Lord's Island



Lord's Island, also Lords Island and Island of Derwentwatre is one of the four main islands that populate Derwentwater. The other three are Derwent Island, St Herbert's Island and Rampsholme Island, of which the latter two can be seen in this photo, centre-right and centre respectively. Lord's Island is located in Strandshag Bay with wide open views across the lake towards Cat Bells (451m), Walla Crag (379m) and the Borrowdale Valley. It is owned by the, acquired on 13 March, 1922.

In a bid to ensure the local population of nesting geese is protected, the National Trust does not allow anyone to land here. In addition to this there is a no-paddle zone between the eatern shore of the island and the mainland at Stable Hills.

The island contains foundation ruins from a 15th Century manor house along with various earthworks and other archaeological interests (see National Trust Heritage Records below). The surface area is almost entirely covered with trees. The manor house was built in two stages. The central hub of the original building was built c.1460, most likely by Sir Thomas Radcliffe (1422–1495) and was of simple design; the later additions of the north and south wings were probably added in the early 17th century.

Nearby Castlerigg, with views overlooking the lake, was the ancient family seat of the Derwentwater family. According to local traditions their successors, the Radcliffes, used the stones from the ruined Castlerigg to build their new residence on Lord's Island. How the two families are merged and the design of the manor house on Lord's island are briefly covered below.

Background
The island got its name from the Earls of Derwentwater, who in turn, had taken the name from the lake itself. There is a long and convoluted history centring around the Derwentwaters, an extended family with roots deep in the area holding large estates, with the first being Adam de Derwentwater, c.1210. The family tree winds its way through history until we reach the last John de Derwentwater. Records of 1403 show he was the owner of the manor of Ormesheved (Ormshead). His daughter Elizabeth, the "heiress of the isle", married Sir Nicholas Radcliffe in 1417 and suffice to say, the union of the Derwentwaters and Radcliffes would be forever cemented in history. It would be their son, Sir Thomas Radcliffe mentioned above, that would build the manor house on the island. Fast forward two centuries through family troubles, disinheritance, further marriages and family expansion, to arrive at the Catholic recusant, Sir Francis Radcliffe, 1st Baronet (1569–1622), who was arrested on suspicion of collusion in the Gunpowder Plot. His son, Sir Edward Radcliffe, 2nd Baronet (1589–1663) was a royalist. His loyalty to the King during the English Civil Wars, also known as the Great Rebellion, brought about the sequestration of his estates and in 1652 they were forfeited and ordered to be sold.



After the Restoration of 1660 where King Charles II returns from exile, Sir Edward is given back his estates, living only another three years, whereupon he settled his affairs with his family. His only surviving son, Sir Francis Radcliffe, 3rd Baronet (1625-1697), married Catherine Fenwick, daughter of Sir William Fenwick and widow of Henry Lawson of Brough. Through this union Spindleston in Northumberland came to the Radcliffes, and it is here where Francis was living in 1657. He was raised to the peerage by James II as the 1st Earl of Derwentwater in 1688. He died nine years later in 1697, succeeded by his son, Edward, the 2nd Earl of Derwentwater, who married Lady Mary Tudor, daughter of Charles II. The Radcliffes were a very wealthy powerhouse of northern England. Yet, Edward and Mary's marriage was to bring about a downturn to this line of the Radcliffe's success.

Their eldest son was James de Derwentwater (24 June, 1689 – 24 February, 1716). The third Earl bearing the name Derwentwater, he was brought up in France at St Germain, as companion to his cousin,. His involvement in the would be his undoing. His rebellious interests had nothing to do with his Cumberland estates. Government had their suspicions about him, which essentially made him a marked man. A signed warrant for his arrest was sent out by Lord Stanhope, Secretary of State, legitimising their interests in his conspiratorial actions. History would see a repeat to that of his great-grandfather's sequestered estates. James' involvement with the rebellion against King George I ended in capture and ultimate defeat of the Jacobean army in the. James declared his devotion to the Catholic faith and to his cousin, the Old Pretender. He pleaded guilty, was condemned to death and eventually beheaded on, 24 February, 1716. His estates were forfeited to the Crown and subsequently given to Greenwich Hospital.

The history of the Derwentwaters and Radcliffes is sizeable and could not be included here, however, if you are interested in learning more about these two families and their ancestral seats in Cumberland and Northumberland, head on to the further reading section below.



External sites
The following links from National Trust Heritage Records Online details the following archaeological interests:
 * Lord's Island: Remains of manor house
 * Lord's Island: Archery butts
 * Lord's Island: Hut structure in ruins of manor house
 * Lord's Island: Remains of wall