Seathwaite, South Lakeland

Seathwaite is a village in the Duddon Valley in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria in North West England. Historically in Lancashire, it lies within the Lake District National Park, and is part of the civil parish of Dunnerdale-with-Seathwaite, which has a population of 129.[1] The nearby Seathwaite Tarn, west of the Coniston Fells, takes its name from the village. The village is north east of Hall Dunnerdale and south west of the tarn. It lies along the old Walna Scar road, which can be reached from the A595 in the south, or from the steep Hardknott–Wrynose pass road in the north, which leads off the A593 from Skelwith Bridge).[2]

Seathwaite
Holy Trinity Church
Seathwaite Location in South Lakeland Seathwaite Location within Cumbria
Population	129 (2001)
OS grid reference	SD2296
Civil parish	Dunnerdale-with-Seathwaite
District	South Lakeland
Shire county	Cumbria
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BROUGHTON IN FURNESS
Postcode district	LA20
Dialling code	01229
Police	Cumbria
Fire	Cumbria
Ambulance	North West
UK Parliament	Barrow and Furness

The name Seathwaite derives from a combination of the old Norse words sef (sedges) and thveit (clearing) and may be taken to mean "Sedges clearing". The name, then spelled Seuthwayt, first appeared in written records dating from 1340.[3][4]

A local landmark is the Newfield Inn, a pub that dates from the 16th century that is reputed to have been visited by William Wordsworth on his trips around the Lake District in the early 19th century.[2] Another prominent local building is the Church of the Holy Trinity which was originally built in the early 16th century. William Wordsworth visited the church and dedicated one of his 35 Duddon Sonnets to the place and to Robert Walker (1709–1802) who was parson at the church for 66 years. The church contains a memorial plaque to Walker, who was known as "Wonderful Walker" because of his long and exemplary ministry. Wordsworth refers to him in the sonnet as someone "whose good works formed an endless retinue". The church itself was completely rebuilt in 1874 due to its rundown state, it was reconsecrated in May 1875.[5][6][7][8][9]

See also

• Listed buildings in Dunnerdale-with-Seathwaite
• Cumbrian placename etymology

References

1. Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : South Lakeland Archived 2014-12-05 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 20 November 2009
2. "Seathwaite (Duddon Valley) Cumbria the Lake District". Retrieved 30 May 2008.
3. Stuart Rae (cites book by Robert Gambles). "Lake District Walks and Photos". Retrieved 30 May 2008.
4. Gambles, Robert (1985). Lake District Place-names (2 ed.). Yorkshire: Dalesman. p. 64. ISBN 0-85206-814-X.
5. "Newfield Inn - Seathwaite  Broughton in Furness  Cumbria". Retrieved 30 May 2008.
6. "Pubs, shop and Refreshments". Retrieved 30 May 2008.
7. "Newfield Inn, Seathwaite, Duddon Valley". Retrieved 30 May 2008.
8. "Ordnance Survey Leisure Guide - Lake District", ISBN 0-86145-192-9, Page 57, Gives information on Holy Trinity Church.
9. www.achurchnearyou.com. Gives information on Holy Trinity Church.