Old Cumbria Gazetteer

---

	Solway Firth
runs into:-	Irish Sea
county:-	Cumbria
locality type:-	estuary
locality type:-	river estuary
locality type:-	sea area
10Km square:-	NY16 (etc)
1Km square:-	NY1060
10Km square:-	NY05
10Km square:-	NY15
10Km square:-	NY16
10Km square:-	NY26
country:-	Scotland
	BNQ81.jpg  Solway Firth, Galloway coast, from the Port of Workington. (taken 14.5.2007)
evidence:-	old map:- OS County Series (Cmd 9A 12)  placename:-  Solway Firth
source data:-	Maps, County Series maps of Great Britain, scales 6 and 25 inches to 1 mile, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, from about 1863 to 1948. OS County Series (Cmd 15 3)  OS County Series (Cmd 35 2)
evidence:-	old map:- Paris 1240s
source data:-	Map, version B, northern England, Scotland and part of Wales, by Matthew Paris, 1240s.   click to enlarge PAR2Cm.jpg Estuary.  derived from copyright image, courtesy of Corpus Christi College item:-  Corpus Christi, Cambridge : MS16.f4.5 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Gough 1350s-60s
source data:-	Map, colour photozincograph copy, reduced size facsimile, Gough Map of Britain, scale about 28.5 miles to 1 inch, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, 1875.   click to enlarge Ggh1Cm.jpg Not labelled.  item:-  JandMN : 33 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Gough 1350s-60s
source data:-	Map, lithograph facsimile, Gough Map of Britain, 20 miles to 1 inch? published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, 1935.   click to enlarge Ggh2Cm.jpg Not labelled.  item:-  JandMN : 34 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Ptolemy 1540
source data:-	Map, copy, uncoloured lithograph? Anglia II Nova Tabula, New Map of England, scale about 50 miles to 1 inch, data in the Geographia by Claudius Ptolemy, engraved by Sebastian Munster, Basle, Switzerland, 1540.   click to enlarge PTY4Cm.jpg river estuary  item:-  private collection : 131 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	probably old map:- Lloyd 1573
source data:-	Map, hand coloured copper plate engraving, Angliae Regni, Kingdom of England, with Wales, scale about 24 miles to 1 inch, authored by Humphrey Lloyd, Denbigh, Clwyd, drawn and engraved by Abraham Ortelius, Netherlands, 1573.   click to enlarge Lld1Cm.jpg item:-  Hampshire Museums : FA1998.69 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Saxton 1579
source data:-	Map, hand coloured engraving, Westmorlandiae et Cumberlandiae Comitatus ie Westmorland and Cumberland, scale about 5 miles to 1 inch, by Christopher Saxton, London, engraved by Augustinus Ryther, 1576, published 1579-1645. Sax9NY16.jpg Sax9NY26.jpg item:-  private collection : 2 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Burghley 1590 (facsimile)  placename:-  Soulua Sands
source data:-	Facsimile map, A Platt of the Opposete Border of Scotland to ye West Marches of England, parts of Cumberland and Scotland including the Debateable Land, from a manuscript drawn for William Cecil, Lord Burghley, about 1590, published by R B Armstrong, 1897. courtesy of the National Library of Scotland M048NY26.jpg "Soulua Sands" wavy lines  item:-  National Library of Scotland : MS6113 f.267 Image © National Library of Scotland
evidence:-	old map:- Mercator 1595 (edn?)  placename:-  Solway Fryth
source data:-	Map, hand coloured engraving, Northumbria, Cumberlandia, et Dunelmensis Episcopatus, ie Northumberland, Cumberland and Durham etc, scale about 6.5 miles to 1 inch, by Gerard Mercator, Duisberg, Germany, about 1595. MER8CumB.jpg "Solway Fryth" MER8CumC.jpg estuary  item:-  JandMN : 169 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Keer 1605
source data:-	Map, hand coloured engraving, Westmorland and Cumberland, scale about 16 miles to 1 inch, probably by Pieter van den Keere, or Peter Keer, about 1605 edition perhaps 1676.   click to enlarge KER8.jpg "" sea area  item:-  Dove Cottage : 2007.38.110 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	descriptive text:- Keer 1605 (edn 1620)  placename:-  Solway Frith placename:-  Ituna Baye
source data:-	Map, Westmorlandia et Comberlandia, ie Westmorland and Cumberland now Cumbria, scale about 16 miles to 1 inch, probably by Pieter van den Keere, or Peter Keer, about 1605, published about 1605 to 1676.   goto source first page:-  "... Solway Frith, by Ptolemie called the Ituna Baye. ..."
