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Latest Diocese News
Thursday, 31st October 2024, 16:15:43

Carlisle Diocese News.


Church Service Sheet
Tuesday, 1st October 2024, 12:20:53

A list of Church Services in the local parishes for the month.


Latest Two Valleys Parish News
Saturday, 21st September 2024, 12:48:06

Two Valleys Parish News for August 2024.


King's Food Bank
Tuesday, 20th August 2024, 11:17:13

King's Food Bank Newsletter.


Crosthwaite Show entry forms
Friday, 23rd February 2024, 18:17:51

Show entry forms are part of the Schedule but additional ones may be collected by clicking on the heading.


Crosthwaite Show 2024
Friday, 23rd February 2024, 18:14:47

The Show Schedule is now available for download by clicking on the heading.


Churches Together
Wednesday, 20th March 2024, 14:10:16

Churches together in Cumbria.


Exchange dates
Friday, 9th February 2024, 09:42:48

Exchange dates for your diary


Saving our Night Skies
Sunday, 4th February 2024, 06:52:34

Join Project Officer Jack Ellerby on Monday 18 March, 7pm, in Crosthwaite Village Hall


Landowners AGM 2024
Tuesday, 2nd January 2024, 16:45:06

The Annual General Meeting will be held in Crosthwaite School on Tuesday 6th February at 7.00pm.


Damson Day 2024
Tuesday, 2nd January 2024, 17:52:44

Will be held at the Westmorland Show Ground on Saturday 13th April.


Crosthwaite Panto 2024
Sunday, 31st December 2023, 11:26:04

The panto players present Adventures in Nursery Rhyme Land. 26th and 27th January 2024, 7pm, Argles Memorial Hall


Crosthwaite WI Open Meeting
Sunday, 31st December 2023, 11:12:26

17th January 2024, 8pm, Argles Memorial Hall, Admission £4 (inc refreshments). Ian Gregg OBE, The Story of Greggs.


Biodiversity Brainstorms
Sunday, 15th October 2023, 15:56:31

CLEAN Biodiversity Brainstorms to be held on 17 October at 1.30pm and 23 October at 7pm at Crosthwaite Village Hall. ...


Houghton Weavers concert
Saturday, 9th September 2023, 15:25:18

Saturday October 28th, 19.30 at Crosthwaite Village Hall, tickets £15. Bar available.


Westmorland Damson Association AGM
Saturday, 7th October 2023, 12:29:20

The Westmorland Damson Association AGM will be held on the 7th November, 7.30pm at the Damson Dene Hotel.


Charity Concert
Saturday, 9th September 2023, 15:17:41

An afternoon of music with tea and cake, 1st October, 14.30, Crosthwaite Village Hall


CLEAN
Saturday, 9th September 2023, 12:00:27

C and L Environmental Action Network Launch Event, Tuesday 26 September, 16.30 at Crosthwaite School.


Ruth Radley
Saturday, 8th July 2023, 12:48:07

Ruth Radley's Latest Link Letter


Crosthwaite Show registration
Tuesday, 4th July 2023, 10:23:45

DON'T FORGET - registration evening for the 2023 Show is Tuesday 11th 7-9pm at the Village Hall


New Link
Monday, 3rd July 2023, 16:25:02

Organisations & Businesses - new link to Cartmel Fell Parish Hall now in place


New links
Monday, 3rd July 2023, 16:23:28

Clubs & Societies - Link to Cartmel Fell WI and revised link to CF Local History now in place.


Crosthwaite Show Schedule 2023
Sunday, 28th May 2023, 11:01:09

This year's show schedule (printable as a booklet) now available to download along with additional entry forms.


Unauthorised drone flights - Whitbarrow
Monday, 13th March 2023, 18:00:10

The Landowners of Crosthwaite and Lyth prohibit the flying of drones over all their landholding, SSSI or not without...


Church Notice Sheet
Sunday, 26th February 2023, 12:25:24

New Church Notice Sheet for the week.


Cumbria Prayer Diary
Saturday, 11th February 2023, 11:24:17

Read the latest Cumbria Prayer Diary here.


Coronation Celebration Dinner
Wednesday, 8th February 2023, 16:12:05

Friday 5 May 6 for 6.30, hosted by the Exchange at the Village Hall


Coronation Colour Dash
Wednesday, 8th February 2023, 16:08:11

Hosted by FRoCS, Sunday 7 May at Crosthwaite School


Crosthwaite Show 2023
Wednesday, 8th February 2023, 16:04:32

Save the date - Saturday 15 July


Crosthwaite Panto 2023
Tuesday, 7th February 2023, 17:42:38

Photographs and record of Granny Get Your Gun, the January 2023 pantomime


The Damson Valley

The Parish of Crosthwaite and Lyth border lies 5 miles west of Kendal, 5 miles north of Grange-over-Sands and 3 miles south of Bowness-on-Windermere. The M6 motorway is 5 miles from the parish. Manchester Airport is 82 miles to the south. The equivalent distances from Crosthwaite village are 5½ miles to Kendal, 11 miles to Grange, 6 miles to Bowness and 11 miles to the M6.

Some useful postcodes for your SatNav when visiting Crosthwaite - St. Mary's church & Punch Bowl Inn LA8 8HR, School & Argles Memorial Hall LA8 8HT, Bowling club LA8 8HU, Dodd's Howe LA8 8HX, Starnthwaite LA8 8JN & LA8 8HZ, Damson Dene hotel LA8 8JE.

Crosthwaite derives its name from the old Scandinavian word, "thwaite", meaning a clearing in a forest or a piece of land, which has been enclosed. This was blended with "Cross", which may reflect the earlier Christian connections with the Irish or Angle missionaries of the sixth or seventh century. The Norsemen also gave the Lyth Valley its name; "hlith" means sloping hillside. More...


Quick Links
Damson blossom

Damson blossom

The Westmorland damson is a lovely local food, grown in the picturesque orchards of the Lyth Valley. It is used to make a wide range of items such as jam, chutney, puddings and gin – it is great in Eton Mess. It is a member of the plum family and is thought to be a type of Shropshire prune (possibly the Blue Violet) but improved by the unique conditions in Westmorland and pollination by the wild Bullace and Sloe. There are damsons in other parts of the British Isles but the flavour of the smaller Westmorland damson is said to be second to none.

Westmorland damsons grow mainly in and around the Lyth and Winster valleys, south-west of Kendal in the English Lake District. The orchards of the Lyth Valley are unique, surrounding each small farmstead and growing along every hedgerow in the valley.

At some time in April, exactly when depending on the weather, the orchards and hedgerows become snow white with blossom - a wonderful sight to see. The fruit ripens in September and is sold from roadside stalls and in local shops.

Originally damsons came from the area around Damascus, hence the name. Some say the Crusaders brought back damson stones to try in England. Damson trees are often found around sites of Roman camps - perhaps the Romans introduced them to Britain. Damson stones were found in a bag round the waist of a 4000 year-old 'Ice Man' uncovered recently in the Alps. Damson stones have been excavated at the Viking Yorvick centre at York.


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