A new book is set to reignite the long-standing debate in Cumbria about how the name of England’s highest mountain should be spelt and pronounced.
The book, The Scafells: A Grand Tour, reveals information from Ordnance Survey records in the National Archive which have never been published before.
As the author, Guy Richardson, explains “There is a long standing opinion, held by many in Cumbria, that the name of England’s highest point should be spelt ‘Scawfell Pike’ rather than ‘Scafell Pike’ to reflect local pronunciation and the spelling commonly used historically.
“The Ordnance Survey has been blamed for the error and accused of failing to consult with local inhabitants when preparing the first maps of the Scafells area. I decided to look at the Ordnance Survey’s records in the National Archive to find out what really happened.”
The new book includes a chapter, provocatively entitled “The Accidental Naming of Scafell Pike”, which tells the convoluted story of how the mountain finally got the name used today in the 1970s.
What the records in the National Archive reveal is that the Ordnance Survey’s field surveyors in the 1850s, when the first maps of the area were being prepared, did seek advice locally about the spelling of “Scafell”. But inconveniently for the Ordnance Survey the advice from the local farmers in Wasdale and Eskdale and from prominent local guidebook writers did not agree with each other.
The Ordnance Survey chose to accept the spelling provided by the farmers and reject the suggestion of “Scawfell” provided by guidebook writers. This is most starkly shown by a clear striking out of the ‘w’ in their records by an apparently senior surveyor.
Guy Richardson said: “I have written this book to encourage a greater appreciation of the Scafells beyond the fact that Scafell Pike is the highest point in England. The story of how the mountain was given its name is intriguing and there is so much more to know and understand about the Scafells that can greatly enrich the experience of visiting these fine mountains.”
This wide-ranging book presents a wealth of information and stories about the Scafells mountain range while taking the reader, either in their armchair or with their boots on, on a long walking tour across and around England’s highest mountains.
The “grand tour” starts in Wasdale and finishes at Cockley Beck in the Duddon valley after traversing all the summits.
It provides explanations of why the scenery looks as it does and how the communities in Wasdale and Eskdale lived alongside the mountains and have been transformed by their experiences in hosting thousands of visitors every year.
The book recounts the stories of the earliest outsiders, including the Romantic poets, who explored the valleys and mountain tops and the feats of the first rock climbers who created a new branch of mountaineering.
Past controversial national campaigns and personal initiatives to protect the Scafells are explained as well as present-day challenges to reverse the loss of biodiversity and manage the impacts of climate change and visitor pressures.
The Scafells: A Grand Tour is published by Lakeland Views Publishing and is now available in local bookshops and online at £11.95.
