The Red Gold and the Rising Crust: The Unique History of Fair View

In the heart of West Cumbria, where the fields of the coastal plain meet the industrial legacy of the 19th century, sits the village of Moor Row. While the village is characterised by its distinctive terraces - the signature aesthetic of the Victorian mining boom - Fair View on Scalegill Road stands out as a property of singular historical importance.

A Superior Build for Industrial Leaders

Moor Row emerged almost overnight following the 1855 arrival of the Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway. While much of the village was built as basic housing for the general workforce, Fair View - constructed between 1855 and 1860 - was designed with a different purpose in mind.

Positioned on the edge of the Montreal Mines, which at their peak were the largest haematite operations in the district, the house served as a strategic vantage point. Its proximity to the pits was not for the convenience of a manual labourer, but for the oversight required by the industry's senior staff. The first residents were likely mine overmen or senior railway officials - individuals who formed the "middle tier" of the industrial hierarchy, requiring a home that reflected their standing.

Social Shifting: From Overmen to the Professional Class

Census trends for this specific part of Scalegill Road reveal the changing face of the village's workforce. In the 1881 Census, the row was heavily populated by Iron Ore Mine Overmen and Railway Guards. During this era, families such as the Pearsons and Mossops were established names on the road, anchoring the community during its most intense period of growth.

By the 1911 Census, a clear shift had occurred. As the local industry and local government became more administrative, the residents shifted toward professional roles. The residents were now Railway Clerks and Iron Ore Samplemen - the latter being a highly specialised role responsible for testing the quality of the haematite.

It was during this era that the Pallister family became synonymous with Fair View. Thomas Pallister, recorded simply as a Clerk, represented this professional class. His residency through the 1930s solidified Fair View's status as a "named house" of established standing in the village.

  • ​The Pallister Era: Records from the early 20th century (specifically noted in 1930s probate indexes) identify Thomas Pallister as the resident of Fair View. He served as a Clerk, a vital professional role. 
  • A House of Technical Skill: By the 1950s, this tradition of "skilled" residents continued with A. G. Beckett. A well-known local figure, Beckett was a radio amateur (callsign G2AUP) who operated from the house, maintaining its reputation as a site of technical activity long after the heaviest mining had subsided.

Living Above the "Subterranean Honeycomb"

The ground beneath Fair View is as historic as the walls themselves. 26 Scalegill Road sits at the epicentre of a massive industrial operation. The Montreal No. 1 Pit was located just 120 metres from the property, while the No. 12 Pit sat roughly 220 metres away.

The Montreal Mines were famous for their "soft ore," which required a complex "honeycomb" of timbered tunnels. For the professionals living at Fair View, the house provided a front-row seat to one of the most productive iron ore sites in the world until the mines finally closed in 1925.

🔍 Archive Deep Dive

To understand the complexities of Victorian mining engineering, explore the history of the 100-fathom descent. This analysis details the dual extraction methods utilised to manage both iron ore and water ingress, highlighting the technical innovations that allowed workers to operate at such extreme depths.

Fueling the Coast to Coast: Su Ellen’s Bakery

In more recent decades, Fair View transitioned from a private residence into a beloved community landmark: Su Ellen’s Bakery.

Positioned perfectly on the Wainwright’s Coast to Coast (C2C) path, the bakery became more than just a local shop; it was a vital waypoint for hikers. Every year, walkers embarking on the 192-mile journey from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay passed through Moor Row, and 26 Scalegill Road became a famous "fueling station" before they hit the challenging fells of the Lake District.

The bakery was a central fixture of village life throughout the early and mid-2010s. It served as a bridge between Moor Row's industrial past and its modern role in Cumbrian tourism, providing a service that was popular with both locals and international visitors.

​Its presence on Scalegill Road ensured that Fair View remained at the center of village life, just as it had been during the mining boom.

What's In A Name? 

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the name Fair View was more than just a poetic choice; it served two practical functions: social status and geographical reality.

A Geographical Vantage Point
When the house was built (c. 1855–1860), Scalegill Road did not have the density it does today. From the front of No. 26, the view would have been remarkably open. At that time, a resident would have looked out over:
  • The Mine Workings: An unobstructed view of the Montreal Mine operations and the movement of the railway wagons. For a mine official or clerk, "Fair View" literally meant a clear line of sight to the industry they managed.
  • The Rural Landscape: Before the later Edwardian red-brick terraces were built, the house faced open fields leading toward the Cumbrian fells and the Irish Sea coast.
Social Distinction
In industrial villages like Moor Row, the naming of a house was a deliberate act of social stratification. 
  • The "Numbered" Rows: Most workers lived in houses known simply by a number and street name (e.g., 10 Penzance Street). These were company-owned and uniform.
  • The "Named" Houses: By giving No. 26 a name like "Fair View," the owners signaled that the property was a superior residence. It identified the home as a dwelling for the "professional" class - clerks like the Pallisters, overmen, or railway officials - distinguishing it from the standard labourers' cottages.
Commercial Identity
Later, as the building shifted into commercial use (such as Su Ellen’s Bakery), the name served as a "brand."

In an era before GPS, "Fair View" was the primary way locals and visitors identified the property. It transformed the building from a mere address into a destination.

The name has persisted through generations, surviving the closure of the mines in 1925 and the transition from industry to service, finally returning to its status as a private residence today.

A Legacy Preserved

The property is currently undergoing a complete cycle of history. Following the closure of the bakery, the building is being converted back into a private residence. Planning contexts from 2021–2022 show a shift back to full residential use, coinciding with broader village developments and the refurbishment of nearby historic sites.

Fair View has survived the decline of the mines and the closure of the railway junction, remaining a "fixed point" in an evolving landscape. As a non-designated heritage asset, it remains the physical DNA of the village - a reminder of the era when Moor Row was a global leader in iron production and Fair View was the home of the professionals who oversaw the village's growth.

Moor Row - Fair View Illustration
Fair View Illustration
Location: Moor Row CA24, UK

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ARCHIVE HIGHLIGHTS

About Moor Row

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