Vernacular and clay dabbins

These are one of the most intriguing forms of architecture in the Solway Coast National Landscape. The clay dabbins as the name suggests are earth-built buildings, in part a response to the limitations in building materials on the Solway where building timber and stone are rare. Once common on both the Scottish and English sides […]

Fortifications

Given the Solway Coast’s location on a border between two countries, it’s no surprise that this area has many historic fortified buildings. Take any route around the Solway Coast National Landscape and you will see churches and homes built to keep raiders out, not to mention the likes of Hadrian’s Wall and the remains of other […]

Farmsteads

The size and shape of the farmsteads of the Solway Coast National Landscape is wide and varied. They range from substantial farmhouses and longhouses owned by the bigger landowners, to small cottages built to house their workforce. The materials used vary greatly too – from the local red sandstone or brick to slate from Wales […]

Churches

It was the creation of Holme Cultram Abbey in 1150 which drove the religious architecture of the Solway Coast National Landscape. Most of the churches on the Solway Plain were endowed to the abbey, and either built by the Abbey, as was the case at Newton Arlosh, of rebuilt on earlier foundations. Many had Roman […]