Sandside, Beetham

Sandside is a hamlet near Storth in Beetham parish, South Lakeland, Cumbria, England.[1] Historically in Westmorland, it lies on the south shore of the estuary of the River Kent, between Arnside and Milnthorpe. There is one pub, The Ship, which is believed to date from 1671,[2] one restaurant, The Kingfisher, under current ownership since 1999,[3] and several commercial businesses.

Sandside
The Ship Inn public house, photographed in 2008
Sandside Location in South Lakeland Show map of South Lakeland Sandside Location within Cumbria Show map of Cumbria
OS grid reference	SD479810
Civil parish	Beetham
District	South Lakeland
Shire county	Cumbria
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	MILNTHORPE
Postcode district	LA7
Dialling code	015395
Police	Cumbria
Fire	Cumbria
Ambulance	North West
UK Parliament	Westmorland and Lonsdale

Sandside lies within the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. A "Geotrail" leaflet has been published to guide visitors around the geology of the area.[4] Sandside quarry has operated since at least 1901,[5] and is now operated by Lafarge Tarmac, producing aggregate and asphalt.[6]

Sandside railway station, on the Hincaster Branch of the Furness Railway, was built in 1876 by Lancaster architects Paley and Austin. The line closed to passengers in 1942 and the station has been demolished.

Until the building of the Arnside viaduct in 1857, Milnthorpe (upstream of Sandside) was a substantial port, handling cargoes including coal and guano. Its customs house was at Sandside, still existing as Crown Cottage with a datestone of 1728. Builders' merchants and other commercial operations occupy sites along the riverside which were previously used by the merchants of the port.[7]