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Great Langdale is a valley in the Lake District National Park in North West England, the epithet, "Great" distinguishing it from the neighbouring valley of Little Langdale. Langdale is also the name of a valley in the Howgill Fells, elsewhere in Cumbria.

It is a popular location for hikers, climbers, fell-runners, and other outdoor enthusiasts who are attracted by the many fells ringing the head of the valley. Among the best-known features of Great Langdale are the Langdale Pikes, a group of peaks on the northern side of the dale. England's highest mountain, Scafell Pike, can be climbed by a route from Langdale. Langdale has views of, in particular, Dungeon Ghyll Force waterfall, Harrison Stickle, and Pike of Stickle.

Great Langdale was an important site during the Neolithic period for producing stone axes and later, was also one of the centres of the Lakeland slate industry.

Great Langdale is known to archaeologists as the source of a particular type of Neolithic polished stone axe head, created on the slopes of the Pike of Stickle and traded all over prehistoric Great Britain and Europe. It also supplied stone for some Bronze Age items, including stone wrist-guards. Neolithic cup and ring marks are found on the Langdale Boulders at Copt Howe.

The mouth of the valley is located at Skelwith Bridge, which lies about two miles (three kilometres) west of Ambleside. The Langdale valley contains two villages, Chapel Stile and Elterwater, and a hamlet at High Close. Great Langdale is a U-shaped valley formed by glaciers, while Little Langdale is a hanging valley.

Great Langdale and Elterwater were centres of the Lakeland slate industry. Two slate workings, Elterwater Quarry and Spout Cragg Quarry have been more or less continually working using modern methods. Elterwater is the larger of the two, and like Spout Cragg, is operated by the Burlington Stone company. There are various other local quarries now fallen into disuse, such as Lingmoor, Banks, Thrang Crag and Colt Howe.

Main article: Langdale axe industry

Great Langdale had a productive stone axe industry during the Neolithic period. The area has outcrops of fine-grained greenstone suitable for making polished axes which have been found distributed across the British Isles. The rock is an epidotised greenstone quarried or perhaps just collected from the scree slopes in the Langdale Valley on Harrison Stickle and Pike of Stickle.

Among the best-known features of Great Langdale are the Langdale Pikes, a group of peaks on the northern side of the dale. From below, they appear as a sharp rocky ridge, though they are precipitous only on their southern side; to the north, the land sweeps gently to High Raise, the parent peak of the range. The Pikes themselves include (from west to east) Pike of Stickle, Loft Crag, Harrison Stickle, and Pavey Ark.

Pike of Stickle, also known as Pike o’ Stickle, reaches a height of 709 metres (2,326 ft). The rearward slopes show evidence of the Pavey Ark Member, pebbly sandstone and breccia. The Langdale face displays several strata: from the top the Lingmell Formation, Crinkle Member and Bad Step Tuff. These are composed, respectively, of tuff, lapilli-tuff and breccia; rhyolitic tuff and breccia; and rhyolitic lava-like tuff. The altitude places Loft Crag and Gimmer Crag within sightlines to east-southeast while Bowfell is three kilometres (two miles) west-southwest. The Southern Fells and Skiddaw are also potentially visible.

Loft Crag has a summit elevation of 2,238 feet (682 metres). It lies between Harrison Stickle and Pike o’ Stickle and is usually climbed in conjunction with these two peaks. The fell has a small sharp summit, below which rises Gimmer Crag, which is one of the top rock climbing venues in the Lake District. The crag is made of Rhyolite rock and was pioneered in the early 1880s by the father of British rock climbing Walter Parry Haskett Smith.