evidence:-	old map:- Speed 1611 (Cum/EW)
source data:-	Map, hand coloured engraving, Kingdome of Great Britaine and Ireland, scale about 36 miles to 1 inch, by John Speed, about 1610-11, published by Thomas Bassett, Fleet Street and Richard Chiswell, St Paul's Churchyard, London, 1676?   click to enlarge SPD6Cm.jpg estuary  item:-  private collection : 85 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Speed 1611 (Cmd)  placename:-  Itunae Baye
source data:-	Map, hand coloured engraving, Cumberland and the Ancient Citie Carlile Described, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by John Speed, 1610, published by J Sudbury and George Humble, Popes Head Alley, London, 1611-12. SP11NY16.jpg "Itunae Baye" estuary, river channel and foreshore sands  item:-  private collection : 16 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Drayton 1612/1622
source data:-	Map, hand coloured engraving, Cumberlande and Westmorlande, by Michael Drayton, probably engraved by William Hole, scale about 4 or 5 miles to 1 inch, published by John Mariott, John Grismand, and Thomas Dewe, London, 1622. DRY505.jpg Sea more effect, coast shaded, foreshore sands.  item:-  JandMN : 168 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Jansson 1646 placename:-  Itunae Baye placename:-  Eden Flude
source data:-	Map, hand coloured engraving, Cumbria and Westmoria, ie Cumberland and Westmorland, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, by John Jansson, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1646. JAN3NY26.jpg "Eden flude" JAN3NY16.jpg "Itunae Baye" item:-  JandMN : 88 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Sanson 1679
source data:-	Map, hand coloured engraving, Ancien Royaume de Northumberland aujourdhuy Provinces de Nort, ie the Ancient Kingdom of Northumberland or the Northern Provinces, scale about 9.5 miles to 1 inch, by Nicholas Sanson, Paris, France, 1679.   click to enlarge SAN2Cm.jpg estuary  item:-  Dove Cottage : 2007.38.15 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Seller 1694 (Cmd)
source data:-	Map, uncoloured engraving, Cumberland, scale about 12 miles to 1 inch, by John Seller, 1694.   click to enlarge SEL9.jpg estuary  item:-  Dove Cottage : 2007.38.89 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Morden 1695 (EW)
source data:-	Map, hand coloured engraving, England, including Wales, scale about 27 miles to 1 inch, by Robert Morden, published by Abel Swale Awnsham and John Churchil, London, about 1695.   click to enlarge MRD3Cm.jpg estuary  item:-  JandMN : 339 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Morden 1695 (Cmd)  placename:-  Solway Frith placename:-  Itunae Flu. placename:-  Eden River
source data:-	Map, uncoloured engraving, Cumberland, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by Robert Morden, 1695, published by Abel Swale, the Unicorn, St Paul's Churchyard, Awnsham, and John Churchill, the Black Swan, Paternoster Row, London, 1695-1715. MD12NY16.jpg MD12NY26.jpg MD12NY36.jpg "Solway Frith ot Itunae Flu now Eden R." River estuary.  item:-  JandMN : 90 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map, descriptive text:- Bowen 1720 (plate 162)  placename:-  Itunian Bay placename:-  Solway Frith
source data:-	Road book, Britannia Depicta Or Ogilby Improv'd, including road strip maps with sections in Westmorland and Cumberland, scale about 2 miles to 1 inch, derived from maps by Ogilby, 1675, also a county map of Westmorland, scale about 8 miles to 1 inch, and of Cumberland, scale about 16.5 miles to 1 inch, each with text, by John Owen, published by Emanuel Bowen, London, 1720; published 1720-64. "The Eden (at 1 P.161) after having receiv'd several other considerable Rivers, empties it self into ye Ituni: an Bay, ..." "About 6 Miles farther in the Itunian Bay or Solway Frith, on a Cape of Land is Bolness the Old Blatum Bulgiu~, formerly a Roman Station, ..."
