Old Cumbria Gazetteer

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	ford, Waberthwaite
site name:-	Esk, River (2)
locality:-	Hall Waberthwaite
civil parish:-	Waberthwaite (formerly Cumberland)
civil parish:-	Muncaster (formerly Cumberland)
county:-	Cumbria
locality type:-	ford
coordinates:-	SD09809501
1Km square:-	SD0995
10Km square:-	SD09
	BQK54.jpg  Perhaps the site of the ford; this is just the minor channel to cross; low tide. (taken 17.4.2009)   Click to enlarge BQK55.jpg  The River Esk below the ford, roughly. Tide out. (taken 17.4.2009)
evidence:-	old text:- Gents Mag placename:-  St Michael's Ford item:-  stepping stones
source data:-	Magazine, The Gentleman's Magazine or Monthly Intelligencer or Historical Chronicle, published by Edward Cave under the pseudonym Sylvanus Urban, and by other publishers, London, monthly from 1731 to 1922.   goto source Gentleman's Magazine 1907 part 1 p.169  "..." "The origin of Muncaster [Castle] fades away into the mists of tradition. The original Roman Tower was said to have been built to guard St. Michael's ford over the Esk, which is just below the castle, as a bridge has been built "by men of"
evidence:-	old text:- Gents Mag 1907
source data:-	goto source Gentleman's Magazine 1907 part 1 p.170  "Grasmere." Formerly the river was crossed by means of stepping-stones at low tide. As the two churches of Muncaster and Waberthwaite, on opposite sides of the river, were served by the same cleric, the reverend gentleman had to fit in his discourse with the state of the tide, and it is related that on more then one occasion he was urged by the clerk to hasten as the tide was coming in over the bar." "..."
hearsay:-	The last people to attempt the ford by horse and carriage were on their way to the flower show at Muncaster Castle, mid 20th century? The horse had to swim, and the trap floated behind. Shifting sands and movement of the channels in storms have made the crossing impossible.

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