| St Bees |
 St Bees is named after St Bega, an Irish Princess who became a Saint. She was shipwrecked here in the
seventh century and was granted land to build a nunnery by the Lord of
Egremont.
The Lord told her she could have any of his land that was covered by snow the following day. He fully expected this to be none, as the next day was Mid-Summers-Eve.
In the morning he was shocked to find three miles of snow surrounding his
home, and thus granted the land to St Bega.
The Abbey built in the area was burnt down by invading Danes and
refounded by the Normans. The Dissolution closed the Abbey down but it
continues as a church. In 1981 excavations on the site of a local ruined
chapel revealed an extremely well preseved body of a medieval knight.
|
| Directions: On the B5345 off the A595 to the West of Egremont. |
|
|
 |
| The Solway |
The Cumberland News 18/02/2000, featured an article by Ruth Berry and Gill Hands about ghosts on the Solway.
"One ship, the Rotterdam, sank over 150
years ago with the loss of all hands and her ghostly hulk is said to be seen
just before a maritime disaster is about to occur. It is said that the
ghostly crew can be seen on board, and pitiful cries for help are heard.
Curiously, whatever the weather, the ship appears to be running through a
gale and appears to pitch and roll among the heavy waves, even during dead
calm.
Another ship, the Betsy Jane, is said to be seen on the approach to
Whitehaven Harbour around Christmas, the anniversary of her sinking in the
18th century. Apparently she was laden with gold made in the slave trade."
|
|