evidence:-	old map:- Stukeley 1723
source data:-	Road map, uncoloured engraving, the Antonine Itineraries through Britain, scale about 55 miles to 1 inch, plotted by William Stukeley, 1723, published London, 1724.   click to enlarge Stu1Cm.jpg item:-  Hampshire Museums : FA2001.171 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	descriptive text:- Defoe 1724-26
source data:-	Tour through England and Wales, by Daniel Defoe, published in parts, London, 1724-26. "... Carlisle is strong by situation, being almost surrounded with rivers. On the east it has the River Potterell, on the north Eden, and on the south the Cande, or Canda, or Calda, which all fall into the arms of the sea, which they call the Solway, or Solway Firth."
evidence:-	old map:- Badeslade 1742 placename:-  Solway Frith
source data:-	Map, uncoloured engraving, A Map of Cumberland North from London, scale about 11 miles to 1 inch, with descriptive text, by Thomas Badeslade, London, engraved and published by William Henry Toms, Union Court, Holborn, London, 1742.   click to enlarge BD10.jpg "Solway Frith" estuary, sea area  item:-  JandMN : 115 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	descriptive text:- Simpson 1746 placename:-  Solway Frith placename:-  Mouth of the River Eden placename:-  Hunae Ostium
source data:-	Atlas, three volumes of maps and descriptive text published as 'The Agreeable Historian, or the Compleat English Traveller ...', by Samuel Simpson, 1746.   goto source "..." "On the N.W. of Carlisle, there juts out a small Promontory, at the Point of which is the large Arm of the Sea, call'd Solway-Frith, or Hunae-Ostium i.e., the Mouth of the River Eden. It is, at present, the Boundary between England and Scotland, but anciently between the Roman Provinces and the Picts."
evidence:-	old map:- Bickham 1753-54 (Cmd)  placename:-  Solway Frith
source data:-	Map, uncoloured engraving, perspective map, Map of Cumberland North from London, by George Bickham, James Street, Bunhill Fields, London, 1753, published by F Jollie and Sons, Carlisle, Cumberland, 1811.   click to enlarge JL05.jpg "Solway Frith" view (sort of)  item:-  Carlisle Library : 4.2 Image © Carlisle Library
evidence:-	old map:- Bowen and Kitchin 1760 placename:-  Solway Frith
source data:-	Map, hand coloured engraving, A New Map of the Counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland Divided into their Respective Wards, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by Emanuel Bowen and Thomas Kitchin et al, published by T Bowles, Robert Sayer, and John Bowles, London, 1760. BO18NY15.jpg "Solway Frith [now Eden River]" sea area  BO18NY26.jpg "[Solway Frith] now Eden R." sea area  item:-  Armitt Library : 2008.14.10 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Donald 1774 (Cmd)  placename:-  Solway Firth placename:-  Eden River
source data:-	Map, hand coloured engraving, 3x2 sheets, The County of Cumberland, scale about 1 inch to 1 mile, by Thomas Donald, engraved and published by Joseph Hodskinson, 29 Arundel Street, Strand, London, 1774. D4NY16SE.jpg D4NY26SW.jpg D4NY26SE.jpg "SOLWAY FIRTH or EDEN RIVER" estuary  item:-  Carlisle Library : Map 2 Images © Carlisle Library
evidence:-	old text:- Mackenzie 1776 placename:-
source data:-	Charts, and sailing directions, Nautical Descriptions of the West Coast of Great Britain, Bristol Channel to Cape Wrath, by Murdoch Mackenzie, published London, 1776.   goto source Page 21:-  "... ... ..." "A description of the Tides, Rocks, Shoals, and Anchoring-places, in the MOUTH OF SOLWAY FIRTH." "CHART XIII." "TIDES / Tides in the Mouth of SOLWAY FIRTH" "Time of high-water. / In the mouth of Solway Firth, both on the English and Scotch side, it is high-water on the full and change days of the moon at eleven o'clock."   