Moor Row A–Z Reference

This glossary serves as a comprehensive digital archive for Moor Row, bridging the gap between its 18th-century agricultural roots and its 19th-century transformation into an industrial powerhouse.

By documenting the people, places, and terminology that shaped our village, we aim to preserve the unique heritage of the "Village Built on Iron and Rails."

Whether you are researching family history linked to the Montreal Mines or are curious about the origins of local landmarks like Foulyeat, this reference guide provides the historical context behind the names and locations we see today.

The archive covers a broad spectrum of local history, from the high-stakes engineering of the WC&ER railway to the everyday lives of those residing in the Red Rows.

You will find entries detailing influential figures like the Jefferson and Dalzell families, as well as insights into the social fabric of the community, including the origins of the Working Mens Club and the legendary 1,800-Pint Bottle.

This project is a living record, continually updated as new research and records come to light.

To help you navigate this extensive list efficiently, you can quickly find specific terms, names, or dates by using the search function on your device.

On a desktop or laptop, simply press Ctrl + F (or Cmd + F on a Mac) and type the word you are looking for.

This will highlight every instance of that term on the page, allowing you to jump straight to the information you need. 

Term Description
Moor Row A village in West Cumbria, developed rapidly during the 19th century due to iron ore mining and the railway system.
West Cumbria Region of northwest England encompassing Moor Row, historically industrial with rich haematite deposits.
Scalegill Ancient place-name in the area with Norse roots ("skáli" = hut, "gil" = ravine).
Scalegill Road Street within Moor Row preserving the historic toponym.
Low / High Moor Row Early settlement areas that existed before industrial expansion.
Calder Bridge Village nearby linked historically through land ownership and travel routes.
A595 Major local highway connecting Moor Row with the West Cumbrian coast.
Toponymy Study of place names; relevant to Moor Row's Norse and Anglo-originated names.
Scalegill (origins) Derived from Old Norse, implying farmstead/hut by a ravine - evidence of Viking-era settlement influence.
Pre-Industrial Homesteads Small farms and houses existed long before mining expansion.
Railway Catalyst Arrival of the Whitehaven, Cleator & Egremont Railway in 1855 triggered large growth.
Industrial Peak Era (1860–1880) when haematite mining boomed and the village rapidly expanded.
Railway Decline Mid-20th century closures of passenger lines; final freight decline by 1980.
Haematite High-grade iron ore with low phosphorus content, ideal for steel making.
Limestone Carboniferous geological layer hosting iron ore seams throughout West Cumbria.
Ore “Sop” Miners’ term describing irregular pockets or seams of ore found underground.
Flats Near-surface ore deposits accessed earlier and easier than deep shafts.
Kidney Ore Distinct rounded forms of haematite frequently mined locally.
Montreal Mines Major Moor Row mine employing over 1,000 men during its peak.
Open Pit Mining Surface extraction method used where ore lay shallow.
Shaft Mining Deep mining method requiring more advanced technique, largely brought by Cornish miners.
WC&ER Whitehaven, Cleator & Egremont Railway; mainline that enabled Moor Row to flourish industrially.
Moor Row Junction Key interconnection point for mineral lines feeding coastal steel production.
Shunting Yard Rail yard where goods wagons were assembled for transport.
C&WJR Cleator & Workington Junction Railway; later rail network expanding mineral transport routes.
Rowrah Railway Rowrah & Kelton Fell Mineral Railway; servicing mines inland from Moor Row.
Level Crossing Known locally as “The Gate”; important crossing historically staffed by gatekeepers.
Beeching Cuts 1960s railway closures which ended local passenger routes.
Overman Senior underground supervisor responsible for safety and blasting.
Fireman Officer responsible for inspecting for gas and ignition risk.
Crutter / Ripper Miners who cut initial roadways through rock formations.
Hewer Main extractor who detached ore from the rock face.
Shunter Rail worker who coupled and moved wagons.
Signalman Controlled safe railway-road interaction at crossings and signal boxes.
Pit Pony Driver Younger worker controlling ponies hauling mine tubs.
Cornish Diaspora Large influx of skilled miners from Cornwall.
“Little Cornwall” Nickname for parts of Moor Row with strong Cornish presence.
“Red Rows” Brick terraced housing built as worker accommodation during expansion.
Public Houses Centres of community life for miners and rail workers.
Co-Op Local member-owned store providing dividends to shoppers.
Working-Class Leisure Popular outlets including brass bands and sports clubs.
“Jam City” Moor Row Primary School; remembered for the jam-jar donation scheme story.
Scalegill Hall Historic grade II listed building near Moor Row.
War Memorial Commemorating soldiers lost from Moor Row and Scalegill.
Sepulchre Meadow Historic burial site with unmarked graves.
C2C Route Long distance cycle trail using old railway lines through Moor Row.
Green Corridor Former railbed now repurposed into nature path.
Demographics Recent estimate of approx. 759 residents.
Former Names Variants include Low Keekle, Moor Row Junction, and Ingwell View.

