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| March 2016 | A series of listings with background information relating to people and accidents that had occurred in the mines and pits added |
The purpose of this site is to record a host of information relating to the village of Bigrigg in West Cumbria, UK. A number of sources have been used and credits given where possible.
It contains documents, maps and photographs (old & new), some of which need names to faces, places etc.
If anyone has any further information regarding Bigrigg, either corrections, updates or new material please get in touch and I shall include it and acknowledge the source.
Bigriggs' proper name is Bigrigg Moor.
Sitting on the A595 road that leads from Whitehaven to Egremont, Bigrigg melds into the surrounding farmland. Deep hollows in the area attest to iron ore mining as far back as medieval times. Bigrigg's Hematite deposits were considered to be of the highest quality.
The area is surrounded by old Iron Ore mines dating back some 200 years.
Deep hollows in the area attest to iron ore mining as far back as medieval times, indeed, shafts occasionally open up and have to be capped.The junction of the
St Bees-Woodend and Whitehaven-Egremont road was the scene of high mining activity.
By 1829, there were three different companies mining eight pits in the area. Iron ore mining continued to expand from this time. Further encouragement for mining resulted when the railway was constructed in the late 1850's.
Pits often flooded due to the proximity of the River Ehen, in nearby Egremont, so the mining companies diverted the river. By the late 1800's some mines were closing in the area while others continued to open. In 1924 a mine disaster at the Croft Pit in Bigrigg trapped ten men for 28 hours before they were rescued. By 1932 all the mines were closed.
St John's Church in the village was built in 1878-80 in the Decorated style. Its stained glass memorial windows are by Charles Kempe.
| Bigrigg
-
Bigrigg (1235); Bygrig, Bigrigg -ryg, Byggerik (1295); Biggerig
(1342); Bigrigshagh (1365). |
"Ridge
where
barley grows" as opposed to grazing land - see Scalegill. |
| Glints
-
Clynt; Clint hill (1675); |
klint. |
| Gutterby
-
Godrikeby; Godrickeby (1235);
Goderikby (1312); Godrigby
(1378); Guderby (1500); Goodrigbye (1590); Godricsby.
i.e
Godrik's (personal name) |
homestead. |
| Linethwaite
-
Lynthwayt (1338); Lynthwaite (1500); |
"flax
clearing"
commonly grouped with the Bigrigg/Moor Row area
for geographical, postal and social reasons. |
| Pallaflat
-
Pallaflat(t) (1578) |
believed
to
be flatt (land = meadow) of Palla (medieval personal name) |
| Park
House
(1322). |
possible
origin
"park of Egremound" |
| Scalegill
-
Scalgaill (1321); Scalegilen
(1338); Scagill, Skalegille
(1363); Skalegyll (1500); Skellgill (1578);
Skaylgille nigh St. Bees (1656) |
summer
grazing
by the gill up from St. Bees. |
| Woodend
-
Wodend (1387); Wodehend (1338). |
possibly
"skali"
- clearly wood-end |