goto source Page 22:-  "Rise of the Tide. / Spring-tides rise twenty feet perpendicular; neap-tides eleven or twelve feet." "Velocity of the Stream. / Spring-tides near Burrow Head, in Scotland, run about three miles an hour when strongest; neap-tides one. In other parts of the coast, included in this draft, the stream is not so strong." "Direction of the Stream. / The principal stream of flood that fills Solway Firth, comes from the N.W. between the Mule of Cantire and Ireland; part of which runs along the Mule of Galloway, and from thence up Solway Firth." "ROCKS and SHOALS. / There are no rocks or shoals in the mouth of Solway Firth, excepting such as lie within the bays or harbours, and will be described with them, or may be seen distinctly in the draft." "... ... ..." "A Description of the Tides, Rocks, Shoals, Sand-banks, Channels, Anchoring-places, and Harbours in SOLWAY FIRTH." "CHART XIV." "TIDES. / Tides in SOLWAY FIRTH." "Time of High-water on the English side, and on the Scotch side. / It is high-water on the full and change days of the moon in Whitehaven, in Cumberland, at eleven o'clock; in Mary-Port at 11½; at Bowness and Annan at twelve; at Saturness Point, in Scotland, at 11¼; in the harbour of Kirkcudbright at eleven."   goto source Pages 23-24:-  "Rise of the Tide. / Spring-tides in Solway Firth, on both sides, rise about twenty feet perpendicular; neap-tides about twelve: off Carsthorn, near the mouth of the river Nith, spring-tide rises seventeen or eighteen feet perpendicular; near Saturness Point it rose twenty-four feet." "Direction of the Stream. / The stream of flood, which fills Solway Firth, comes from the north-west, between the Mule of Cantire in Scotland and Rachlin Island in Ireland, and from thence runs along the Mule of Galloway up Solway Firth." "Velocity of the Stream on the English side. / The stream along the shore, on the English side, between St. Bee's Head and Mary-Port, runs about two miles an hour when strongest; from Mary-Port to Skinburness, three miles; from Skinburness to Bowness, five or six miles an hour: neap-tides have about one-third of that velocity." "Velocity on the Scotch side. / The stream on the Scotch side, between the Bay of Kirkcudbright and Barnhowry Bank, when strongest, runs about three miles an hour; along the Point of Saturness, it runs five miles; and in the channel off Annan about six miles." "..." "Caution in sailing along the S. side of Solway Firth. / No vessel should sail eastward in Solway Firth, on the English side, above Dubmill-swap, except between half-flood and high-water: for, if they happen to ground with ebb-tide on any Bank in the tide-way, the stream, particularly with spring tide, will wash away the sand from the ship's side so as to overset her. If a vessel is under any necessity of running a ground, it should be done, if possible, under shelter of some point, or bight on the shore, to break the strength of the stream; and not in a channel, or on a detached Bank. The like caution is necessary on the Scotch side above Carsthorn."
evidence:-	descriptive text:- West 1778 (11th edn 1821)
source data:-	Guide book, A Guide to the Lakes, by Thomas West, published by William Pennington, Kendal, Cumbria once Westmorland, and in London, 1778 to 1821.   goto source Page 19:-  "The Caledonians, the unconquered enemies and greatest plague of the Romans in Britain, were particularly galled and offended with the garrison at Lancaster, it being always the first to oppose them, as often as they invaded the empire, by crossing the Solway firth. For having taken advantage of the spring-tides and the darkness of the nights at the change of the moon, ..."   goto source Mrs Radcliffe's Ride over Skiddaw, 1794  Page 308:-  "[on Skiddaw] ... The Solway appeared surprisingly near us, though at fifty miles distance; and the guide said, that, on a bright day, its shipping could plainly be discerned.- ..."
