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Caldbeck

Caldbeck is perhaps the best-known village in the northern Lakes because of its associations with John Peel, the famous huntsman who died in 1854 after falling from his horse. His ornate tombstone in the churchyard is decorated with depictions of hunting horns and his favourite hound. Also buried here are John Peel's wife Mary and their four children.

John Peel was Master of Hounds for more than 50 years and was immortalised by his friend John Woodcutt Graves, who worked in a Caldbeck mill making the grey woollen cloth mentioned in the famous song - "D'ye ken John Peel with his coat so grey?" The tune itself is based on an old Cumbrian folk song adapted by William Metcalfe, a chorister and organist at Carlisle Cathedral.

A few paces from Peel's tomb lies 'The Fair Maid of Buttermere', (see Buttermere) whose grave bears her married name, Mary Harrison. With its picturesque church, village green, cricket pitch, pond and blacksmith's forge, Caldbeck has all the ingredients of a picture postcard village. Some 200 years ago, Caldbeck was an industrial village with corn mills, woollen mills and a paper mill, all powered by the fast-flowing 'cold stream' - the Caldbeck.

Priest's Mill, built in 1702 by the Rector of Caldbeck, next to his church, was a stone grinding corn mill, powered by a water wheel that has now been restored to working order. It is open to the public and has an accompanying Mining Museum, a collection of old rural implements and an excellent tea room. Also at the mill is The Wool Clip, the retail outlet for a local cooperative of farmers and craft workers producing high quality items using wool from local sheep.

About a quarter of a mile outside the village is the limestone gorge known as The Howk, a popular beauty spot where the Caldbeck rushes past the ruins of one of the old bobbin mills.