Cartmel Milestone

There were two major Sands crossings: the one across the Kent Estuary from Hest Bank to Flookburgh, and the one across the Leven Estuary from Holker to Ulverston. This early 19th-century milestone shows the saving in mileage if one goes across the sands, but unfortunately not how far it would be by road: probably 52 miles to Lancaster (via Underbarrow and Kendal if the causeway was impassable), and 16½ miles to Ulverston (information courtesy of Google Maps calculator). Worth saving, if you are cautious and know your tides and quicksands. But even the locals could be caught out. Miles Hubbersty of Underbarrrow was drowned crossing the sands in 1675:

And Inasmuch as the outward bodys of good as well as evill Men are lieable to the like dangers & ends, The Lord, who is Infinit in Wisdome, permitted it to be that as the said Miles was rideing over The Sands wth severall in Company, he fell of his horse into the water, and allthough some in the Company did venture theire lives to save his, yet was then drowned; and allthough his end hapened thus, doubts not of his well being.

Image © Meg Twycross

Close window to return