evidence:-	old text:- Camden 1789 placename:-  Solway Frith placename:-  Ituna item:-  border reiver
source data:-	Book, Britannia, or A Chorographical Description of the Flourishing Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by William Camden, 1586, translated from the 1607 Latin edition by Richard Gough, published London, 1789.   goto source Page 172:-  "..." "A little higher up runs out a small cape, and below it lies a large aestuary, called by the Scots Solway"   goto source Page 173:-  "frith, now dividing England and Scotland as formerly the Roman province and the Picts. ..." "..."   goto source Page 173:-  "..." "Below this Burgh [by Sands], in the frith itself, the inhabitants say the Scots and English fleets engaged, and, on the retreat of the tide their cavalry, which seems as extraordinary as what Pliny relates with astonishment of a similar place in Caramania. This frith is called Solway frith by both nations from Solway a Scotch town on it. But Ptolemy more properly calls it ITUNA. For the noble river Eiden, which waters Westmoreland and the inner parts of this county, pours the largest quantity of water into it, still mindful of the obstruction it met with from the heaps of Scottish bodies in 1216 drowned in it in their return from England loaded with spoil, when it whelmed that band of marauders in its stream." "..."   goto source Page 173:-  "... [Solway Frith] ... Ptolemy more properly calls it ITUNA. For the noble river Eiden, which waters Westmoreland and the inner parts of this county, pours the largest quantity of water into it, still mindful of the obstruction it met with from the heaps of Scottish bodies in 1216 drowned in it in their return from England loaded with spoil, when it whelmed that band of marauders in its stream."
evidence:-	old map:- Aikin 1790 (Cmd)  placename:-  Solway Frith
source data:-	Map, uncoloured engraving, Cumberland, by John Aikin, London, 1790.   click to enlarge AIK3.jpg "Solway Frith" estuary  item:-  JandMN : 145 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Ptolemy 1793 placename:-  Ituna AEstuarium
source data:-	Map, hand coloured engraving, Albion et Hibernia Britannicae Insulae, from the data of Claudius Ptolemy, 2nd century, on the example of Gerard Mercator, 16th century, scale about 55 miles to 1 inch, engraved by Basire, published for the Society of Antiquaries, 1793.   click to enlarge PTY3Cm.jpg "Ituna AEstuarium" item:-  Hampshire Museums : FA2002.651 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Horsley 1732 placename:-  Ituna AEstuarium placename:-  Solway Firth
source data:-	Map, uncoloured engraving, Britannia Antiqua, roman Britain, scale about 50 miles to 1 inch, by John Horsley, perhaps 1732, edition published about 1869?   click to enlarge HOR1Cm.jpg "Ituna AEstuarium / Solway Firth" item:-  JandMN : 429 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Ptolemy 1578 placename:-  Ituna estuarium
source data:-	Map, hand coloured engraving, Prima Europe tabula, Europe Map 1, Ptolemy map of roman Britain, by Gerard Mercator, 1578.   click to enlarge Pty1Cm.jpg "Ituna estuarium" item:-  private collection : 13 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Cooke 1802 placename:-  Solway Frith placename:-  Eden River
source data:-	Map, Cumberland, scale about 15.5 miles to 1 inch, by George Cooke, 1802, bound in Gray's New Book of Roads, 1824, published by Sherwood, Jones and Co, Paternoster Road, London, 1824.   click to enlarge GRA1Cd.jpg "Solway Frith or Eden R." estuary  item:-  Hampshire Museums : FA2000.62.2 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Cooper 1808 placename:-  Solway Firth
source data:-	Map, uncoloured engraving, Cumberland, scale about 10.5 miles to 1 inch, drawn and engraved by Cooper, published by R Phillips, Bridge Street, Blackfriars, London, 1808.   click to enlarge COP3.jpg "SOLWAY FIRTH" estuary  item:-  JandMN : 86 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Wallis 1810 (Cmd)  placename:-  Solway Firth
source data:-	Road map, hand coloured engraving, Cumberland, scale about 16 miles to 1 inch, by James Wallis, 77 Berwick Stree, Soho, London, 1810.   click to enlarge WL13.jpg "Solway Firth" estuary  item:-  Dove Cottage : 2009.81.10 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Hall 1820 (Cmd)
source data:-	Map, hand coloured engraving, Cumberland, scale about 21 miles to 1 inch, engraved by Sidney Hall, published by S Leigh, 18 Strand, London, 1820-31.   click to enlarge HA14.jpg estuary  item:-  JandMN : 91 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	descriptive text:- Otley 1823 (5th edn 1834)  placename:-  Solway Frith
source data:-	Guide book, A Concise Description of the English Lakes, the mountains in their vicinity, and the roads by which they may be visited, with remarks on the mineralogy and geology of the district, by Jonathan Otley, published by the author, Keswick, Cumberland now Cumbria, by J Richardson, London, and by Arthur Foster, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, 1823; published 1823-49, latterly as the Descriptive Guide to the English Lakes.   goto source Page 40:-  "... the Eden, which enters the Solway Frith a little below Carlisle; ..."
