Newlands Valley and Rowling End

Newlands Valley was a firm favourite with Alfred Wainwright whose guide books to the Lakeland Fells have become classics. In 1984 he wrote: More than fifty years have gone by since I first set eyes on Newlands and in all that time the valley seems not to have changed in any way. Today it is the same sweet Arcadia I knew so long ago, lovely and secluded, an idyllic place of flowers and trees, of emerald pastures and sequestered farmsteads, all cosily sheltered by rough mountains, and having as its greatest blessing an undisturbed peace, a freedom from tourists in the mass and related commercial enterprises, and enjoying a way of life that in essence has never altered.

The unspoiled beauty of the valley is still its greatest virtue. Whether you are looking for a full days hiking across the tops or a gentle stroll around the valley or down to the Lake, Rowling End couldn’t enjoy a better position. The land in front of the house through which Newlands Beck flows, belongs to Rowling End. Although much of the land is quite marshy, it is a haven for wildlife including buzzard and deer, and even, if you are lucky, a glimpse of a red squirrel.  The history of Newlands dates back two thousand years to when the Romans passed freely up and down the valley. Troops were stationed at Galava, now called Keswick, to guard the strategic passes of the Derwent, Greta and other narrow valleys in the area. Later the Vikings settled here as evidenced through the present day names of Uzzicar, Ullock, Swinside and How Keld which are Norse in origin. These farms, small hamlets and the Swinside pub are just down the valley from Rowling End.

During the reign of Elizabeth I the Vale of Newlands became the hub of the Lake District mining industry. In 1566 the largest copper smelting works in England was erected in Keswick. The ore from Newlands was carried over to the shores of Lake Derwentwater and then transferred by boat to Keswick. The miners were, in the main, from Germany, bought over for their mining skills. The mining company was in the direct control of Queen Elizabeth I who hoped that the rich mineral deposits would yield gold to rival the riches flooding into Spain from South America. Unfortunately for Elizabeth the only gold found in Newlands was in such small quantities that it was not worth exploiting. Lead was chiefly mined although some copper was mined at Goldscope. Mining in the Valley ceased in the 1650s when most of the mines were destroyed during the Cromwell campaign. Scars of the mines are still visible today though the valley was cleaned up and returned to farmland. The Keswick Mining Museum celebrates this past industry. For many centuries Rowling End was a farm. Originally known as Low Houses the name changed to Rowling End in the 1880s possibly due to the fell above the farm or the families of Rawlings and Rowlings that farmed here.