Cartmel Fell is a chapelry in the northern (and hilly) part of the district of Cartmel between Windermere and the Winster. It enjoys expansive views of Whitbarrow Scar on the one side and the Coniston range on the other...and has remained relatively unspoilt throughout the centuries.
     Raven's Barrow, the highest point on the fell, looks down on land which has belonged in turn to the early Scandinavian settlers, to Stephen of Boulogne (later King of England) to the Augustinian Priors, to the Duchy of Lancaster, and to the yeoman farmers who built their manor houses and halls along the valley..Hodge Hill, Thorphinsty, Cowmire, Witherslack and Burblethwaite. The two or three hundred folk who lived in the parish made a living from sheep-farming, charcoal-burning, basket-weaving, leather-work, woollen manufacture, as well of course from the corn mills, fulling mills and bobbin mills.
     St Anthony's chapel here was founded in 1504 in accordance withe the will of Anthony Knipe who lived in the parish of Burblethwaite...and is the only church in the north-west of England dedicated to St.Anthony the patron saint of charcoal burners and basket weavers. The church escaped the ravages of zealous Puritans and well meaning Victorian restoration and is still very much as it was 400 years ago, even including its unusual 17th centnury three decker pulpit.
     Visitors should make a point of going into the vestry and see the chapels most interesting relic. It is a figurre of Christ which used to belong to the Crucifix which all churches would have had erected over the chancel screen. It's now the only one of its kind surviving in the country. Originally it would have been gillded, but it has been badly treated, and within living memory was being used as a poker!
     Near the entrance to the porch should be noticed the marks in the stone where men used to sharpen their arrows. In the churchyard will be found a horse mounting block.
     Below the hill will be found Hodge Hill a 16th century statesmen's house of great charm, with outside gallery and interior kept in its old style. Nowadays, the building is a hotel.
     Cowmire Hall is an elegant 17th century house of three stories built on a pele tower of the 14th century. Thorpinsty Hall is the oldest property around, for earliest reference is shown in 1275.