evidence:-	old map:- Perrot 1823 placename:-  Golfe Solway
source data:-	Map, hand coloured engraving, Cumberland and Westmoreland ie Westmorland, scale about 38 miles to 1 inch, by Aristide Michel Perrot, engraved by Migneret, 1823, published by Etienne Ledoux, 9 Rue Guenegaud, Paris, France, 1824-48.   click to enlarge PER2.jpg "G. Solway" estuary  item:-  Dove Cottage : 2007.38.45 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Ford 1839 map placename:-  Solway Firth
source data:-	Map, uncoloured engraving, Map of the Lake District of Cumberland, Westmoreland and Lancashire, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, published by Charles Thurnam, Carlisle, and by R Groombridge, 5 Paternoster Row, London, 3rd edn 1843. FD02NY26.jpg "SOLWAY FIRTH" item:-  JandMN : 100.1 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	text:- Mason 1907 (edn 1930)  placename:-  Solway Frith
source data:-	Text book, The Ambleside Geography Books bk.III, The Counties of England, by Charlotte M Mason, published by Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner and Co, Broadway House, 68-74 Carter Lane, and the Parents' Educational Union Office, 26 Victoria Street, London, edn 1930. MSN1P025.txt Page 25:-  "..." "... The Solway Frith, into which the Eden flows, divides Cumberland from the Scotch county of Dumfries."
evidence:-	old text:- Admiralty 1933 placename:-  Firth of Solway
source data:-	goto source Page 387:-  "..." "FIRTH OF SOLWAY. - General remarks. - Caution. - The Firth of Solway lies between St. Bees head (Lat. 54~ 31' N., Long. 3~ 38' W.), on the Cumberland coast, and Abbey head, in the Scottish county of Kirkcudbright, 19 miles to the north-westward; from these points, the distance up to Annan, where navigation may be said to cease, is about 28 miles. The greater portion of this wide and extensive inlet is encumbered by shifting sandbanks, with deep-water channels between them; north-westward of Silloth it is so inconstant that a large portion is left blank on the chart. The best navigable channel, named English channel, is on the Cumberland side, and is lighted and buoyed; the others are unbuoyed." "South-westerly gales generally cause the highest sea in the firth." "With the wind between SW. and NW., a heavy sea is found as far up as Workington, but it decreases as the vessel proceeds. Having arrived at the entrance to the firth in a south-westerly gale, and being on the English side, a vessel would find but little difficulty in reaching Maryport road, where the sea is reduced by half; or, with careful navigation, even Silloth road; but, as stated below, vessels proceeding above Maryport are recommended to employ a pilot." "Changes in the depths in the Firth of Solway are very rapid, and the chart cannot be considered as a safe guide to navigation. No vessel should attempt to enter the firth in misty weather, without having first sighted St. Bees head or the Two Feet Bank buoy; nor should any vessel, without local knowledge, proceed northward of Maryport roads. The entrance to the firth on the Scottish side, where the banks are farther offshore, and where there are neither leading marks or buoys to guide the seaman, should not be attempted without local knowledge." "Whitehaven, Workington, Maryport and Silloth, all on the English shore, are the chief trading ports in the firth." "Channels. - As stated above, the best navigable channel, and the only one which is buoyed, is English channel, which lies between the shoals that extend seaward from the coast between Harrington and Dubmill point, on the east, and Workington bank, Three Fathoms bank, and Robin Rigg, on the west. This channel carries a least charted depth of 5 1/2 fathoms (10m1), as far northward as a"   goto source Page 388:-  "position about 3 1/2 miles westward of Dubmill point, where it joins the Silloth channel, remarked on page 399." "Middle channel, which lies between Two Feet bank and Robin Rigg, on the south-eastern side, and Dumroof bank, on the north-western side, has a least charted depth of 3 1/2 fathoms (6m4), to a position about 2 miles southward of Southerness point, above which position it becomes, successively, the Dumfries, Barbara and Powfoot channels." "Pilots. - There are Trinity House pilots for Whitehaven, Workington, and Maryport, the pilot cutter, which does not cruise, being stationed at Whitehaven; vessels requiring pilots for any of these places can obtain them off Whitehaven, or may proceed to a point off their destination." "The signal to be made during foggy weather by a vessel requiring a pilot is three long