THE CELTS INVADE


When the Romans invaded the Cumbria region then called North Rheged, the Celts who have long been in the area were forced out.

 The Celts had been moving into the area and interbreeding with the local population which was itinerant, for hundreds of years, so the Celts were fairly well spread out across the area. Many of the ancient monuments in Cumbria had been created under the influence of the Celts, for example Castlerigg Stone Circle built near present day Keswick in about 3200BC.

 

 KING DUNMAIL

 King Dunmail was claimed to be the last King of Cumberland. It is said that in 945 King Edmund of England joined up with King Malcolm of Scotland to defeat King Dunmail at a place which was in the centre of the Old Kingdom of Cumbria. Dunmail Raise which is a cairn was built on the spot where the King is supposed to have died.

 Legend says that the King of Cumberland’s son threw the crown into Grizedale Tarn so that the victors were unable to show it off as the spoils of the battle. The victorious army is also said to have captured King Dunmail’s sons and castrated them to put an end to that particular royal line.

 With the death of King Dunmail the Celtic hold on Rheged disappeared. Cumbria legend says that one day King Dunmail will rise up again, take his sword from the tarn and help his people.

 
Grasmere:Dunmail Raise in Background
 
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