inspired by local history

We came across this buildingat Raisbeck near Orton on an afternoon walk after an intensive yoga session in the morning. Pam identified it on the OS map as a 'Dame School'. A local, whose family had farmed in the area for 300 years confirmed this for us.

Dame schools were common in Britain before compulsory education in 1870. Most of them were based in private homes and offered anything from simple day care facilities to a good foundation in basic education. Many were unable to offer writing skills because there was only room for the children to sit on benches.

Our Dame School has a room barely ten foot square with a ladder to sleeping quarters. It was built in 1780 by three local yeoman farmers. They, or their trustees appointed a schoolmistress who was instructed to teach the church catechism, reading, knitting and sewing.

We also saw an ancient sheepfold, a stone circle and some wonderful old buildings. It has inspired me to find out more about the social history of Cumbria.