Flakebridge


Flakebridge is a woodland and small hamlet in the Eden District, Cumbria, England, south-west from the village of Dufton and east from the town of Appleby-in-Westmorland.

Location and geography

The hamlet is situated in Flakebridge Wood, which has several footpaths. The Wood itself covers and from north to south measures. The Forest is composed mainly of medium to large coniferous trees, small pines and large deciduous trees such as oak, beech and some ash. A number of streams such as Keisley beck run through the Forest. The hamlet is located on the western edge of the Forest, consisting of three to four buildings and houses.

History

In the past, the Wood has been much smaller than it is today. In Thomas Jeffrey's 1770 map of Westmorland, Flakebridge Wood appears to be only a third of its current size. There is no empirical survey evidence of Flakebridge Wood existing before this point, however possible woodland is featured on Christopher Saxton’s 1579 map of Westmorland and Cumberland in the modern Flakebridge area.
The Hamlet is not marked or cannot be found in any historic maps, as a result, the Hamlet's date of founding or history remains unknown.
There is physical evidence of a small house or settlement on the eastern edge of the Wood, nearby Burthwaite Farm, however, its origin or age remains unknown due to a lack of ruins or specific archeological evidence.

Tourism

There are several footpaths in Flakebridge Wood making it a popular walking destination. Flakebridge is also popular for hunting, particularly Pheasants. High Cup Nick and the Pennine Way can also be found nearby.