BOWNESS, Cumberland - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

"BOWNESS, (or Boulness), a parish in Cumberland ward, in the county of Cumberland, 12 miles to the W. of Carlisle, its post town, and 10 N. of Wigton. It is situated on the south coast of the Solway Frith, on a rocky promontory, where the Carlisle Ship canal terminates. Drumburgh station of the Carlisle and Silloth, and Port Carlisle railway is about 3 miles distant. The parish includes the townships of Anthorn, Bowness, Drumburgh, and Fingland. The Solway is here 2 miles broad, and, from the accumulation of sand at its mouth, can be crossed at low water on foot. Opposite to Bowness is Annan, in Dumfriesshire. The great wall of Severus terminated at a point a little eastward of the village, where was the station Tunnocelum. The wall of Hadrian did not extend quite so far, but terminated near Drumburgh, at the station called Gabrosentum. The village stands on a rock projecting into the Solway, of which it commands a good prospect. The living is a rectory's in the diocese of Carlisle, of the value of £393, in the patronage of the Earl of Lonsdale. The church, a small ancient building, is dedicated to St. Michael. The parochial charities, including a free school, endowed by Thomas Pattinson in 1785, produce £24 per annum. Remains of the Roman wall still exist, and many coins and other relics have been found. Stone from the wall was used in the erection of the church and many private houses. The parish of Bowness is very extensive, and comprises an area of 17,947 acres. The name Bowness is applied to the peninsula bounded on the N. and W. by the Frith, and on the S. by Wampool Bay, as well as to the village." "ANTHORN, a township in the parish of Bowness, in the ward and county of Cumberland, 7 miles to the N. of Wigton. It lies at the mouth of the river Wampool, and near Anthorn lake." "DRUMBURGH, a township in the parish of Bowness, ward and county of Cumberland, 32 miles S.E. of Bowness, and 8½ from Carlisle by the Carlisle and Silloth branch of the North British railway, on which it is a station. It is the site of the Roman station Gabrosentum, the seventeenth or last station but one on Severus's wall. The fort is about 110 yards square, and is surrounded by a deep ditch and high ramparts. The site is now an orchard and garden to Drumburgh Castle, which was built from the ruins of the fort and wall. Some altars and inscriptions here were brought from another spot. There is a school endowed with £7 per annum." "FINGLAND, a township in the parish of Bowness, ward and county of Cumberland, 5 miles S.E. of Bowness, and the same distance N. of Wigton. The river Wampool flows through the neighbourhood. There is a National school."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]