The Corpse Roads of Cumbria : Featuring Walks Along The County’s Ancient Paths

Criss-crossing the Cumbrian landscape are many trods, paths, lonnings and other ancient trackways. Included among these are several corpse roads.

The enigmatic name hints at their curious origins. These paths were used until the 18th Centruy to transport coffins from remote villages to the ‘mother’ church – often many miles away. Eventually villagers petitioned for their own churches but the corpse roads remained in people’s memories. A few are still marked on Ordnance Survey maps and are even signposted but other are just half-remembered legends. Alan Cleaver and Lesley Park have researched these paths in the hope they revive an interest in these most ancient routes.

Revised full colour edition.