Harrison Stickle is the high point of the Langdale Pikes and its crags fall south and east from the summit, presenting an arresting view from the valley floor 2,000 feet (610 metres) below, or from further afield. To the north, the main ridge of the central fells passes over Thunacar Knott before climbing to High Raise. The craggy eastern face of this ridge continues north as far as Harrison's near neighbour, Pavey Ark, visually the most impressive face in the area. The southwestern border of Harrison Stickle is formed by the deep ravine of Dungeon Ghyll, which cuts through the parapet of the Langdale Pikes and into the lower hinterland of Harrison Combe. Across the Ghyll westwards are Thorn Crag, Loft Crag, and finally Pike of Stickle. Below the steep eastern face of Harrison Stickle lie Stickle Tarn and its Ghyll, thus ensuring that all drainage from the fell is to Great Langdale. The tarn is a water-filled corrie about 50 feet (15 metres) deep, this being enhanced by a dam. The water is used for public consumption in Great Langdale.

Pavey Ark is 700 metres (2,297 feet) high. The main face is a little over 1⁄4 mile (400 metres) across and drops about 400 feet (120 metres). To the southwest, it merges into the crags of Harrison Stickle, while the northern end peters out into the valley of Bright Beck. Stickle Tarn is wholly within the territory of the Ark, a corrie tarn which has been dammed to create additional capacity. The stone-faced barrage is low enough not to spoil the character of the pool, and the water is used for public consumption in the hotels and homes below. The tarn has a depth of around 50 feet (15 metres).

Great Langdale's highest fell is Bow Fell. Other notable Langdale fells are Crinkle Crags, at the head of the Oxendale valley, and Pike o' Blisco on the southern side of the valley.

Dungeon Ghyll is a ravine on the north side of the valley, starting on the fell slopes between Harrison Stickle and Loft Crag/Pike o' Stickle. It is narrow, and a No Through Route for walkers. Much more open is Stickle Ghyll, which descends from Stickle Tarn. There is a well–trodden path from the Stickle Ghyll car park opposite the New Dungeon Ghyll hotel up to the tarn, parts of which have been improved with stone slabs to reduce erosion. Another waterfall, known as Dungeon Ghyll Force, is up a path behind the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel.

Middle Fell Bridge here is the bridge centring in the plot of the landmark film 1945 Brief Encounter.

There are several popular fell walking routes including Bowfell, Crinkle Crags, the Langdale Pikes and England's highest mountain, Scafell Pike. There are also rock-climbing spots on the valley floor, such as Raven Crag, Gimmer Crag, and White Ghyll, providing some of the most spectacular rock routes in the UK. The Langdale Leisure Limited company, consisting of a hotel, timeshare lodges and leisure facilities, operates in the valley.

The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel was originally a farm and inn. It was bought by the historian Professor G.M. Trevelyan who donated it to the National Trust, and who was later buried in Holy Trinity Church in Chapel Stile. The hotel and the Hikers Bar have a long association with climbing and many famous climbers have stayed at the hotel or drunk in the bar. In climbing circles it is known as the "ODG". Further down the valley there is the New Dungeon Ghyll hotel, built in 1862. Campsites in the area include the National Trust site near Dungeon Ghyll and the Baysbrown Farm campsite at Chapel Stile.

A farmstead comprising six buildings and one ruin, including: the farmhouse (ntsmr 25560); the Bank barn (ntsmr 25561); the Former threshing barn (ntsmr 25562); the Former threshing barn (ntsmr 25563); the Hay barn (ntsmr 25564); the Outbuilding (ntsmr 25565) and the Chicken coop (ntsmr 25566).

Four holdings appear at Wall End in the list of houses eligible to provide constables for Langdale parish in 1717. Only one house now survives, but traces of one other have been found and the barn for this house still stands at the foot of the road to Blea Tarn. Two sheepmarks survived into the 19th century. The terms of Ephraim Grigg's will of 1750 imply more than one house at Wall End, and a second may have existed as late as 1769 when a Thomas Middlefell, husbandman of Wall End, took a lease on a house at Thrang. It is clear that in 1769 John Jackson (d.1773) was farming at Wall End. Thomas Middlefell must have been a tenant of his in one of the other houses.

The present farmhouse must be the house for no. 3. The press cupboard with its date 1725 and initials RGIG must refer to John Grigg and his wife, and the spice cupboard has the initials EGS for Ephraim and Sarah Grigg. It cannot be the house for no. 2 as John Dixon owned that farm until he died in 1725, and Margaret Middlefell's uncle was still managing no. 4 for her until the same year.

