Witherslack

Witherslack

Tucked beneath the limestone heights of Yewbarrow and sitting alongside the River Winster as it winds its way towards Morecambe Bay, Witherslack is one of South Cumbria‘s most charming and least discovered villages.

With a history stretching back to the 12th century, its very name comes from the Norse for “wooded valley” — and even today, that sense of ancient, sheltered tranquillity feels very much alive.

A Village Shaped by History

The Manor of Witherslack has passed through many powerful hands over the centuries.

In its earliest days it formed part of the Barony of Kendal, held first by the Lancaster family until 1338 and then by the Harringtons until 1408.

In the 15th century it was granted to Sir Thomas Broughton — a man who backed the wrong side at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, where Richard III met his end and Henry Tudor claimed the crown of England.

It was Thomas Stanley, rewarded for his decisive switch of allegiance to Henry Tudor at Bosworth, who was named Earl of Derby and acquired the Witherslack Estate in 1487. The Stanley family’s influence on the village endures to this day, most visibly in the name of the village pub, The Derby Arms.

The Derby Arms — The Heart of the Village

Because Witherslack is such a scattered rural settlement, it is The Derby Arms and the Community Shop next door that most people regard as the true heart of the village.

The pub dates back to the early 1800s, when it served as a coaching inn — a welcome stop for weary travellers needing a meal, a rest and fresh horses before continuing their journey.

Named in honour of the Earl of Derby, it reflected just how central the Stanley family was to local life.

Today, The Derby Arms remains as welcoming as ever, and visitors staying at Kents Bank Holiday Cottage regularly make the short trip to enjoy a meal or a drink in this historic setting after a day walking the quiet footpaths or cycling the country lanes around Witherslack.

Witherslack Hall

The Stanley family eventually came to live in Witherslack itself around 1875, when they built Witherslack Hall.

They later moved to the smaller Halecat House, and the Hall today serves an entirely different purpose — it is now a specialist school providing education and care for young people with special educational needs, managed by the Witherslack Group.

The Barwick Brothers — Witherslack’s Most Famous Sons

The small hamlet of Witherslack can lay claim to two remarkably distinguished sons in the Barwick brothers, whose achievements were all the more extraordinary given their humble beginnings.

John Barwick (1612–1664) was born into a modest farming family, probably at Askew Green, one of five sons of George and Jane Barwick.

Despite their limited means, John and his younger brother Peter received a fine education at the local grammar school, then Sedbergh School, before going on to Cambridge University.

John’s ecclesiastical career began promisingly — he was offered the Bishopric of Carlisle, which he declined, before accepting the Deanery of Durham and later that of St Paul’s in London.

The turbulence of the Civil War, however, brought his progress to an abrupt halt when the Parliamentary Puritans stripped him of his position.

Undeterred, John threw himself into the Royalist cause, serving as both a fighter and a spy.

This ultimately led to his capture and imprisonment in the Tower of London, where he endured years of harsh and brutal treatment, surviving on nothing but bread and water.

When Charles II was restored to the throne, John’s loyalty was finally rewarded with a deanery.

He died in October 1664 of tuberculosis at just 52 years of age.

His burial was in all likelihood the very last to take place in the old St Paul’s Cathedral before the Great Fire of London razed it to the ground in 1666.

A memorial tablet was erected in his honour there, and another can still be found in Witherslack Church today.

Mindful of his roots, John left sufficient funds in his will to build a new church for Witherslack.

Near Witherslack Hall, St Mary’s Chapel had fallen into ruin, and previously the dead had to be carried on a perilous journey across the sands of Morecambe Bay to the mother church at Beetham for burial.

Built on land donated by the Earl of Derby and consecrated by the Bishop of Chester in 1671, St Paul’s Church stands as John’s lasting legacy to his birthplace.

His bequest was generous enough to also fund the building of Dean Barwick Primary School and the schoolmaster’s house — a remarkable gift from a man who never forgot where he came from.

His younger brother Peter (1619–1712) pursued an equally distinguished career, serving as physician to King Charles II and working alongside the legendary William Harvey, the man who first described how blood circulates around the human body.

Life in Witherslack Through the Ages

A fascinating snapshot of village life from 1786 reveals just how industrious and self-sufficient Witherslack once was.

The village supported a turner, wright, carpenter, glazier, waller and no fewer than six charcoal burners and four hoopmakers.

Three blacksmiths cared for 352 horses, many of which travelled the old packhorse routes between Ulverston and Kendal.

A water mill ground oats, wheat and barley, the latter going to maltsters to brew ale, while 70 orchards nearby provided a rich harvest.

Farmers supplied milk, butter, cheese and hides, four weavers worked with wool from local sheep, and woodcutters supplied willows for basket-making and timber for fuel, while peat was dug from the nearby moss.

It is a world far removed from the peaceful, quiet village of today — but that same sense of honest, rooted community life still pervades Witherslack.

Exploring Witherslack Today

Witherslack is a wonderful base for anyone wanting to explore the southern Lake District without the crowds of the more popular honeypots.

The village sits just outside the National Park boundary, putting Windermere within around 15 minutes’ drive, with Cartmel and Morecambe Bay equally close at hand.

Walking and cycling are particularly well suited to the area, with quiet roads and varied footpaths threading through the countryside.

For those who enjoy riding, the Witherslack Hall Equestrian Centre is nearby.

Stay at Kents Bank Holiday Cottage

If Witherslack has caught your imagination, why not make it your base for a Lake District break?

Kents Bank Holiday Cottage in Grange-over-Sands offers a perfect gateway to everything this corner of South Cumbria has to offer — from the historic lanes of Witherslack to the shores of Morecambe Bay, the foodie delights of Cartmel and the lakes and fells beyond.

The cottage is pet-friendly with a secure garden, has private off-road parking for up to two cars, and is ideal for families, with attractions such as the Lakeland Wildlife Oasis, Windermere kayaking and Fell Foot Park all within a 20-minute drive.

Flexible short breaks are available — three nights Friday to Monday or four nights Monday to Friday — making it easy to fit a getaway around a busy schedule.

If you are looking for a Grange-over-Sands holiday cottage with easy access to Witherslack, ring  07785944194 or enquire here.