2 WESTMORLAND AGRICULTURE, 1800-1900 



than a mere physical division of the county — for the northern portion, 

 both in people and agriculture, speech and customs, is more nearly 

 related to the Cumbrian district which it adjoins, than to the southern 

 division of the county, the people of which have not only a distinct 

 dialect, but differ also in their methods of agriculture, breeds of animals 

 and customs, more especially with regard to the terms and conditions 

 of their tenancies. 



The narrow green patches of cultivated lands along the sides of the 

 streams flowing through the smaller valleys of Langdale, Grasmere, 

 Troutbeck, Kentmere and Longsleddale on the south, and Patterdale, 

 Martindale, Mardale, Swindale, Wetsleddale, Mallerstang and Raven- 

 stonedale on the north, and other smaller valleys too numerous to 

 mention, are in striking contrast to the bare high hills, rough fells and 

 moors and belts of coppice or scrubs of wood which immediately 

 adjoin them, giving the county not only its distinctive physical 

 features, but also its varied forms of agriculture. 



Nicolson and Burn write : " There is no very great plenty of wood 

 in this county ; it seems to have been industriously destroyed, to 

 prevent its affording shelter to the Scotch invaders;" and Housman 

 in 1800 says : " The most striking peculiarity in the general aspect 

 of Westmorland is its great want of wood ; and the naked appearance 

 is considerably increased by those numerous and extensive bleak 

 moors which present themselves on all hands to the eye of the traveller." 



To these agricultural features and the poorness of the soil generally 

 in the county, is attributed the size of its ancient land measures, the 

 customary acre containing 6760 square yards, as compared with 4840 

 square yards contained in an acre of statute measure. In the southern 

 part of the county, bordering on Lancashire, the acre contained 7840 

 square yards, being the same as the Irish plantation acre — while two 

 of the county miles equalled three statutory ones. 



In the early years of the century as to-day, dotted here and there 

 throughout the dales, in sheltered situations with their backs to the 

 fells, were numerous small grey farm-houses, the homes of the statesmen 

 and farmers, or clustered together to form the smaller villages or 

 hamlets. Some of the larger ones in each vaUey had areas or yards 

 surrounding them, enclosed with strong walls within which the cattle 

 and sheep could be shut for safety when incursions of the Scots were 



