Hornsby, the approach to the settlement

Image: © John Fielding Taken: 19 Jul 2009

Hornsby is a hamlet set out along a no through road. It is located about 11 miles from Carlisle by road. It developed from the early 19th century. Water was piped from a spring at the foot of the nearby fells. There was no development in the 20th century until the late 1970s when several suburban style commuter dwellings were built on either 'gap' or redevelopment sites. Note the contrast between the traditional and modern houses and in particular their roof construction. The roofs of the traditional houses have no eaves. They were designed to resist the strong winds that are a regular weather feature of this area. The design of the modern houses takes no account of local weather conditions. Their roofs are vulnerable to wind damage. The design of traditional buildings has often evolved over hundreds of years to suit local conditions perfectly. The design of modern buildings is usually determined by national building regulations and lifestyle trends. At the end of the road there is a view over the valley of the river Eden towards the hills of the Lake District (see NY5149). There is a footpath to the river but it is poorly marked and usually overgrown. Hawkcliff Scar is well worth the walk.

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