Stang End

Stang End is a collection of six farm buildings on elevated land near the River Brathay in the valley of Little Langdale, with views of the hamlet of the same name where the Three Shires Inn is located. The farm complex can be reached on foot via Little Langdale, Skelwith Bridge and Elterwater, usually by a popular circular walking route that includes a small section of the Cumbria Way. Other places of interest along the route are Skelwith Force and Colwith Force, both small but photogenic waterfalls, Cathedral Quarry (also Hodge Close Quarry slightly further away) and Slater's Bridge, the delightful 17th century packhorse bridge that is always worthy of a few photos, with stunning views of Lingmoor Fell in the distance.

Stang End is situated on National Trust land that was acquired on 1 June, 1944 under the will of Mrs W. Heelis, known worldwide by the name Beatrix Potter. It consists of 4049 acres (1638 ha) along with many other cottages, farm buildings and fells over a scattered but large area. The farm complex consists of six buildings, further details of which are sourced below from the National Trust Heritage Records Online database. Click on the links for further heritage record details.

• The northern cottage: This cottage was probably build as an independent dwelling for a miner of the Tilberthwaite quarries and dates to around the late 17th to early 18th centuries, evidence of which is suggested by the smoke hood feature it was constructed with.
• The cottage: This is the largest of the three cottages here, built with the typical layout seen in 17th century cottage of its type. Later developments in the 18th century included a parlour, but further evidence suggests this may have been originally intended as a back kitchen or even another dwelling.
• The southern cottage: This 18th century building is synonymous with cottages in the Tilberthwaite area. Small cottages such as this one are a feature of the Tilberthwaite area, apparently generated by the local slate mining community.
• The cartshed and wash house: Little remains of the original building that possibly once performed the function of a salving shed for rubbing a particularly unpleasant concoction of tar and rancid salt butter into sheep's fleeces for the same purpose now performed with present-day dipping.
• The varient bank barn: A mid 18th to late 19th century barn with many of its original features now missing or hidden through various developments, especially the long spinning gallery. However, this is still considered a good example of a lakeland farm building.
• The wash house and earth closet: The windowless wash house is of mid to late 19th century construction. The earth closet (outhouse) was a later addition, also late 19th century, now used for an entirely purpose.

References

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