Holmrook

Holmrook is a linear village in the English county of Cumbria. It lies along the A595 road on the west banks of the River Irt. The B5344 road connects it to Drigg, with its railway station less than two miles to the west.

Irton Hall

Holmrook
Cottages by the A595 at Holmrook
Holmrook is located in the former Borough of Copeland
Holmrook
Holmrook
Location in Copeland Borough
Holmrook is located in Cumbria
Holmrook
Holmrook
Location within Cumbria
OS grid referenceSD077995
Civil parish
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townHOLMROOK
Postcode districtCA19
Dialling code019467
PoliceCumbria
FireCumbria
AmbulanceNorth West
UK Parliament

Two miles north-east along the Irt valley is Irton Hall, a large mostly 19th-century house which incorporates a 14th-century pele tower.[1]

Holmrook Hall

Holmrook Hall was a Victorian country house, at one time owned by the Reverend Charles Skeffington Lutwidge. His relative Charles Lutwidge Dodgson - better known as the author, mathematician and photographer Lewis Carroll - used to come and stay occasionally.[2]

During World War II, Holmrook Hall was requisitioned by the Admiralty on behalf of the Royal Navy, with locals told that it was a rest home for shipwrecked and distressed sailors. In fact, strategically located between ROF Drigg and ROF Sellafield, it was the Royal Navy bomb and munitions training school between 1943 and 1946, under the title HMS Volcano. Designated a Top Secret site, it trained Royal Navy personnel, the Special Boat Service and Norwegian expatriates in the wartime use of explosives and demolition. Among the graduates of HMS Volcano were:[3]

After the war, the hall fell into disrepair and was demolished. Only the stable block remains, and has been converted to housing.

References
  1. Historic England. "Irton Hall (9279)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  2. "Holmrook Hall". Shelia Cartwright. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  3. "Holmrook Hall". wartimememories.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2011.

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