Bowness-on-Solway
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Bowness-on-Solway is a small village of less than 100 houses on the Solway Firth separating England and Scotland. It falls in North-West Cumbria to the west of Carlisle on the English side. The western end of Hadrian's Wall is a major tourist attraction, along with beaches and wading birds. The town is part of the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
[edit] Solway Junction Railway
In 1869, the Solway Junction Railway was opened between Bowness-on-Solway and Annan in Scotland, It connected to the Maryport & Carlisle railway.
The construction of the railway necessitated a one mile (1.6 km), 176-yard (161 m) iron girder viaduct across the Solway, the remains of which can still be seen today. However, numerous problems attended the viaduct. In 1875 and 1881 it was damaged by ice, and by altering sediment-carrying currents it caused nearby Port Carlisle to silt up and lose trade. In turn this resulted in the abandonment of the Port Carlisle to Carlisle railway.
In 1914 the railway was restricted to carrying freight only. In 1921 it was closed entirely, and in 1934 the viaduct was demolished.
Allegedly this latter step was taken to prevent Scotsmen from crossing to England to flout the Scottish Sunday alcohol ban and then falling off the viaduct into the Solway[citation needed].
[edit] St Michael's Church
Built atop what may be the granary for a Roman fort in the 12th century, the two original bells were stolen by border raiders in 1626, accidentally dropping them in the Solway during their flight. In retaliation, the villagers raided Dornock and Middlebie, making off with a new pair of bell]s. Traditionally, on inception, the vicar of Annan petitions the village's neighbours for the return of his bells.
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