ARCHIVE HIGHLIGHTS

About Moor Row

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Hello, and welcome. This Internet site is about the village of Moor Row in West Cumbria. The history of Moor Row is one intrinsically linked to the industrial boom that transformed West Cumbria. While the area's roots stretch back to before 1762, when the homesteads of Low Moor Row and High Moor Row dotted the landscape between Summerhill Mansion and Woodend with Cleator, the true genesis of the modern village lies in iron ore and the mighty railway.  From Homestead to Hub The early landscape was characterised by family landholdings, such as the estate of the Wildridge family at Low Moor Row, located on what would become Church Street. The marriage of Elizabeth Wildridge to the local gardener, Dalzell, and his subsequent inheritance of the estates, is a pivotal local event. This link is preserved today, not just through family lore but in the village's street names, a testament to the enduring influence of the early landowners. The Railway Catalyst The mid-19th century witnes...
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Deep History: 6000 Years Of Moor Row

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For the modern visitor, Moor Row appears as a product of the nineteenth-century industrial revolution - a landscape of red-brick terraces built to house the miners of the West Cumberland iron ore boom. However, to view this village only through the lens of industry is to overlook a human story that stretches back six millennia. Before the first mine shaft was sunk, this was a "row" of dwellings on the edge of the great Egremont Waste, held by families whose roots reached back to the very foundations of England. Searching Historic Records In historical Cumbrian records, the Bailiwick of Egremont refers to the administrative and judicial division of the Barony of Egremont (also known as the Barony of Copeland). ​Before 1600, a "bailiwick" was the area of jurisdiction for a Bailiff - an officer appointed by the Lord of the Manor (the Percys) to manage the land, collect rents, and enforce local laws.   ​1. Administrative Structure ​The Bailiwick was the "middle ma...
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The 1871 Iron Register: Mapping the Miners of Moor Row

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The "Cornish Diaspora" in West Cumberland is a fascinating, often overlooked chapter of industrial history. While Penzance Street in Moor Row is the most visible legacy, the human stories behind it reveal a mass migration driven by necessity. ​ Here is a deep dive into the Cornish connection in Moor Row, using census data to track the movement of families. ​ Why Moor Row? In the mid-19th century, the Cornish mining industry (tin and copper) entered a terminal decline due to crashing prices and foreign competition. Conversely, West Cumberland was experiencing a "Haematite Boom." The high-grade iron ore found near Cleator Moor and Moor Row was essential for the Bessemer steel-making process. ​ Cumbrian mine owners actively recruited Cornish miners because they possessed the specific hard-rock mining skills required for deep-shaft haematite extraction - skills that local coal miners or agricultural labourers lacked. ​ The Legacy of Penzance Street ​ Penzance Street is ...
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Four Centuries of Moor Row: From Common Land to the Energy Coast

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Nestled in the heart of West Cumbria, Moor Row is a village that grew out of the mud and heather. While it is a residential community today, its history is a dramatic graph of peaks and valleys - driven by the "red gold" (haematite) beneath its feet. 1625–1750: The Age of the "Great Moor" In 1625, "Moor Row" was not a village. It was a literal row of enclosures - scattered longhouse style farmsteads clinging to the edge of the Great Moor of Egremont. The Ruin on the Hill By this time, Egremont Castle was already a ruin, "slighted" in 1569. Yet, it remained the administrative heart of the area. Tenants from the moor would trek to the castle to attend the Manorial Court, which was still held in a single surviving chamber. Here, "Turnmen" (local representatives for the Lowside Quarter) were appointed to settle disputes over grazing rights and "turbary" (the right to cut peat for fuel). The Pioneers: The Wildridge Family...
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The Genesis of Industry: Summerhill Mansion and the Dalzell Legacy in Moor Row

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The story of Summerhill Mansion in Moor Row begins long before the deafening roar of the Whitehaven Cleator and Egremont Railway and the deep excavations of the iron mines. Archival research confirms the property's existence prior to 1762, placing it firmly in the agrarian era of West Cumberland. ​The Mansion was not merely a large house; it was the original, definitive geographical boundary and an anchor for the earliest settlement, which included the Low Moor Row homestead. It was the ancestral seat of the Wildridge family and represented the fixed, respectable wealth of the rural landscape. It is the story of how a single country estate, located on what became Church Street , became the essential financial and geographical launchpad for the entire industrial expansion of this West Cumbrian village. Once established at Summerhill Mansion, the Dalzell family leveraged their land to become industrial pioneers. As the 19th-century iron ore boom exploded, Moor Row rapidly expan...
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