blasts; the reply is one long and two short blasts." "Trinity House pilots for Silloth and Annan can be obtained at Maryport, on application to the Harbour Master at Silloth, or the pilots at Silloth or Annan." "Caution. - The glare at night, caused by the numerous ironworks along the Cumberland coast, is liable to bewilder a stranger, as, at times, it makes the harbour lights difficult to distinguish; the lights from these works are particularly brilliant between St. Bees head (Lat. 54~ 31' N., Long. 3~ 38' W.) and Whitehaven." "Tidal streams. - The tidal stream approaching the Firth of Solway passes inwards through the channel between the northern point of the Isle of Man and Burrow head, on the Wigtownshire coast. The direction and rate of the in-going stream, 5 miles northward of the Isle of Man, is eastward, at 3 knots at springs; half way between the Isle of Man and Burrow head, it is east-north-eastward, at 3 1/4 knots at springs; and 5 mile southward of Burrow head, it is north-eastward at 3 1/2 knots at springs. The corresponding direction and rate at springs of the out-going stream is, westward, at 3 knots; west-south-westward, at 3 1/4 knots; and westward, at 3 1/2 knots. The in-going stream makes to the eastward about 6 1/2 hours after high water at Dover, and turns to the westward soon after high water at Dover; the slack water usually lasts an hour, from the cessation of one stream until the beginning of the next." "The in-going stream divides near St. Bees head, part turning northward into the Firth of Solway, and part to the south-eastward along the Cumberland coast, as described at page 386." "The streams in and out of the Firth of Solway run strongest along the Scottish shore; midway between Abbey head and St. Bees head the maximum rate is 3 1/2 knots at springs. North-eastward of a line joining Abbey head and St. Bees head, the whole area, for a space of 25 miles, is encumbered with sandbanks, through which the rivers discharging into the head of the Firth of Solway maintain two fairly deep channels, the one on the Scottish side being named Middle channel, and the other, on the English side, English channel. Through these channels, the streams run at a maximum rate of 4 knots at springs, the in-going stream at their entrances running from 5 1/4 hours before until three-quarters of an hour after high water"   goto source Page 389:-  "at Dover, which is, practically, the same time as on the shore, and the out-going from three-quarters of an hour after high water until 5 hours before the following high water." "About 10 miles north-eastward of the entrance, the streams are later. See table of "Tidal Streams" on chart 1346." "The principal tidal flow into and out of the Firth of Solway is through Middle channel and thence by Dumfries, Barbara and Powfoot channels. Immediately off Southerness point is a deep channel, through which the streams run at a rate of 5 knots, at springs, and of 3 knots at neaps, and these rates continue or increase in the Dumfries and Powfoot channels, leading to the entrance of the River Annan, off which springs occasionally attain a rate of 6 knots, and near which the in-going stream runs for 4 hours only, whilst the out-going stream runs for 8 hours." "The scars or stone banks which extend westward from Dubmill point, about midway between Maryport and Silloth, obstruct the tidal flow, so that there is but little tidal stream in Allonby bay, and from thence northward to Silloth, whilst the banks northward of the scars are covered, only the last of the in-going and the first of the out-going streams being felt in these parts." "Similarly, Southerness point, which projects more than 2 miles from the general line of the coast on the opposite side of the firth, creates slack water on either side of it, and favours the formation of sandbanks." "..." "Southern side of Firth of Solway. - Coast. - The cliffs for a distance of about one mile northward of St. Bees head are of sandstone, with several quarries in them; farther northward, both the coast cliffs and the high land in the rear have a gradual descent. Whitehaven is situated about 2 1/2 miles northward of St. Bees head, and between is Saltom bay." "Saltom bay is skirted by oyster grounds, and depths of less than 3 fathoms (5m5) extend about half a mile offshore." "Anchorage. - Saltom bay affords a good anchorage with offshore winds. The depths of the approach to Whitehaven are regular,"   goto source Page 390:-  "and anchorage may be taken up about 5 cables off, and abreast of the entrance, in depths of from 5 to 6 fathoms (9m1 to 11m0), sand."
