A sign has been put up beside a resurfaced path in Keswick to mark the popular area’s little-known link with India.
The Howrahs was owned by Edward Stephenson, an 18th century governor of Bengal, who returned to Keswick a wealthy man, living in Lake Road.
Born in Keswick in 1691, he had had lived in Calcutta (now Kolkata), near the city of Howrah, and he named his area of land covering two fields between Keswick and Portinscale after it.
He died in Keswick in 1768.
Cumbria County Council has now completed resurfacing The Howrahs path and repairing its fencing.
Keswick Community Asset Company has paid for a plaque to be put up near the Greta Bridge end of the path, explaining the origins of the name.
Councillor Tony Lywood, chairman of Keswick Community Asset Company said: “I must admit I had no idea that The Howrahs had such an interesting name origin.
“It’s strange how the far-flung British Empire has an effect on the naming of agricultural land in the Lake District.
“Apparently, Edward Stephenson was Bengal’s governor for only one day due to some administrative mess up.”
