arch into the southern chapel, both are uncertain as to exact dating but probably 12th century. Externally the church is entirely of the Victorian restoration of 1874 completed in the faux-Early English Gothic that was back in fashion at that time, lancets (which offended Pevsner in their "po-faced" construction) to confirm the style. Roughly a quarter south of the Ravenstone Hotel a side turning is signed to Scatness and Bassenthwaite Church after around 300 metres a track heads south towards the church arriving at a safe area for turning and parking immediately east of the churchyard. The site is highly romantic with Skiddaw in full view to the east and the lake to the west framed by further fells beyond. Whilst the churchyard is compact it has no obstacles for the photographer.