Lake District historical timeline: Difference between revisions
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|Lakeland is covered under a think blanket of ice in a period known at the '''Wolstonian Glacial'''. Most of the British Isles are covered, with only the southern reaches ice-free. Periods of cooling (glacial) and warming (interglacial) have been ongoing since 2.6 million years ago. Bore hole samples near Sellafield show a series of clays and glacial debris, dated by experts to this time period.<ref name="smith-ice-8">Smith (2008) p.8</ref>
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|A period of warming begins, the climate is milder and the ice begins to melt. This period, known as the '''Ipswichian Interglacial''' sees the emergence of vegetation and animal life, although very little evidence of such exists in Lakeland. Wood remains found in peat at Scandale Beck in the Upper Eden Valley – outside of the National Park but still in Cumbria – is dated to this period. This site is now protected by Site of Special Scientific Interest status.<ref name="smith-ice-8"/>
|Britain is at {{w2|Last Glacial Maximum|Glacial Maximum}}, a period of time where the ice sheets are at their greatest extent. These ice sheets cover the majority of Britain and Ireland. Lakeland is covered in its entirety under one huge ice dome. This core is so thick that maybe only the tips of the highest peaks of [[Scafell]], [[Bowfell]], and [[Great Gable]] are visible. All the [[Lakes of the Lake District|big lakes]] are excavated by the ice during this Glacial Maximum.<ref name="smith12">Smith (2012) p.12</ref>▼
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|Britain enters the {{w1|Last Glacial Period}}, known to British geologists as the '''Devensian Glacial'''. The temperature fluctuates and it is possible that Lakeland did not see the return of ice for the first few thousand years; the climate in the Northern Hemisphere then plunges into more extreme cold and eventual glacial conditions.<ref name="smith-ice-8"/>
|▶The ice sheets in lakeland have retreated revealing barren glacial valleys with ice-scoured fells and lakes left impounded in the valley floors.<ref name="smith12"/>▼
|▶ A catastrophic rock failure causes 1000's of andesite boulders of varying sizes to cascade down from Bowder Crag in the Borrowdale Valley. The largest of these boulders is the famous [[Bowder Stone]], which lands on the lower plateau above the [[River Derwent]] in a blance-defying position on its narrowest point.<ref>Smith (2003) p.21</ref> ▼
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▲|Britain is at {{w2|Last Glacial Maximum|Glacial Maximum}}, a period of time where the ice sheets are at their greatest extent. These ice sheets cover the majority of Britain and Ireland. Lakeland is covered in its entirety under one huge ice dome. This core is so thick that maybe only the tips of the highest peaks of [[Scafell]], [[Bowfell]], and [[Great Gable]] are visible.<ref name="smith12">Smith (2012) p.12</ref> The ice may even have been as thick as 1,600 metres (5,250 feet), around 600 metres (2,000 feet) above the tallest fells.<ref>Smith (2008) p.12</ref> All the [[Lakes of the Lake District|big lakes]] are excavated by the ice during this Glacial Maximum.
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|'''13,500''' years ago
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▲|▶ A catastrophic rock failure (between 13,500–10,000 years ago) causes
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|'''12,500''' years ago
|There is a minor climatic change with Lakeland experiencing yet again another colder, glacial period known as the '''Loch Lomond Readvance'''. This also lasted around 1,000 years before warmer conditions returned.
