Sandscale Haws
Encyclopedia
Sandscale Haws is a National Nature Reserve
on the Duddon Estuary
, Cumbria
, England. It is managed by the National Trust
. The reserve's sand dunes support a population of Natterjack Toad
s, a species which is nationally rare in Britain.
Sandscale Haws was formerly a separate Site of Special Scientific Interest
, but it has been amalgamated with other SSSIs in the Duddon Estuary. The Duddon Estuary is a Special Protection Area
.
Sandscale brick and tile works appears on the 1850 OS map
.
The Sandscale Mining Company was formed in 1877 by members of the Millom & Askham Company. The lease was signed by the then landowner Thomas Woodburne. Thomas Woodburne also built Sandscale cottages in 1882, which were rented to the mine captains. The mines were taken over by Kennedy Brothers in 1893 and worked until 1905 but the pumps were kept running at Sandscale No2 to assist atRoanhead
. The steam pumping engine was replaced by an electric pump in 1928. The headgear was removed and the shaft covered in 1937.
Myles Burton Kennedy
trained the local yeomanry here, the range can be seen on the 1905 OS map.
During the war, the dunes were used as a decoy site and several brick structures remain from this period.
In 1954 the estate was bought by British Cellophane
who built the present farmhouse and demolished the old one. Shortly before BCL Barrow was closed, the present nature reserve was sold to the National Trust by Courtaulds.
National Nature Reserve
For details of National nature reserves in the United Kingdom see:*National Nature Reserves in England*National Nature Reserves in Northern Ireland*National Nature Reserves in Scotland*National Nature Reserves in Wales...
on the Duddon Estuary
Duddon Estuary
The Duddon Estuary is the sandy, gritty estuary of the River Duddon that lies between Morecambe Bay and the west Cumbrian coast.It opens into the Irish Sea to the north of the Furness peninsula; Walney Island forming part of its southern edge...
, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, England. It is managed by the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
. The reserve's sand dunes support a population of Natterjack Toad
Natterjack Toad
The Natterjack Toad is a toad native to sandy and heathland areas of Europe. Adults are 60–70 mm in length and are distinguished from Common Toads by a yellow line down the middle of the back...
s, a species which is nationally rare in Britain.
Sandscale Haws was formerly a separate Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
, but it has been amalgamated with other SSSIs in the Duddon Estuary. The Duddon Estuary is a Special Protection Area
Special Protection Area
A Special Protection Area or SPA is a designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and certain particularly threatened birds.Together with Special...
.
Sandscale brick and tile works appears on the 1850 OS map
.
The Sandscale Mining Company was formed in 1877 by members of the Millom & Askham Company. The lease was signed by the then landowner Thomas Woodburne. Thomas Woodburne also built Sandscale cottages in 1882, which were rented to the mine captains. The mines were taken over by Kennedy Brothers in 1893 and worked until 1905 but the pumps were kept running at Sandscale No2 to assist atRoanhead
Roanhead
Roanhead refers to the limestone outcrop of Roanhead Crag and the farmland behind it, but in recent years the term has been taken to mean the sandy beaches ajoining Sandscale Haws extending to Snab Point, and as this meaning is used on official websites, it must be accepted.The Irish Sea lies to...
. The steam pumping engine was replaced by an electric pump in 1928. The headgear was removed and the shaft covered in 1937.
Myles Burton Kennedy
Myles Burton Kennedy
Myles Burton Kennedy was a Furness ironmaster, proprietor of Roanhead mines and chairman of the North Lonsdale Iron & Steel Co.-Parentage:...
trained the local yeomanry here, the range can be seen on the 1905 OS map.
During the war, the dunes were used as a decoy site and several brick structures remain from this period.
In 1954 the estate was bought by British Cellophane
British Cellophane
British Cellophane Ltd was a joint venture company formed in 1935 between La Cellophane SA and Courtaulds, when they began building a major factory for producing Cellophane in Bridgwater, Somerset, England....
who built the present farmhouse and demolished the old one. Shortly before BCL Barrow was closed, the present nature reserve was sold to the National Trust by Courtaulds.