Longsleddale

{{Short description|Valley and civil parish in Cumbria, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use British English|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox UK place | static_image_name = Longsleddale1234.jpg | static_image_caption = View from [[Kentmere Pike]] looking south to the central and lower parts of Longsleddale | official_name = Longsleddale | country = England | region = North West England | os_grid_reference = NY5003 | coordinates = {{coord|54.419|-2.770|display=inline,title}} | population = 73 | population_ref = ''(2001)'' | civil_parish = Longsleddale |unitary_england = [[Westmorland and Furness]] |lieutenancy_england = [[Cumbria]] | constituency_westminster = [[Westmorland and Lonsdale (UK Parliament constituency)|Westmorland and Lonsdale]] | post_town = KENDAL | postcode_district = LA8 | postcode_area = LA | dial_code = 01539 }}

'''Longsleddale''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ɒ|ŋ|s|l|ɛ|d|ə|l}}) is a valley and [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in the [[Westmorland and Furness]] district of [[Cumbria]], England. It includes the hamlet of Sadgill. The parish has a population of 73.<ref>[http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/viewFullDataset.do?instanceSelection=03070&productId=779&$ph=60_61&datasetInstanceId=3070&startColumn=1&numberOfColumns=8&containerAreaId=790350 Office for National Statistics: ''Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : South Lakeland''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205102055/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/viewFullDataset.do?instanceSelection=03070&productId=779&$ph=60_61&datasetInstanceId=3070&startColumn=1&numberOfColumns=8&containerAreaId=790350 |date=2014-12-05 }} Retrieved 26 October 2010</ref> As the population taken at the 2011 Census was less than 100, details are maintained in the civil parish of Whitwell and Selside.

The valley is bounded to the west by [[Kentmere Pike]] and [[Shipman Knotts]], one arm of the ''[[Kentmere]] Horseshoe'', and to the east by Sleddale Fell and its summits of [[Grey Crag]] and [[Tarn Crag (Far Eastern Fells)|Tarn Crag]]; one of several Cumbrian hills named Great Howe is on the east of the valley above Sadgill.<ref name="hillbagging-greathowe">{{cite web |title=Great Howe (Longsleddale) |url=http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=B&rf=3836 |website=www.hill-bagging.co.uk |access-date=15 February 2021}}</ref><ref name="getoutside">{{cite web |title=Great Howe, South Lakeland - area information, map, walks and more |url=https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/local/great-howe-south-lakeland |website=OS GetOutside |access-date=15 February 2021 |language=en-gb}}</ref> The [[River Sprint]] starts on the slopes of [[Harter Fell, Mardale|Harter Fell]] and [[Branstree]], and flows south through the valley before joining the [[River Kent]] to the north of the town of [[Kendal]].

Halfway between Garnett Bridge and Sadgill, Ubarrow Hall is a mediaeval [[Peel tower|pele tower]], reduced in height, adjoining a 17th-century farmhouse.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ubarrow Hall |url=http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=11732 |publisher=Pastscape |accessdate=2011-06-14}}</ref>

==Haweswater aqueduct== The aqueduct carrying water from [[Haweswater Reservoir]] to [[Heaton Park Reservoir]] in [[Manchester]] follows the line of Longsleddale underground on the east of the valley, and crosses Stockdale Beck by a pipe bridge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geog.port.ac.uk/webmap/thelakes/html/lgaz/lk14089.htm|title=Haweswater Aqueduct|work=Old Cumbria Gazetteer|publisher=Portsmouth University, Geography Department|accessdate=11 June 2013}}</ref> Construction of the aqueduct was started in the 1930s and finally completed in 1976.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw041963|title=The Haweswater Aqueduct under construction near Low House, Longsleddale, 1933 (photo)|publisher=Britain from Above|accessdate=11 June 2013}}</ref> Survey columns can still be seen on [[Branstree]], [[Tarn Crag (Far Eastern Fells)|Tarn Crag]], and Great Howe below [[Grey Crag]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Wainwright|first=A.|authorlink=Alfred Wainwright|title=A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells: Book 2: The Far Eastern Fells|year=1957|publisher=Westmorland Gazette|pages=Branstree 4, Grey Crag 4, Tarn Crag 5}}</ref> The tunnel is about {{convert|2 x 2|m|abbr=on}} in section, and the water flow is by gravity. Between Haweswater and Manchester the tunnel only deviates from a straight line by less than {{convert|0.6|mi|0}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=888|title=Haweswater Aqueduct|publisher=Engineering Timelines|accessdate=11 June 2013}}</ref>

In January 2025, United Utilities confirmed Strabag Equitix Consortium as its preferred bidder to replace and maintain six tunnel sections of the aqueduct.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Prior |first1=Grant |title=Winner unveiled for £2.9bn aqueduct revamp |url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2025/01/03/winner-unveiled-for-2-9bn-aqueduct-revamp/ |access-date=6 January 2025 |work=Construction Enquirer |date=6 January 2025}}</ref>

==Possible railway route== When the directors of the [[Lancaster and Carlisle Railway]] were choosing its route in the 1840s, one possibility considered was a route through [[Kendal]] and along Longsleddale, with a {{convert|2|mi|abbr=on}} tunnel under the [[Gatescarth Pass]] into [[Mardale]] and thence towards [[Bampton, Cumbria|Bampton]]. This route had the support of the Kendal Committee of the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway; other alternatives under consideration included a line over a barrage across Morecambe Bay and round the Cumbrian coast, routes bypassing [[Shap]] to the east and west, and the Shap summit route finally chosen.

