Please note that this cache, along with 'Side Wood' and 'Bowness Knott', is not part of the 'Wild Ennerdale 1 - 13' series. It is placed with permission on National Trust land, which forms part of the Wild Ennerdale project.
Wild Ennerdale
“Ennerdale is a spectacular upland landscape with rock outcrops, extensive woodland, dynamic natural rivers, a glacial lake and highly valued flora & fauna. Established in 2003, Wild Ennerdale is a partnership of people and organisations led by the principal landowners in the valley, The Forestry Commission, National Trust and United Utilities with the support of Natural England.”
From the Wild Ennerdale Partnership Briefing Notes.
“To allow the evolution of Ennerdale as a wild valley for the benefit of people, relying more on natural processes to shape its landscape and ecology”
The Wild Ennerdale Vision.
For more information on the Wild Ennerdale Partnership please see their website at www.wildennerdale.co.uk
T'Girt Dog
From May 1811 to September of the same year Ennerdale and the surrounding areas were subject to being terrorised by a creature which came to be known as T’Girt Dog (The Great Dog). Many modern reports give the year as 1810, but that date seems to be based on a pamphlet written by an eye witness to the events, in 1864 . Reports of the incidents can be found in the local newspaper of the time, The Cumberland Pacquet. The edition of Tuesday September 17th 1811 gives an account of the final demise of the creature.
May 10th is generally regarded as the date that the creature first struck. Over the coming months up to three hundred sheep were slaughtered by the beast. The reign of terror was finally ended on September 12th.
The creature roamed over a vast area – Ennerdale, Lamplugh, Kinniside, Seascale, Wasdale, Drigg, St. Bees, Asby, Stockdale, Hope-head, Dean, Clifton, Cockermouth, Seaton, Camerton amongst others are all mentioned in the various reports. For those unfamiliar with local geography this is an area stretching from just north of the River Derwent, to the east of the Vale of Lorton, Wasdale to the south and the Irish Sea. The hunt for the animal was also extensive. Local farmers left their normal duties; hunting dogs were put on the trail of the dog; professional hunters descended on Ennerdale. A reward of £10 was offered by John Russell, a Whitehaven brewer with 3,000 acres of Ennerdale under sheep, to the person who could kill the creature. Free ale was offered to the night patrols. At times as many as a hundred men on horseback, and hundeds of dogs were on the trail. Often they would end up 15 miles from home, and be faced with a weary return.
The creature killed up to eight animals a night, many of these were mauled but not eaten. The animal tore out the organs of its victims, and drained them of their blood. Sometimes the dog hunted by day, sometimes by night. Poisoned sheep carcasses were set out, and bitches on heat used to attract the creature, but all to no avail.
It was some time before the creature was finally spotted; but it was not the expected dog. It was described as large, sandy brown in colour with dark stripes running down its back. It was said to have both dog and catlike qualities. The description was of no known creature.
Finally the dog was cornered in a copse. Hunters and dogs surrounded the small piece of woodland. The creature made a break for freedom. It ran directly at a hunter called Will Rothery. But Rothery was unable to take a shot; instead he stood to one side to let the animal pass. As it passed he is reported to have said “Skerse, what a dog!” Rothery was to be haunted by his failure for years to come.
Eventually though another hunter, Jonathon Patrickson, got close enough to pepper the dog with pellets. This was enough to slow the creature, but the pursuit still led the hunters from the upper parts of Kinniside, to Eskett, Arlecdon, Asby, Rowrah and Stockhow Hall. The Girt Dog made off down the River Ehen, but finally the hounds were more evenly matched with the creature. The dog was pursued for several miles. Finally John Steel managed to mortally wound the Girt Dog, and the hounds finally finished off their quarry in Eskett woods. The body was carried in triumph back to Ennerdale Bridge, and the celebrations are reported to have carried on for several days!
The carcass weighed an impressive 51kg. It was stuffed and put on display in the Keswick Museum and Art Gallery. By the 1950’s it was described as raggy and moth eaten, and thrown out.
It is now believed that the creature may have in fact been a thylacine, or Tasmanian wolf/tiger. One possible explanation for how it reached Ennerdale could be that it had escaped from a travelling circus. Whitehaven was a major port 200 years ago and it is possible that it had arrived on a ship. These creatures, which grew to nine foot in length, are thought to have been hunted to extinction in the 1930’s; although there are still occasional unconfirmed sightings in the Tasmanian wilderness. Thylacines were known to prefer the softer organs of its vicims, and to drink blood.
The cache is a simple 330ml clip lock box. As ever with me, it is a ‘tat free zone’ containing only a log book and pencil. Please use the hints as we want minimal disturbance to the area.
Sources:
The Wild Dog of Ennerdale, 1864, Available in Whitehaven Records Office DH 394/30.
Tales of old Cumbria, William Amos, Countryside Books.
The Cumberland Pacquet, various, May to September 1811.
There is a novel, ‘Mauler’ by Shawn Williamson which is based on the story of T'Girt Dog
Post script: the Whitehaven News of July 29th 2010 reported the sighting of a large, cat like creature close to Arlecdon. You've been warned ............