Unlike many of the towns and villages in the AONB which date back to mediaeval or earlier times, Arnside is relatively young. Before 1800, there were only around 25 dwellings, mostly Inns, farms or concerned with ships and ship building.  The arrival of the railway in 1857 changed everything. Firstly, the viaduct started the process of silting the estuary, reducing the maritime trade as ships no longer headed up to the port at Milnthorpe. Secondly, although shipbuilding remained a major local trade into the 20^th century, increasingly Arnside was a holiday and leisure destination. From the 1870s a combination of legislation that required houses to be built with their own water capture and the arrival of piped water from 1881 meant public wells and water pumps were less necessary. However, two former water sources can still be found:

Arnside Village Pump

Location: SD 456 787, w3w///heartburn.youth.lows

This spring in the centre of Arnside can still be seen – just about. If you look carefully at the wall where Church Hill joins Silverdale Road, just past the Albion public house & restaurant, even in the driest of weather you will see a green wet area as the spring seeps out into the road. This was the site of a trough which the spring flowed into for the free use of Arnside residents. In the 1870s the owner of the house on the corner had a stone wall built and paid for the well to be cleaned. It is possible that this is also the time that the cast iron pump was added.

‘Kent Villa and pump’ Reproduced with kind permission from the Arnside Archive.

As the main source of water for householders in the area, the pump became less important, but remained in place at least until the 1920s . A picture from the Arnside Archives captured around 1910 shows an enterprising child creating his own mini boating lake! The pump is long since gone, but the original trough is now used as a flowerbed in the seating area near to the public conveniences.

‘Beachwood’ Spring

Location: SD 451 784, w3w///paves.betrayed.guidebook

This spring outlet does not have a name, but it supplied the homesteads at Beachwood, and if you have ever wandered along the waterfront towards the sailing club you will have stepped over the water as it runs down into the estuary. Just past the Beach Hut café and the Coastguard station, walking in the direction of the Bob-in café, there is a strong retaining wall with steps to Beachwood Nature Reserve which you can walk though. At the base of this wall is stone opening and trough.

‘Beachwood’ Well. Image: Janet Hargreaves

Beachwood – the large house facing onto the waterfront, was built in 1770 and once owned the waterfront, Grubbins wood and the land leading up to what is now Redhills road. A spring flowed through this area, was captured in a tank where the Beachwood Nature Reserve is and finally flowed out into the estuary through the outlet that remains today. In 1849 the then owners enclosed the area and charged other local residents rent to access the water source.

Arnside Water Fountain

Location: SD 456 788, w3w///patch.estimates.blur

In the early 20^th century, Arnside was a popular destination for day trippers by train, and for people staying in the many guest houses. They came to promenade along the waterfront or to walk up onto the Knott, and the surrounding woodland, with spectacular views over the lake district and, in season, masses of Lilly of the Valley flowers. In 1904 a family tragedy led to the provision of a water Fountain which can still be seen at the bottom of Silverdale Road.

Dr Grosvenor was the local GP and owned Grosvenor house, which is still on the promenade just beyond the water fountain. Their son, Richard, who was born in July 1899 died from the complications of appendicitis in 1904. In memory of Richard, his grandparents had the memorial fountain built. It is touching that they chose a memorial that was thoughtful and welcoming of visitors. It  must have been a popular spot for thirsty walkers to stop and either take a drink from the cup, attached by a chain, or to fill their own water bottle. Sadly, the fountain is no longer in use, but it remains a landmark where people rest awhile to take in the view and rendezvous with friends.

Fountain at Arnside Prom: Reproduced with kind permission from the Arnside Archive.

by Janet Hargreaves

Further reading

Bradbury, Dennis (2002) Arnside: A Guide and Community History. (Available from the Arnside Archive)

The Arnside Archives