Ravenglass is situated on the tranquil west coast of Cumbria. The Romans built a fort here to help protect Hadrian's Wall to the north. Therefore, Ravenglass is the beginning of the Roman Western Frontier. The walls of the Bath House still stand today and can be reached on foot by following the signs from the village car park.

Many years ago before the rivers began to silt up this was an important port with vessels trading from across the world. Ravenglass, along with its craftsmen, dealers, farmers and fishermen all prospered. Nowadays the village is better known for being close to Muncaster Castle and the home of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.

However, Ravenglass is more than just a railway station. It is a very interesting place with its main street, which narrows at both ends to help contain the animals that were brought here to the market, and the many varied cottages, all with a tale to tell.

In 1208 Ravenglass was first granted a Charter to hold a market in Main Street and a fair each summer on St. James's Day. There was a cross in the street but that was taken away many years ago. Today there is a plaque to mark the spot where it is thought to have been.

The above text was complied for Ravenglass Village Forum by Ann Edwards and Shirley Broadhurst

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Ravenglass is sited on a peninsular in the estuarial confluence of the rivers Esk, Mite and Irt, a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under European Union legislation regarding the mobile dune environment and special biodiversity.
Ravenglass Coastal Partnership:
RCP is a partnership of twelve organisations - land owners and managers, community representatives, and involved regulatory bodies - for the area of the Drigg Coast Special Area of Conservation (SAC), with a focus on the three rivers and coastal areas of the Ravenglass estuary.

The Drigg Local Nature Reserve is part of the Drigg Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

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Ravenglass Village Forum

We are a voluntary body first formed in July 1999. Our aims are:

* to improve the visual, social and economic environment of the village of Ravenglass by consulting and acting with the residents of the village, the Lake District National Park Authority, local government bodies and other interested parties
* to educate
* and to conserve and make known to the public the historic and built heritage of the village of Ravenglass.

We are an independent body but on many of our projects we work with Muncaster Parish Council, which is our statutory Local Government body.

Our website is at www.ravenglassforum.org.uk/

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WEVA, the Western Valleys Twinning Association
WEVA has been set up to foster relations between the Ravenglass, Eskdale, Wasdale and surrounding areas with other communities. WEVA has signed a formal Twinning Charter with St Martin d'Auxigny near Bourges in France to promote a variety of cultural, sporting, educational, social and personal activities.

For more information contact David Killick on 019467 26258 or email killick.wasdale@btinternet.com

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Austrobear:
Doll and Teddy Bear collector and restoration service located in Ravenglass.
Dolls and Teddys bought, sold and restored. If your doll or teddy needs some TLC bring it to Ravenglass with you and we can give you a free appraisal and estimate for repairs. Minor repairs may be possible while you're in the area. A prior appointment is essential.

You can contact us from our website at www.austrobear.co.uk

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The Centre for Complementary Care, Eskdale ...

Location approximately 1 mile from Ravenglass

Based in a handsome former vicarage on the very edge of Muncaster Fell above the old fishing port of Ravenglass in Cumbria, the Centre for Complementary Care is a place of peace and healing in the beautiful Lake District National Park.

Gretchen Stevens originally chose a converted barn down a lonely single-track road in which to open her ground-breaking centre. In the autumn of 2003 it moved to new premises above Muncaster Castle from where it both continues and expands its work of offering non-judgmental support, information and treatment for the relief of sickness, pain, fear and sorrow.
Tel/Fax: (+44) 01229 717355
Email: admin@cccare.org
You can contact us from our website at www.cccare.org/

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The Old Butcher's Shop Gift & Craft Centre:
The Old Butcher's Shop has been established since 1998. We stock a selection of quality Ravenglass souvenirs and a large range of other gifts and crafts, many not found in other gift shops. All are sourced with care given to quality and value for money.
Main Street, Ravenglass, CA18 1SQ.
Tel/Fax 01229 717273
website at www.ravenglassgifts.co.uk

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The West Cumbria Bat Group
has close ties with the World Owl Trust and aims to help protect bats in the area. For more information about the group or to discuss batty issues contact Hillary at the Owl Centre or Neil Robson on 01229 717344 or the Bat Hotline on 017687 76911

The World Owl Trust

Located in the grounds of Muncaster Castle

Find out more about World Owl Trust on the Things to See and Do page.


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Schools

Waberthwaite C of E Primary School:
This is the catchment school for Ravenglass

Our website is at www.waberthwaite.cumbria.sch.uk
Email: head@waberthwaite.cumbria.sch.uk

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St. Michael and All Angels Church Muncaster:
Services:
1st & 3rd Sundays 11am Holy Communion
4th Sunday 6pm Evening Song Followed by Holy Communion

The Parish Church for Ravenglass is situated in the grounds of Muncaster Castle, and is a Grade 1 listed building dating back to the 12th century. The Church underwent extensive restoration during 1998/99 and now has a warm tranquil atmosphere. The parish of Muncaster is part of the more extensive benefice of Eskdale

Rev. Anne Baker assisted by her husband Rev. Cannon Jim Baker. M.B.E. (retired)
Telephone No. 019467 23242

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Ravenglass Village has a railway station with trains running to Carlisle in the north and Barrow, Lancaster and Preston in the South. There are no train services after early evening and there is no Sunday service.
A bus service operates through Muncaster Parish daily between Whitehaven and Muncaster Castle. The bus also provides a replacement for the Sunday trains when the service continues South to Barrow. These services are augmented by the Muncaster Microbus which caters for regular shopping trips to Seascale and Whitehaven and other services by arrangement. www.muncastermicrobus.co.uk

Anyone wanting to reach Eskdale is able to do so using the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway which runs a daily service March to the end of October and some winter periods; otherwise, an alternative form of transport has to be used.

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