IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Lea Croft, PENRITH, CA10 1JJ

Kilnbank near Renwick.

The building nearest the camera looks remarkably like an old village lockup, but this is not confirmed.

A curious feature close to the village of Renwick. A fence rises between fields beside which runs the route of a public footpath. The footpath crosses the barrier from one side to the other but at that point, and only there, the fencing is replaced by a short section of walling into which is built the stile.

The North Pennine escarpment rises beyond.

The village also has a Methodist church, just across the road.

All Saints Church in Renwick was built in 1845 by Rev J Watson to replace an earlier building of 1733.

A church has stood here for at least 750 years, and probably much longer – the present building, consisting of chancel, nave, and bell-gable with two bells, being perhaps the fourth. It was designed by the incumbent John Watson, and built at the expense of the local inhabitants in 1845 – when the village was thronged with miners (who were exploiting the coal seams on Renwick Fell), publicans, and tradesmen. Pevsner dates the double pulpit (for preacher and parish clerk) to 1735. The bell seen in front of the pulpit is mediaeval – perhaps it was rung by James of Lancaster, an excommunicated monk, who in 1362 had "left his cloister and lived wantonly in Renwick". Church registers date from 1649. Now Renwick, as in 1250, is a home for farmers raising sheep and cattle, and others who value the tranquillity of this unspoilt corner of England. Always beautiful, Renwick has not always been tranquil. The Romans built a road through here to supply their frontier garrisons; and Norsemen settled here too. The wars Edward I waged with Scotland (circa 1300) triggered 300 years of unrest. In 1642/51 Renwick men fell for King Charles at Rowton Heath, Wigan and Worcester. Legend holds that John Tallantire, perhaps about 1610, slew a cockatrice here and won perpetual exemption from tithes.