Hawkshead

Hawkshead is a village and civil parish in Cumbria, England, which attracts tourists to the South Lakeland area. The parish includes the hamlets of Hawkshead Hill, 1.2 miles (1.9 km) to the north west, and Outgate, a similar distance north. Hawkshead contains one primary school but no secondary school and four public houses.

Hawkshead

Ann Tyson's Cottage
Hawkshead
Location within Cumbria
Population519 (2011 census)[1]
OS grid referenceSD3598
Civil parish
  • Hawkshead
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townAMBLESIDE
Postcode districtLA22
Dialling code015394
PoliceCumbria
FireCumbria
AmbulanceNorth West
UK Parliament
Websitehttp://www.hawkshead-village.co.uk

Geography

Hawkshead is just north of Esthwaite Water, in a valley to the west of Windermere and east of Coniston Water. It is part of Furness, making it a part of the ancient county of Lancashire.

History

The township of Hawkshead was originally owned by the monks of Furness Abbey; nearby Colthouse derives its name from the stables owned by the Abbey. Hawkshead grew to be an important wool market in medieval times and later as a market town after the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1532. It was granted its first market charter by King James I in 1608. In 1585, Hawkshead Grammar School was established by Archbishop Edwin Sandys of York after he successfully petitioned Queen Elizabeth I for a charter to establish a governing body.

Hawkshead Parish Church, built in 1300 and rebuilt in the 16th century
St Michael and All Angels', founded in the 12th century & a fine example of an English rural parish church

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Hawkshead became a village of local importance. William Wordsworth (afterwards poet laureate) was educated at Hawkshead Grammar School, whilst Beatrix Potter lived nearby as did William Heelis, a local solicitor, in the early 20th century.

With the formation of the Lake District National Park in 1951, tourism grew in importance, though traditional farming still goes on around the village. Hawkshead has a timeless atmosphere and consists of a characterful warren of alleys, overhanging gables and a series of mediaeval squares. It is eloquently described in William Wordsworth's poem The Prelude.

Much of the land in and around the village is now owned by the National Trust. The National Trust property is called Hawkshead and Claife.

Governance

The electoral ward of the same name stretches south to Colton with a total population of 1,704.[2]

Parliamentary representation

Hawkshead is part of the Westmorland and Lonsdale parliamentary constituency and is represented in parliament by Tim Farron MP.[3]

See also

References
  1. UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Hawkshead Parish (E04002610)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  2. UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Hawkshead Ward (as of 2011) (E05003245)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  3. "Tim Farron MP". Parliament.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
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