If you have visited the Lake District, you have probably wondered how the hills were formed and possibly, why they vary from low, rolling hills to steep craggy drops. The reason is that they were formed at different stages and by different means. In the north, the Skiddaw Slate, a blue grey hard rock was formed by the Earth’s plates pushing land upwards. The sea bed became hill tops and over time the rich deposits partially wore away, leaving high, sweeping, smooth hills.
The whole area of the Lake District was submerged about five or six hundred million years ago, some parts are now a kilometre above sea level. We know this is so because fossils of sea creatures can be found on the tops of these hills.
450 million years ago, the Lake District saw its next major change. Volcanic eruptions from deep beneath the crust of the Earth exploded and flowed across the central part of the area, giving us the start of what is known as the Borrowdale Volcanic Series. This is the highest range of hills in the District, including, Scafell, Scafell Pike and Helvellyn. Molten granite also pushed its way to the surface in some parts, such as Shap, Eskdale and Ennerdale.
At least part of the area was to descend, one more time, beneath the ocean. After the land emerged once again, 400 million years ago, the result was limestone deposits in the south of the Lake District, creating the Silurian and Ordovacian rocks. This soft rock gives the south of the county its gentle, low, undulating appearance.
Three or more ice ages gave the Lake District it’s final appearance. Starting 2 million years ago, glaciers almost as deep as the highest peaks, slowly worked their way through the land leaving U shaped valleys. Ice which filled the deepest ravines gives us today’s lakes and in the volcanically formed area, the rock withstood much of the pressure but it still had an effect. The cavernous, scree covered edges were created. Up until 11 500 years ago, when the last of the ice ages dissipated, these edges of volcanic rock were made to look increasingly precarious.
Cumbria’s social history is just as dramatic but also bloody and fraught with battles, conquests and pillaging. Currently, gladly, it is a great tourist attraction and farming community.
During the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age (3200-1600BC) Cumbria had approximately 250 stone circles. It is thought that they were used for burial sites, trading goods, meetings, ceremonies, rituals and festivals. Some think that they were used as calendars, using the position of the stars, the sun and the moon. Recently people thought that the sites could have been built around mystical energy lines, giving them paranormal powers but there is no evidence of this.
Not until 43AD did Claudius, the Roman Emperor, conquer England. The Romans stayed for around 350 years. Today, roads in Cumbria that were used along with fortifications, take traffic around the county. In 122AD the Emperor Hadrian decided to cut off Scotland. He created Hadrian’s Wall, running from coast to coast, east to west across the shortest point, scaling the tops of many fells. After the Romans left came the Dark Age; recorded history is sketchy for this time and mainly surmised but one thing is sure, the Country would have been in chaos. With no king, Celts fought for control of the Roman legacy.
Wars between families or English and Scottish kings would occupy 700 years of Cumbrian history. War began in the 1000’s with the defeat of the Norse King Dunmail by the Saxon King Edmund. Gospatric, the Anglo Saxon Earl of Northumberland regained control of Cumbria in 1070, passing to his son two years later. The second son of William the conqueror, William II, forced his rule in 1092, building Carlisle Castle. The Scottish captured the castle in 1135 managing to keep it for 23 years until Henry II reclaimed it for the English. Edward I built more fortifications at Carlisle using it the attack the Scottish through over 100 years of warfare. The treaty of Edinburgh would see peace in 1560, the first time since 945. All English troops were to withdraw from Scotland and French troops fighting for Scotland would return to France according to the treaty. Both sides were guilty of barbaric treatment of their enemies during these times.
Raids by both sides would very slowly stop after the Union of the Crowns in 1603. Civil war and uprisings would see the use of castles during 1715 and 1745 but comparatively, life would be more peaceful.