EARLY OWNERS

The Middlefell family can be assigned in the early 17th century with some certainty to no. 4 below, but other early owners at Wall End cannot be linked to a particular farm. Reorganisation of holdings has greatly altered the recorded rents.

One of the farms, then bearing a rent of 4s.2 1/2 d. was owned at his death in November 1612 by Charles Satterthwaite. It seems certain that this was the farm at the foot of the Blea Tarn road where the barn still stands. Charles Satterthwite left half his farm at 'Walende' to his wife for her widowhood and the other half to his nephew and godson John, the son of his brother Robert. He provided in the will that Robert was to build a barn at Wall End with three pairs of trees (crucks) and this can be identified with the barn still standing. Traces of the house can be seen across the road, which has been realigned. John Satterthwaite died in 1626, leaving his farm to his brother Richard, after which nothing further is known.

There was another Satterthwaite family at Wall End in the same period. John Satterthwaite died in 1597, leaving his tenements which were in his possession at death to his widow Agnes, with reversion to his son John. The son died intestate in 1616, also leaving a widow named Agnes, and again the farm can be traced no further.

A Reginald Wilson of Wall End was party to a tenancy agreement with John Benson of Langdale in 1571, and another Reginald Wilson died at Wall End at the end of 1665. He had a daughter at Sidehouse but was succeeded at Wall End by his son Thomas who died in 1668, and he by his son John who died intestate in 1691. A Reginald Wilson paid a rent of 8s.2d. to the barony of Kendal in 1676 (the rental may perhaps not have been quite up-to-date). Although John Wilson had a son Joseph, born in 1685, the family do not reappear at Wall End after 1691.

WALLEND NO. 1 : 9s.6D. Marquis Fee, 1 1/1d. Richmond Fee.

This farm, listed as Wall End 'above yet (gate)' in 1726, then belonged to Henry Jackson, who also appears in 1717 in the list of possible constables. He died in 1746, his son John paying his admittance fine to the barony in 1747. He was succeeded by his son John (d.1773), grandson John (d.1808), and great grandson John (d.1818). Although the great grandson also had a son John he directed that his property at Wall End (John Jackson (d.1773) had acquired all four holdings before had died) was to be sold for the support of his window Ann and the education and apprenticeship of his son who was evidently not intended for farming. In 1819 William Green recorded that the late Mr John Jackson had 1000 sheep on the farm.

WALLEND NO. 2 : 3S.8d. Richmond Fee, 1d. or 1 1/2 d. Marquis Fee.

This holding was named Dixon's Tenement from James Dixon who appears at Wall End in 1694 and in the 1717 list of possible constables, and who died in 1725 at the home of his daughter Agnes who had married John Benson of Low Millbeck in 1696. He still had furniture at Wall End but had taken his chest and bedding with him. Another daughter, probably Rachel or Rebecca (cf. initials on the press cupboard) had married John Grigg (b. 1684, son of Michael Gregg of Stangs at Stool End). John Grigg left Stool End and came to live at Wall End where he died in 1741. He was a Baptist and none of his children were christened at Grasmere, but the Grasmere register noted that a daughter Jane had been baptised by a non-conformist minister in 1716, and two stillborn children were buried there in 1711.

James Dixon left his messuage at Wall End to Agnes Benson, but she must have sold it to her brother-in-law who was recorded as the owner in the barony rental of 1740. When John Grigg died in 1741 he left his messuage at Wall End to the rent of 13s.10 1/2 d. to his son Ephraim. If we add the rents of 3s.8d (no. 2) and 5s.1d. (no 4.) and assume a rent of 5s.1 1/2d. (no 3.) this adds up to 13s10 1/2d. Ephraim paid his admittance fine in 1747.

