- Source: Blennerhasset and Torpenhow
Blennerhasset and Torpenhow is a civil parish in Cumbria, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 437, reducing to 423 at the 2011 Census. It includes the villages of Blennerhasset grid reference NY178415 and Torpenhow at NY202397 and the smaller settlement of Kirkland Guards at NY187401. It is located just outside the Lake District National Park. Baggrow railway station was immediately north of Blennerhasset.
The local pronunciation of Torpenhow is trə-PEN-ə (), rather than the more intuitive TOR-pen-how (). Blennerhasset is pronounced blen-RAY-sit () instead of BLEN-ər-hass-it () as would be expected outside of Cumbria.
St Michael's Church, Torpenhow has a Norman chancel arch with a remarkable carving of interlocking human figures, and a painted wooden ceiling.
Toponymy
The name Blennerhasset derives from the Brittonic blaen dre, meaning "hill farm", with the later addition of Old Norse hey sætr, "hay shieling". Similarly, Torpenhow derives from the Brittonic tor pen, meaning "peak head" or "end of the high ground", to which the Old English word hōh ("hill spur") has been added. Alternatively, Torpenhow may be an entirely Brittonic name incorporating a plural suffix.
Governance
Blennerhasset and Torpenhow is part of the Workington constituency of the UK parliament. The current Member of Parliament is Mark Jenkinson, a member of the Conservative Party. Prior to the 2019 general election, the Labour Party had won the seat in every general election since 1979; the Conservative Party had previously only been elected once in Workington since the Second World War: in the 1976 Workington by-election.
For Local Government purposes it is in the Cumberland unitary authority area.
Its parish council is Blennerhasset and Torpenhow Parish Council.
Blennerhasset Mill
Blennerhasset Mill (at grid reference NY1844041890) is on the south bank of the River Ellen.
Roman fort
A Roman fort is situated on the old Roman Road between Old Carlisle grid reference NY263466 and Papcastle grid reference NY109314
Gallery
See also
Listed buildings in Blennerhasset and Torpenhow
Torpenhow Hill
Notes
References
External links
Cumbria County History Trust: Blennerhasset and Kirkland (nb: provisional research only - see Talk page)
Cumbria County History Trust: Torpenhow and Whitrigg (nb: provisional research only - see Talk page)