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|'''11,500''' years ago
|The {{w1|Pleistocene}} geological epoch comes to an end. This marks the beginning of the {{w1|Holocene}} (the current geological epoch) and the period of warming known to British geologists as the {{w1|Flandrian interglacial}}, which continues to present day.<ref>{{w1|Flandian interglacial}}. Wikipedia. Accessed 25 June, 2023.</ref>
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==Neolithic (4,100–2,500 BCE)==
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|'''4,000–3,350''' BCE
|Axes heads are being produced at the Great Langdale Axe Factory, in particular on the Langdale Pikes. There is a total of ten quarries, caves, adits, open-cast mines and vertical faces producing the stone that will take a month to shape and polish into finely-crafted, usable axe heads. This is an important industrial site for the production of axe heads, which have been found all over Britain and Ireland, suggest extensive trade networks.<ref>Holder (2009) p.37</ref>
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|'''3,000''' BCE
|[[Castlerigg Stone Circle]] is thought to have been constructed around this time, making it one of the earliest and finest stone circles in Britain. Although many of the 300+ stone circles across the country are dated to the Bronze Age, they also include burial mounds. The stone circle at Castlerigg does not.<ref>[https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/castlerigg-stone-circle/history/ Castlerigg Stone Circle] English Heritage. Accessed 15 July, 2023.</ref>
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==Roman Period (43–410 CE)==
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|'''117–138'''
|▶ The Roman forts of Galava ([[Ambleside]]), Mediobogdum ([[Hard Knott]]), and Glannoventa ([[Ravenglass]]) are established around the time of Emperor Hadrian's reign.<ref>[https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/ambleside-roman-fort/history/ History of Ambleside Roman Fort] English Heritage. Accessed 15 July, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/hardknott-roman-fort/history/ History of Hardknott Roman Fort] English Heritage. Accessed 15 July, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/ravenglass-roman-bath-house/history/ Ravenglass Roman Bath House] English heritage. Accessed 15 July, 2023.</ref>
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|'''1935'''
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|'''1936'''
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|'''1961'''
|[[31 March]] – John Wyatt's first end of year report as fulltime warden. It covers management of the Board's landholdings and properties, promotion of mountain safety, organisation and assistance of exhibitions, advising visitors and continued litter clearances.<ref name="robinson13"/>
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|'''1966'''
|[[22 June]] – The first formal visit by a member of the Royal Family to the National Park is by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. This occasion is marked by an extensive itinerary to allow for a variety of activities, seeing as much of the National Park as possible within one day.<ref name="robinson15">Robinson, p.15</ref>
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|'''1967'''
|October – While foot and mouth disease is prevalent across Lancashire, Cheshire and the Midland counties, the combined efforts of the Board, the National Farmers' Union, volunteer wardens, and the public ensure that the National Park remains free of foot and mouth.<ref name="robinson15"/>
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|'''1968'''
|The Countryside Act confers power on the national park authorities to establish byelaws for the specific purpose of regulating the use of boats on lakes.
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|'''1969'''
|June – The first National Park Centre in Britain opens to the general public. The Hobhouse Committee had recommended a centre in their report as providing: "books, maps, models and museum exhibits for inquiry by visiting public into the topography, history, natural history, rural economy and general culture of the Park and its neighbourhood, together with facilities for reading, field study and similar pursuits, for periodical talks and exhibitions and cinema films and for the sale or distribution of National Park literature and maps." Over 60,000 people visit the centre between June and the end of November.<ref name="robinson14">Robinson, p.14</ref>
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|'''1972'''
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|'''1974'''
|▶ Lakeland now employs nine full-time wardens.
|▶ The Board has six manned information centres operating at Windermere, Keswick, Ambleside, and mobile units at Bowness, Hawkshead, and Waterhead.<ref name="robinson14"/>
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|▶ A litter pick produces 1,000 sacks of rubbish from the valleys and fells.<ref name="robinson12"/>
|▶ [[23 July]] – The water level of [[Haweswater]] is over 37 feet below normal, and falling at a consistent rate of around three feet per week. Water is flowing in at less than one million gallons per day, as opposed to 80 million gallons going out. This leaves the distinctive white band of rock and shingle on the shoreline. The remains of the flooded and once picturesque hamlet of [[Mardale Green]] are visible.<ref>Berry (1984) p.9</ref>
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|'''1991'''
|[[7 November]] – [[Esthwaite Water]] and [[Priest Pot|Priest Pot Tarn]] is designated a Ramsar site, a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, "on account of its diverse {{w1|macrophyte}} community and the well developed {{w1|hydrosere}} at the northern end of the lake."<ref>[https://www.ceh.ac.uk/esthwaite-water-uk-lake-restoration-case-study Esthwaite Water: A UK Lake Restoration case study] UK Centre of Ecology and Hydrology. Accessed 6 July, 2023.</ref>
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'''(Lake District National Park Authority)'''
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|'''2018'''
|[[27 April]] – Phase one of the Claife Community Bridleway, in development for a number of years to provide a safe, off-road walking route between [[Hawkshead]] and [[Near Sawrey]], is opened to the public.<ref>[https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/caringfor/localcommunities/southern-lake-district-area/updates/claife-path-update Claife Path Update] - Lakedistrict.gov.uk. accessed 7 July, 2023.</ref>
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|'''2021'''
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==References==
▲{{reflist|25em}}
==Sources==
*Berry, Geoffrey (1984). ''Mardale Revisited: The Story of Haweswater''. Kendal: Westmorland Gazette.
*Holder, Geoff (2009). ''The Guide to The Mysterious Lake District''. Stroud: The History Press.
*Robinson, Jeremy Rowan. ''Managing the Lake District National Park: The first 60 years''. Kendal: Lake District National Park.
*Smith, Alan (2003). ''The Story of the Bowder Stone''. The Landscapes of Cumbria. Keswick: Rigg Side Publications.
*Smith, Alan (
*Smith, Alan (
*Smith, Alan (2014). ''The Smaller Lakes and Tarns of Lakeland''. The Landscapes of Cumbria No.6. Keswick: Rigg Side Publications.
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