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Orton

Orton is a picturesque and ancient village situated in the English Lake District, just to the north east of Kendal and not far from the western edge of the Yorkshire Dales National park. Eden Valley is also within easy reach.

Dating back to the 13th Century and the reign of Edward I, the market village of Orton looks over Orton Scar and the Howgills. Bridges cross the two village becks which enclose a small central green with 17th and 18th Century cottages.

Two village halls are situated at the southern end of Orton. Petty Hall is Elizabethan, and Orton Hall was built in 1662

The beacon on the top of Orton Scar, which is a limestone hill, was once lit as a warning signal of Scottish border raiders, and the dramatic and rugged scenery of Orton was used in the filming of ´The tenant of Wildfell Hall.´

Next to the whitewashed and original stone cottages, old wooden village stocks can be seen, where petty criminals were once punished. One of the old houses which dates back to 1717 now serves as a tearoom, and provides guests with delicious food, prepared to traditional Cumbrian recipes. A grammar school was established in the village in 1809, and in 1828, the village formed a Book Club and library. A Wesleyan Chapel was built in 1833.
 
 Steeped in history, Orton Hall is a Grade II listed Jacobean mansion, which was built of stone in 1662, and now serves as self-catering accommodation for visitors to the Lake District. Richard Burn (1709-1785) lived in the hall and served as parish vicar for 49 years.

All Saints Church was built in 1293, and once had a central tower. After much restoration and renovation, the church retains a large 16th Century west tower, which was build to help defend the area from border raids by the Scots.  A chapel on

ce stood in the southern part of the building, and the early 17th Century church porch still survives. The font was built o

f red sandstone, and the church is home to three chests, which were used to distribute bread to the poor. When the church was restored in 1877, five impressive stained glass windows were added.

Perhaps the most famous resident of Orton was George Whitehead, who lived in the village between 1636 and 1723, and was one of the founders of the Quaker Movement. Whitehead, along with most other Quakers of the time, was not popular and was imprisoned for his beliefs. On release from prison, he was instrumental in obtaining Quaker rights which were later spelt out in the Quaker Magna Carta in 1696.

 The village of Orton was granted a market charter in 1275 by Edward I, and in 1658 Oliver Cromwell granted another charter for a weekly market and an annual Whitsun fair. Other fairs also took place soon afterwards and included sheep and cattle trading.
 
 To the northeast of the village is a limestone quarry, and in 1855 the stonemason company, Parkin, was founded in Orton. In 1860, the company moved to Crosby Ravensworth, and Orton Scar limestone is still quarried today. The limestone is finely grained in shades of grey and brown.

Walks from the village of Orton lead over Orton Scar, with its deep fissures supporting a wide range of fauna and flora. Behind Orton Scar lies Castle Folds, which is a small fort and wall constructed to hold cattle during Scottish raids over the border. One mile east of Orton lies an ancient circle which measures 100 yards in circumference, where an ancient human skeleton was found. Roman jewels were also found on a nearby hill in the 19th Century.
 
Orton is the perfect base for visitors who want to explore the Lake District, Eden Valley and the Yorkshire Dales. Orton´s rural character offers travellers a peaceful setting and some of the most stunning countryside in the region. Windermere hotels, boutique hotels in Bowness and plenty of cheap local accommodation can be found close to Orton.

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