The Parish of St Nicholas, Nicholforest
The parish is deeply rural, with no actual village as a centre, population approx 400. It lies on the English Cumbrian and Scottish Border of Dumfriesshire and Roxburghshire, the boundary marked by the River Liddell. The whole area is known locally as Penton, which is hard to find on any map, signposts all pointing to a mythical centre! The countryside is rolling and partially wooded and the fields are bordered by well-kept hedges.
The approximate centre, being the church, is about 8 miles east of Longtown. The parish extends about 10 miles west to east and 2 miles north to south.
There are three centres of population:
Catlowdy:
A small hamlet where there is a post office and two nationally renowned farmhouse bed and breakfast hotels – Craigburn and Bessiestown.
Warwicksland:
A small hamlet where the village public hall is situated, and where there used to be a school which closed many years ago. The hall was completely refurbished with a millennium grant and is a very active place run by the hall committee.
There is an Art Society which meets every Thursday and has an exhibition once a year.
The Women’s Institute meets here and there are many other activities including dances, barbecues, sales of work, toddlers group, retired club (The Hobnobs) etc. as well as church events such as the Harvest Supper, auctions and concerts. The Mothering Sunday teas produced by a host of helpers are famous and they are very well supported.
Kershopefoot:
Another hamlet of about 30 houses originally of forestry workers and a post office. There is a public house towards the western end of the parish. The Bridge Inn and also a garage. Nearly all the parish has magnificent views towards the Solway, north and east to Scotland or southwards to the Brampton Fells. The Scottish side of the border is designated an area of great natural beauty. We feel that ours is the same. There are three crossings into Scotland, the main one at Penton Linns is over the river Liddell where the water passes through a spectacular gorge of rocks and pools and gushing water. The others are at Kershopefoot, the nearest centre of population over the border is Newcastleton, locally known as ‘The Holme’ or ‘Copshaw’. Here there are shops and two or three pubs, the Bank of Scotland, a petrol filling station and a doctor’s surgery.
Other businesses in the parish include building contractors and associated trades, agricultural contractors and the main occupations in the parish are livestock farming and forestry. The River Liddell is a renowned sea trout river and the other country pastimes of shooting and hunting are very active.
The parish is deeply rural, with no actual village as a centre, population approx 400. It lies on the English Cumbrian and Scottish Border of Dumfriesshire and Roxburghshire, the boundary marked by the River Liddell. The whole area is known locally as Penton, which is hard to find on any map, signposts all pointing to a mythical centre! The countryside is rolling and partially wooded and the fields are bordered by well-
There are three centres of population:
Catlowdy:
A small hamlet where there is a post office and two nationally renowned farmhouse bed and breakfast hotels – Craigburn and Bessiestown.
Warwicksland:
A small hamlet where the village public hall is situated, and where there used to be a school which closed many years ago. The hall was completely refurbished with a millennium grant and is a very active place run by the hall committee.
There is an Art Society which meets every Thursday and has an exhibition once a year.
The Women’s Institute meets here and there are many other activities including dances, barbecues, sales of work, toddlers group, retired club (The Hobnobs) etc. as well as church events such as the Harvest Supper, auctions and concerts. The Mothering Sunday teas produced by a host of helpers are famous and they are very well supported.
Kershopefoot:
Another hamlet of about 30 houses originally of forestry workers and a post office. There is a public house towards the western end of the parish. The Bridge Inn and also a garage. Nearly all the parish has magnificent views towards the Solway, north and east to Scotland or southwards to the Brampton Fells. The Scottish side of the border is designated an area of great natural beauty. We feel that ours is the same. There are three crossings into Scotland, the main one at Penton Linns is over the river Liddell where the water passes through a spectacular gorge of rocks and pools and gushing water. The others are at Kershopefoot, the nearest centre of population over the border is Newcastleton, locally known as ‘The Holme’ or ‘Copshaw’. Here there are shops and two or three pubs, the Bank of Scotland, a petrol filling station and a doctor’s surgery.
Other businesses in the parish include building contractors and associated trades, agricultural contractors and the main occupations in the parish are livestock farming and forestry. The River Liddell is a renowned sea trout river and the other country pastimes of shooting and hunting are very active.
Rector of the Parishes
Rev’d Russell Tague
The Rectory
Arthuret Drive
Longtown
CA6 5SG
Tel 01228 791338
Rev’d Russell Tague
The Rectory
Arthuret Drive
Longtown
CA6 5SG
Tel 01228 791338
THE ESK PARISHES MISSION STATEMENT
With the help of God, these churches will be places where,
Christian people joyfully worship and pray together.
Places of learning, growth and fun.
Communities where everyone is encouraged to use their gifts
and to live out the Christian faith in the whole of their lives.
Taking into the work place, family and wider society
a public witness to the Christian faith and to God's love.
Site last updated Sunday, December 18, 2011
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