Brigham – Church Art, Village History and Special Discoveries

Brigham combines impressive church history with unusual memorial sites and small discoveries throughout the village. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday cottage and expecting more than just a place to stay will find a culturally and historically rich destination with specific points of interest: listed buildings, medieval traces, a special garden and the history of the former railway connection.

St Bridget’s Church and its art-historical details

The Church of St Bridget is a Grade I listed building and also a landmark of the Derwent Valley. St Bridget’s Church contains Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Scandinavian stones as well as fragments of crosses. Particularly notable is a cross-head with free-standing arms and a human depiction, unlike almost any other cross. The two parts of the cross base bear distinctive animal depictions on their upper surfaces and sides.

The furnishings of the church also tell the story of several periods. The painted plaster and timber ceilings of the nave, chancel and Lady Chapel, the south aisle, were created as part of the restoration work carried out from 1864 to 1876 under William Butterfield. The ceilings of the nave and Lady Chapel were restored to their original and remarkable condition in 2013. Three bells hang in the old tower of Brigham Church. The middle bell is made of brass, is medieval and is believed to date from around 1320. Churchcare of the Church of England classifies it as a bell of historical significance.

Churchyard, commemorative culture and practical visit planning

In the churchyard south of the Church of St Bridget stands a sundial dating from 1684. Near the church entrance, the Brigham War Memorial commemorates 22 local soldiers who fell in the First World War, as well as 16 men who fell in the Second World War. The memorial itself is a Grade II listed building. Anyone interested in church art, local commemorative culture and historic inscriptions can consciously combine these points on a walk, without reducing the site to a single building.

For a visit to the Church of St Bridget, you should plan for the first or third Sunday of the month, as the church is open for services at these times. Restrictions apply because renovation work is ongoing.

Garden, buildings and traces of village history

Foinhaven reveals another side of the stay: a small cottage-style garden in a village, laid out on a sloping half-acre plot. The garden includes a pond, a bog garden, rock gardens and a lawn with chamomile. From April to September, Foinhaven welcomes groups of up to 10 visitors by prior arrangement. Anyone wishing to include this visit should therefore arrange it in advance.

Other historical traces include the cattle pound at High Ellerbeck Bridge, an abandoned and overgrown building from the early 19th century and a rare surviving example in this area. Brigham Hall is a Grade II listed farmhouse dating from the mid-18th century. Fletcher Christian also represents the personal history of the village: he was baptised in Brigham on 25 September 1764. Moorland Close is identified as the birthplace of Fletcher Christian, the Bounty mutineer.

Brigham as a suitable base for culture-focused trips

When looking for holiday accommodation in Brigham, a simple consideration can help: would you like to focus your stay primarily on church art and historic landmarks, or should an arranged garden visit complement the itinerary? The village’s history extends beyond its visible buildings. The Cockermouth-&-Workington Railway operated from 1847 to 1966 and had a station in Brigham. This information belongs to the village’s transport history but does not describe any current railway service.

For families and other travellers who want to discover unusual details together, the appeal lies in the contrasts: the medieval bell, the painted ceilings, the animal depictions on the cross base, the War Memorial and a garden with a pond and bog garden each appeal to different interests. When choosing your holiday cottage or holiday apartment, consider which of these visits should shape your itinerary and which are intended only as additional discoveries.

More places for planning your trip

If you would like to compare other places alongside Brigham, here is a concise selection: Bampton, Levens, Winton, Appleby-In-Westmorland, Alston, Crosby Garrett, Milnthorpe and Near Sawrey.

For the overarching travel overview: Cumbria.