Meathop and Ulpha

In the first written record of Meathop and Ulpha in 1184. Meathop was occupied by Viking settlers or their ancestors. It was at the time in Lancashire, Orme son of Thore gave to the hospital of Cockersand two acres of salt pans. Salt pans were used for evaporating salt water to obtain salt, a precious commodity during The Middle Ages.(]) Ten of them were still in operation in 1659, and there is still a field called Salt-Cote, close to the sea to-day.

As an example of what was grown in 1612, James I granted the property of Meathop & Ulpha with all tithes of corn, grain, hay, flax, hemp, wool and lambs to Francis Duckett of Grayrigg for long and faithful service. He also granted a 'free warren' in the demesne land of Midhop (Meathop) to Thomas de Pickering, including the red deer, roe deer and wild boar, pheasants, partridges, woodcock and plover, all reckoned to be animals and fowls of the warren.(2)

Meathop Woods were well established by the thirteenth century and there are various leases that bear this out. Pannage, the right to feed swine in the forest and to wintering the yearling sheep (hoggs) in the woods.(3) Quarrying for limestone seems to have been another occupation, mainly in the eighteenth century, for making lime. The woods have been extensively used for charcoal, bark for tanning, the making of barrel hoops and other minor products.(4) Meathop Hall is seen here in the photograph, its origin unknown, but it has been altered over the years but the round chimney pots show it is very old. It has recently been converted into two flats.

In the 1900 the main landowners were Maurice Bromley Wilson Esq, Dallam Tower, Mrs. Williams of Nantwich and the Rev C.G. Townley. In 1891 the Westmorland Consumption Sanatorium was built as a convalescent home, and was converted to a larger Sanatorium at a cost of £1200 and opened in 1900. This was to admit anyone from the Westmorland area, with an addition of people from outside the boundary at 2 guineas a week. It was the same year that Meathop and Ulpha joined with the parish of Witherslack, although the vicar of Beetham was non too keen, and the tithes of Meathop & Ulpha had to stay with Beetham until there was a new incumbent.

Meathop Sanatorium was built in two sections, one for men and one for women, with additions for staff. The number of male patients taken was 88. The women's block was built about 1909 and was for 59 patients. The expected length of life in the hospital would be about 6 months and on average 40 deaths a year could be expected from such a Sanatorium.(6)

In 1928 reclaimed land was pegged out for further development as a garden estate with a railway station to serve the east of Grange, when a violent storm raged and the whole area was flooded. Brogden Bank was breached and sea-water covered the area, and it was decided to abandon the development! There have been several attempts to utilise this ground but they have come to nothing. In 1962 the WRVS set up a trolley service at the hospital, run mostly by members of the Women's 1nstitute. The photograph was taken in 1988, in the Parish Hall.(7)

With better housing conditions, diet and modern drugs, consumption became a thing of the past and the hospital was closed down in the 1990's and sold off to become a housing estate. To-day Meathop and Ulpha have become a place for holidays, with the caravan park and hotel. It is being further developed with houses.

1. Satche11. E Dr. ART. VIII -A History of Meathop Woods. Part 2 The Middle Ages - To The Present. p87

2. Ibid

3. Ibid p97 4. Ibid p98

5. See photograph

6. From a report dated 29.12.1902 Kendal Library 7.