Ephraim Grigg served as overseer of the poor for no. 4 in 1747 and as churchwarden for nos. 3 and 2 in 1743 and 1745, so although he was probably buried at the Baptist chapel on Hawkshead Hill, he was evidently not out of sympathy with the Anglican Church. He married Sarah Rearson of Brigham (Cumb.) in 1744 and died relatively young in 1750. He left 'all his tenements and houses' at Walled to trustees to be sold. His widow remarried in 1752 and her second husband Jonathan Dixon was named as guardian to John Grigg's son John (b.c.1747). These Dixons baptised four more children from Wall End between 1752 and 1762 and whether the farm was sold is not clear. By 1773 it had certainly been acquired by John Jackson of no. 1, and thereafter it descends with the other parts of Wall End.

WALLEND NO.3 : 5s.5d. Richmond Fee, later probably 5s.1 1/2d., 1d or 1 1/2d Marquis Fee.

This holding appears as Dickinson's Tenement in the lists of Grasmere parish officers. The only Dickinson so far traced in Nicholas Dickinson who paid the rent of 5s.5d. to the barony in 1676. The rent must have been adjusted when some land was detached. In 1717 it belonged to John Grigg of no. 2, the husband of James Dixon's daughter. Thereafter if descended with No. 2 to Ephraim Grigg and thence to John Hackson.

WALLEND NO.4 : rent of 5s.1d., 5s.2d., or 5s.2 1/2d., Richmond Fee, 1d or 1 1/2d. Marquis Fee.

John Midlefell of 'the Walend' died as the owner of this tenement in 1620, leaving it to his eldest son John. His will reveals considerable wealth, including 285 sheep valued at œ73.15s, ten yards of cloth, two bows and arrows, and three silver spoons. The son with be the John Middlefell of Wall End who died in 1651, confirming a grant of his tenement to his son John and daughter in law Elizabeth which had been made before his death. John Middlefell paid his rent to the barony in 1676.

He died in 1700, and was the father of Charles Middlefell who died in 1708. Charles married Mary Wilson in 1703 and had two children, John and Margaret. He had other property at the head of Great Langdale but in a long and exhaustive will he provided that his messuage at Wall End, rent 5s.1d., was to retained in trust for the payment of his debts if his goods fell short (they did) and for the support of his wife and children and his aged mother Margaret, who was to have meat, drink, clothes, and lodging for the rest of her life. Mary Middlefell appears in the list of those eligible to serve as constable in 1717 and a deputy acted as overseer for her in 1721. She and her mother-in-law died in 1724 and 1723 respectively, and as the boy John had died in 1710 the farm would have passed to the daughter Margaret. Her uncle Thomas looked after the farm for her until she came of age in 1725. It is not clear what happened after that. Margaret Middlefell may have married a John Harrison (no.4 is called Harrison's tenement in the 18th century). If so they left soon afterwards. In 1730 John Grigg paid for admittance to this farm on the alienation of John Harrison and thereafter it descends with nos. 2 and 3.

WALLEND after 1818, all four parts

After the death of John Jackson in 1818 Wall End was bought from John Jackson's trustees by the Revd Thomas Nicholson, rector of Waberthwaite and curate of Muncaster from 1775. The estate was enfranchised to him in 1819. He died in 1825 and his widow Faith appears as the owner in 1830 and 1831. In 1843 their son John (b. 1798, baptised at Waberthwaite) was owner, but he died in the same year and would have been succeeded by his wife Elizabeth and their son Stephen. Stephen's nephew and heir John Caddy Nicholson was admitted to the part of the farm at Wall End (the Side) which belonged to the manor of Braisbrown in 1904. He was still the owner in 1928 when he and his mortgagee sold the farm to the national Trust, the purchase price being given by Dr. G.M. Trevelyan.

Much of the beauty of Wall End Farm is produced by the large yew trees which stand immediately outside the front door. on a more intimate scale the cobbled area in front of the buildings should not be disturbed. Rebuilding of field walls around the cruck barn should retain the building joints which show the position of earlier buildings (Corbett, G.S and Higgins, M, 01/ 03 /1986).