THE WORKHOUSE

The cottage is part of Brackenber Lodge which was originally a Victorian workhouse and was converted into private houses in the 1950's. We believe that the cottage is the only place in Britain that you can stay in an original workhouse.

Most people have heard of the boy who asked for more in CHARLES DICKENS' novel OLIVER TWIST. Oliver was a poor & miserable child who lived in a workhouse, and like all workhouse children, Oliver was permanently hungry owing to the totally inadequate meals. 

Oliver Twist is the second novel by English author Charles Dickens, published by Richard Bentley in 1838. The story is about an orphan Oliver Twist, who escapes from a workhouse and travels to London where he meets the Artful Dodger, leader of a gang of juvenile pickpockets. Oliver is led to the lair of their elderly criminal trainer Fagin, naively unaware of their unlawful activities.

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STANDING STONES & STONE CIRCLES

Shap has been built on the site of one of the largest Stone Avenues in Britain which was over 2 miles long and had at its centre a 400m dia stone circle. The stone in the picture is the Googleby Stone which was part of the avenue and stands over 3 m high. Many of the stones are still visible and exploring them can take several days!

Read more about the standing stones and circles