A HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND 
Polystichum lobatum, Presl. 
var. aculeatum, Syme 
— angulare, Presl. 
Lastrea Filix-mas, Presl. 
b. affinis, Bab. 
c. paleacea, Moore 
— dilatata, Presl. 
d. collina, Moore 
Phegopteris calcarea, Fée 
EQuisETACEE 
Equisetum maximum, Lam. 
— sylvaticum, L. 
— hyemale, L. 
LycopopiacEz 
Lycopodium Selago, L. 
— clavatum, L. 
SELAGINELLACE 
Selaginella selaginoides, Gray 
CHaARACEE 
Chara fragilis, Desv. 
— polyacantha, Braun. 
— vulgaris, L. 
Nitella flexilis, Agardh 
— opaca, Agardh 
District IV 
This area is bounded on the south by the river Eden throughout its course in Cumberland, 
dividing it from District III. until its junction with the Eamont near Dolphenby ; thence 
for a short distance to a little beyond Culgaith, where the boundary diverges to the north- 
eastward as far as the sources of the river Tees under Cross Fell; the course of that river is 
followed until the mouth of Crookburn Beck is reached at the extreme south-east corner of 
Cumberland. Northward from this the boundary follows along the beck to its source, and 
beyond until Killhope Moor is reached. The adjoining county here is Durham. From this 
point in a zigzag line the boundary follows the watershed of the Pennine range ‘as Heaven 
water deals’ until it reaches the river Irthing at Gilsland, which constitutes the line of de- 
markation between Cumberland and Northumberland, right up to its source; a little way 
beyond which the head of the Kershope Burn is reached at the northern extremity of the 
county. The remaining boundary on the north-western side is much less complicated. 
Commencing at Kershope Head it follows the course of the burn to its junction with the river 
Liddle, between Cumberland and Roxburghshire. From this point the latter forms the line 
of separation between Cumberland and Dumfries, until a little below where it falls into the 
Esk. Here an arbitrary line known as the Scots’ Dike, running due westward for a short 
distance until it abuts upon the river Sark, along which stream the boundary runs to its con- 
fluence with the head waters of the Solway Firth. 
The Pennine range runs along the eastern verge of this area, from Cross Fell (2,930 feet) 
through a gradually decreasing series of summits, including Cold Fell (2,039 feet) Slighty Crag 
(1,702 feet) and Christenbury Crag (1,598 feet), with others of inferior altitude. The district 
is extremely well-watered. Apart from the rivers Eden, Esk and Liddle on the outskirts, we 
find the Raven and Croglin waters and the Irthing, with its tributaries the Gelt, Kingwater 
and Cambeck. The Black and White Lyne streams, which with the Bailey water from 
Bewcastle unite to form the Lyne river, discharge into the Esk below Longtown. In the 
Alston district, on the east of the Pennines, the South Tyne and the Tees have their sources, 
and are the aggregate of innumerable becks or burns which flow from those hills. The hills 
in their geological formation form quite a contrast to their mightier brethren in the south-west 
of the county, consisting of strata of carboniferous rocks in the form of shales, sandstones and 
grits, intermixed with beds of limestone never of any great thickness. In the lower valleys of 
the Eden, Esk, Liddle and Lyne, the New Red Sandstone rocks predominate, and are extensively 
quarried for builders’ purposes both here and in Dumfriesshire. 
The Alston district is highly metalliferous, and lead mines, which are tolerably numerous, 
have been worked from an early period of our history, as far back as the reign of Henry II. 
and were then known as the mines of ‘Karliol.”, King John sent thither for lead to repair 
some of his castles in the south of England. As many as fifty mines are reported to have been 
actively worked at different times. Other ores have also been worked. 
In the neighbourhood of ‘Tindall Fell and Brampton, Blenkinship and other places, 
collieries and limeworks are numerous. 
It will thus be seen that this area has features of its own so characteristic that Mr. J. G. 
Baker, who spent a holiday some years ago at Alston (1887) compares it to a slice of Durham 
or north Yorkshire thrust into Cumberland. He also reports that certain montane species of 
plants are found here at a somewhat greater altitude than in either of those adjoining counties. 
It may be mentioned that this area, interesting as it may seem, has been much less 
diligently explored in a botanical sense than the remaining portions of the county, and the 
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