BB1635 : What Is A Tranearth?

Thursday 13 October 2016

What is a Tranearth?

This I asked as we passed Tranearth Cottage, the Lancashire Climbing and Caving Club’s bothy.

None of us knew but we did notice that whatever it was, Fleming, Frank and Matthew had all had one nearby, according to the OS map.

All thoughts on the subject soon vanished as we reached Tranearth Quarry, filled by the Torver Beck.

Perhaps it is as well that neither Terry or Graham was with us as it is alleged to be a favourite place for “wild swimming” or skinny-dipping as they might call it.  How people get down to it is a mystery as I could see no path.

We pressed on to the Walna Scar Road in order to take the gentle southern route up Brown Pike, Buck Pike and onwards to Dow Crag.  

First, however, we wanted to see Blind Tarn, presumably so called as unless you bother to climb Brown Pike you are unlikely to see it, hidden away as it is in a basin below the ridge.

It is reached by following an old miners’ trail up and over a shoulder. Surrounded by high walls of rock and screes, it is an interesting little tarn. Another hidden skinny dipping opportunity for those of that inclination.

Blind Tarn

Returning to the Walna Scar Road we soon found the ascent path and could look down on Blind Tarn.

Fortunately, most of the time iwe were out of the breeze but as we neared the top we started to feel the 50 mph gusts.  At least the rain was holding off.

The Scafell Range

Sellafield

The wind was at its wickedest as we approached the Dow Crag summit. We opted for the more awkward but not exposed short boulder climb to the summit rather than the path with the 1,000 foot drop.  Fortunately we didn't get blown off but were happy to find a wind-break a little further down for lunch.

The descent was straightforward.  Down to Goat’s Hause and then turn right down to Goat’s Water.  Here there is a tremendous view of the intimidating Dow Crag Cliffs.

Can you see the blue stretcher box?  It's at the bottom of the central buttress.  Expand the picture and you should be able to spot it.

Once beyond the tarn, rain threatened but not for long.  In fact, by the time we passed the wild-swimming Tranearth Quarry the sun had come out and those with a good eyesight (or imagination) could see  Blackpool Tower.

We took advantage of there being no-one in the Tranearth Cottage climbers’ hut to take a break sitting in the sun.  What had happened to the forecast rain?  We weren’t complaining.

Instead we returned to contemplating what on earth a Tranearth is.

I wonder if Wilson had a Tranearth once upon a time?

Don, Thursday 13th October 2016.

Afternote:  The only reference I can find to the history of the word "tranearth" is that the name is used for a type of rock layer of the Sheinwoodian Age to the Gorstian Age and found, funnily enough, in the Tranearth area.  But how did it get that name?  Anyone know?

Response: Bryan dug out the following interesting item which goes some way to answering the question.

North west of Torver there seems to have been a rapid extension of fell enclosure onto Torver High Common, at Matthew Tranearth and Fleming Tranearth, with names like New Intake. The Tranearth place-name seems to indicate a division extending up the fell in a line from individual farms on the valley floor, perhaps fossilising earlier customary stints.

In 1639 two tenants from Little Arrow Farm in Torver were fined for setting up new hedges on the common at Little Moss without permission. Records for judgements made at Hawkshead Courthouse to settle disputes regarding the commons exist from the 16th century. These include a person brought before the court for keeping swine on the commons beyond the ‘stint’, which is likely to refer to a particular parcel of the common. Such was the enthusiasm for intaking at this time, that the intake land north of Blelham Tarn represented a doubling in size of the enclosed land.

The Black Pearl

Almost as seen on the River Mersey last weekend

Map shown: Harvey's

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Wainwrights

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BOOTboys 2016

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