No staycation in or sightseeing trip to the Eden district of Cumbria would be complete without spending a few hours in the small but beautifully formed village of Dacre. It is close enough to Penrith to make it an easy trip out. It is also home to one of Cumbria’s Grade I listed Churches and even has its own castle! If that’s not enough to tempt you how about its close proximity to Lake Ullswater and the fact that there is a pub that dates back to the 18th Century.
We are sure this has to whet your appetite, so read on while we give you an overview of this picturesque place…
Dacre The Early Days
The earliest records of Dacre comes from the historic text the Ecclesiastical History of the English People, written in 731 AD. This makes reference to there having been a monastery here which was probably destroyed in the Viking raids of the time. However, the village retained some religious significance and it is thought that St Andrew’s Church is built on the site.
Image Laplacemat, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Speaking of St Andrew’s Church It is the Grade I listed one we mentioned above and is of Norman design. It is thought to date from the 12th Century, around when this would have been a largely rural place. with the local populace dependent on agriculture.
When the Domesday Survey was commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, most of Cumbria was outside his realm hence we could find no reference to the village. However, some Norman influence must have arisen given the chirches design.
Dacre Castle
Photo © Jim Barton (cc-by-sa/2.0)
Skipping a few hundred years to the 14th Century and we see Dacre Castle constructed, which is almost impossible not to spot when entering the village This was built in 1307 after Edward II granted Lord Dacre the right. This would have come in handy against those pesky Scottish raids which were not uncommon at the time. The castle and lands pretty much remained with the Dacre family until 1634 when the incumbent Randal Dacre died.
The castle then briefly returned to the Crown before being returned to the family. Lord Dacre, 1st Earl of Sussex was the last peer to own the castle estate and after he died in 1717 it slowly fell into disrepair. Fortunately, it was extensively repaired in the 1960s and today it is a private dwelling.
Listed Buildings
There is a couple of additional listed building of note, these being the schoolhouse which was built in 1749 and of course, the famed Pub which we have elaborated a little more on below. One thing to look out for when in the area is a number of farmhouses and other dwellings which retain their traditional features of green slate and roughcast walling something that gives the area its character.
Horse and Farrier Inn & Stables
This is for many the main attraction listed building wise and dates from at least the 18th Century and some parts possibly earlier. It would have been built to accommodate the growing number of stagecoaches using the area hence its name. Nowadays it is a rather cosy public house that has retained its character with a traditional slate roof and roughcast walls. It is well worth a visit!
Modern Dacre
Dacre as well as being a village in its own right is now a parish. The Dacre Parish encompasses several other villages & hamlets including Stainton, Redhills, Newbiggin, Great Blencow and Soulby. They form part of the Penrith commuter belt and at the 2011 census, there were 1,438 people living in the parish as a whole.
Things to see
We have already mentioned the main things, however, there are some others things that you will need to tick off your list to do the village justice. Starting with…
The Four Bears
Rosser1954, CC BY-SA 3.0
These are a group of four carved sandstone bears residing in St Andrew’s Church. They stand in each of the four corners and at about 4ft high are quite impressive. They are thought to mark out the bounds of the old original Medieval Churchyard. These are all Grade II listed.
Dacre Bridge
Photo Jim Barton / Dacre Bridge
This is an 18th-century single arch sandstone bridge that spans Dacre Beck. Probably a road bridge back in the 1700s, it is now a footbridge on a rather pleasant walk. It is also used by the flood information service as a warning gauge. You can check the level here.
Dailmain House
Historic Dailmain House is only a couple of miles away and there are signposted walks that will take you to it. The World’s Original Marmalade Awards are held here each year so if you are a fan of the orange stuff you might want to make June your month to visit.
Out and About Around Dacre
There is an abundance of wildlife to see as well as some wonderful scenery which the photo below is typical. So if you are a twitcher or simply love the great outdoors you might want to consider a staycation in the locale. Fortunately, there are plenty of choices and of course, Penrith is only a few miles away.
Image: ATGImages/Shutterstock.com
Finally, fly fishing is available in Dacre Beck where you could catch a nice brown trout or two. However much of it is controlled by Penrith Anglers, so please get in touch with them if you fancy wetting a line.
Fancy Staying Here?
Looking for a relaxing staycation? Well, there is a holiday cottage in the village Rose Farm which looks idyllic.
So there we have it! That’s our quick guide to the picturesque Cumbrian village of Dacre. If you enjoyed reading this article why not have a look at some of our other Cumbrian guides? Or, maybe you’d like to have a go at one of our Cumbrian Quizzes. You could be surprised at what you might learn!