	BMB09.jpg  Courtesy of the Hope and Anchor, Port Carlisle BMB10.jpg  Courtesy of the Hope and Anchor, Port Carlisle BMB11.jpg  Courtesy of the Hope and Anchor, Port Carlisle Click to enlarge CBM56.jpg  Courtesy of the Highland Laddie, Glasson Click to enlarge CBM58.jpg  Courtesy of the Highland Laddie, Glasson
	Haaf netting is a norwegian way of fishing for salmon and sea trout. The fisherman stands in the flooding tide with the large square nets on a pole framework. When a fish enters the nets the fisherman heaves the net over the pole to trap the fish.
	Jenkins, J Geraint: 1974: Nets and Coracles: David and Charles (Newton Abbot, Devon):: ISBN 0 7153 6546 0
evidence:-	outline view:- Jenkinson 1875 placename:-  Solway Firth
source data:-	Print, lithograph, outline view, Panoramic Sketches from Helvellyn, Westmorland, by Edwin A Pettitt, London, published by Edward Stanford, 55 Charing Cross, London, 1875.   click to enlarge Jk01E1.jpg "... Solway Firth ..." item:-  JandMN : 28.5 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	outline view:- Jenkinson 1875 placename:-  Solway Firth
source data:-	Print, lithograph, outline view, Panoramic Sketches from Skiddaw, Cumberland, by Edwin A Pettitt, London, published by Edward Stanford, 55 Charing Cross, London, 1875.   click to enlarge Jk01E2.jpg "... Solway Firth ..." item:-  JandMN : 28.8 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old painting:-  item:-  boat
source data:-	Painting, watercolour, The Solway looking towards Scotland, perhaps at Allonby or Port Carlisle? Cumberland, by William James Blacklock, 1850-58?   click to enlarge PR0952.jpg In foreground three figures wait beside two small boats pulled onto the foreshore of an estuary. Small whitewashed building stands to right of composition. This is possibly a view of Allonby  item:-  Tullie House Museum : 1946.67.22 Image © Tullie House Museum
evidence:-	old print:-  placename:-  Solway, The
source data:-	Print, uncoloured engraving, The Solway from Harrington Harbour, Cumberland, drawn by W H Bartlett, engraved by R Brandard, published by George Virtue, 26 Ivy Lane, London, 1841.   click to enlarge PR0076.jpg Probably from Findens Views of the Ports, Harbours, Coast Scenery, and Watering Places of Great Britain, as continued by W H Bartlett.  printed at bottom left, right, centre:-  "W. H. Bartlett. / R. Brandard. / THE SOLWAY / (from Harrington Harbour.) / London: Published for the Proprietors, by Geo: Virtue, 26, Ivy Lane, 1841." item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.76 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old painting:-  item:-  boat; packet boat; steam ship; flotsam
source data:-	Painting, oil painting, The Packet Boat Cumberland; A Storm on the Firth, Solway Firth off Cumberland, by Joseph Heard, about 1840.   click to enlarge PR0840.jpg A packet boat is tossed upon a stormy sea, its sails furled. The silvery glow of a full moon illuminates the troughs of the waves. Part of the boat's cargo of sacks has been swept overboard and floats beside and behind it.  item:-  Tullie House Museum : 1920.11.2 Image © Tullie House Museum
evidence:-	old print:-
source data:-	Print, Solway Wildfowler, by Joseph W Simpson, 1925-29.   click to enlarge PR1210.jpg Half length depiction of a wildfowler, middle aged, facing left, his head turned to regard the viewer. He wears waterproofs and rests a rifle under his left arm. He is seen against a background of flat marshland.  signed at bottom right:-  "Joseph Simpson" item:-  Tullie House Museum : 1978.108.67 Image © Tullie House Museum
hearsay:-	Alexander II King of Scotland crossed the Solway by a 'wath', a ford, in 1216, after a raid into Cumberland. He was caught by a flood tide, and 1900 of his men were drowned.

  Lakes Guides menu.

---