After a lengthy Parliamentary inquiry, the longer and steeper route over Shap Fell was chosen. [[Thomas Bouch]] was approached to be an adviser on the Longsleddale route and if this route had been chosen, in all probabilities Bouch would have been appointed as the civil and railway engineer. Bouch was the engineer for the [[Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway]] and rose to fame in later years, for it was his design of the Tay Railway Bridge that was [[Tay Bridge disaster|destroyed in a severe storm]].

The gradient of the Longsleddale route would have been somewhat less than the 1 in 70 gradient of the climb up and over Shap Fell, and the use of banking engines could have been reduced if not entirely eliminated.

It has been said that the Longsleddale route, "had it ever been built, would have been as dramatic and awe-inspiring as any in Britain".<ref name="joy">{{cite book|last=Joy|first=David|title=Main Line Over Shap: the story of the Lancaster-Carlisle Railway|year=1968|publisher=Dalesman|location=Clapham|page=14}}</ref>

[[File:Central and upper Longsleddale.jpg|thumb|right|Central and upper Longsleddale, seen from Todd Fell. St Mary's Church is in the middle of the picture.]]

==Recreation and community== In 1974, an Outdoor Pursuits Centre was founded by Jim McVeigh as an access point for young people, from in and around Manchester, to the great outdoors. Over the years, this has extended to young people from all around the country. Unlike many outdoors centre in the UK, this is staffed and operated solely by volunteers. The centre's [[Adventure Activities Licensing Authority]] licence allows staff to run [[outdoor activities]] including [[rock climbing]], [[caving]], ghyll scrambling ([[canyoning]]), [[hillwalking]] and [[archery]].

There are few community buildings in Longsleddale. There is one village hall that is known as the Community Hall and one church – St Mary's – which is near the centre of the valley and is open every day. Services are on the second and fourth Sunday of each month at 10:30am.

The village was the inspiration for the fictional village of Greendale in the BBC children's television series ''[[Postman Pat]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Postman Pat|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/articles/2006/03/30/cumbriaonfilm_postman_pat_feature.shtml|accessdate=20 December 2011|newspaper=BBC|date=30 March 2006}}</ref>

==Ecology== The River Sprint is designated a [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] (SSSI) along with other tributaries of the [[River Kent]].

Longsleddale Woods are designated an SSSI. Yewbarrow Woods were acquired by the [[Lake District National Park]] in the 1980s in order to maintain and secure the site.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015 |title=Question for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (parliamentary question) |url=https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2015-02-25/HL5223}}</ref> In 2015, the Authority put it on the market along with some of its other properties.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 2015 |title=No bids to buy Yewbarrow Woods |work=ITV |url=https://www.itv.com/news/border/2015-07-24/no-bids-to-buy-yewbarrow-woods |access-date=13 November 2020}}</ref>

==Geology== Slate used to be quarried in the valley. A site called Wrengill was the largest quarry.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=http://www.longsleddale.co.uk/pages/historyf.htm}}</ref>

The [[Stockdale Shales]] is a geologic formation in the area near Longsleddale.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Aveline|first1=W. Talbot|last2=Hughes|first2=T. McK.|title=Memoirs of the Geological Survey. England and Wales. The Geology of the County Around Kendal, Sedbergh, Bowness, and Tebay|date=1888|publisher=Eyre and Spottiswoode|location=Fleet Streed, E.C.|page=11|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kLYMAAAAYAAJ&q=Aveline+%22stockdale+shales%22&pg=PA11}}</ref>

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Longsleddale2 290807.jpg|Looking north up Longsleddale File:Church Longsleddale.JPG|The small parish church of St Mary, Longsleddale File:Track up to Harter Fell.JPG|The Track up to Harter Fell, the River Sprint runs down the valley to the left of the track File:Longsleddale - geograph.org.uk - 130672.jpg|Longsleddale. Looking north-east from the bridleway to Staveley, across the valley to Swinklebank. File:Yewbarrow-hall-longsleddale.jpg|Ubarrow Hall File:Longsleddale - geograph.org.uk - 677399.jpg|Longsleddale, sun on Goat Scar </gallery>

==See also== {{portal|Cumbria}} *[[Listed buildings in Longsleddale]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Longsleddale}} *[http://www.cumbriacountyhistory.org.uk/township/longsleddale Cumbria County History Trust: Longsleddale] (nb: provisional research only – see Talk page) *[http://www.longsleddale.co.uk/ Longsleddale Community Website] *[http://www.longsleddleopc.org/ Longsleddale Outdoor Pursuits Centre Website]{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Cumbria}}

[[Category:Civil parishes in Cumbria]] [[Category:Valleys of Cumbria]]