The Packwoman's grave Langdale Cumbria - Out of Place Graves on Waymarking.com

This waymark would not be possible without the generous help of Paul Grantham, who kindly sent a photo to help find and identify the grave in such a remote place. He has also allowed me to quote him.

Quoting from Paul's own page.
"Folk tales handed down, say that this is the grave of an elderly hawker who travelled the hills towards the latter part of the 18th century. Peddling general wares at Lakeland farms, she would have been a well known visitor and no doubt her local knowledge would have enabled her to plan her itinerary to ensure that she reached shelter before nightfall.

Unfortunately, one morning she was discovered still surrounded by her wares, having apparently frozen to death in the remote hills. As it would be known that no claims would be made upon the corpse an immediate rudimentary burial was expedited." Paul Grantham source: (visit link)

Alfred W. Wainwright, the prolific, definitive guide writer to Lakeland fell walking, mentions the Packwoman's grave when writing about Rossett Pike in his 'A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells: Book Four - The Southern Fells'. He thinks she died around 1790. Wainwright does not give the exact location, asking people to respect her grave. He worries that it would be desecrated, if he revealed the grave's location, although he gives a line drawing of the "simple cross of stones". Knowing how few people read this site, and log waymarks, I am not worried to reveal the exact location. I challenge anyone to find this grave and log their visit.

Directions
This grave is marked with a simple cross of stones, and was extremely difficult to find without Paul's photo. The stone at the head is the most distinctive, when viewed from above. 200 years ago the path would have been along the edge of Rossett Gill or in the gill itself clambering over the loose boulders. An old path is discernible despite being covered by regrown moss and grass. The modern path is paved with local stone and the zigzags take you away from the gill and grave. The grave is clear of bracken and moss, on a small platform below the main crags near the top of Rossett Gill pass. Altitude around 450 meter for the grave. Valley bottom, Mickleden, is around 150 meter. Top of pass, around 610 meter. Grave is on south side of Rossett Gill.
There are several distinctive boulders around. See Gallery.
See author's log for route description.

Parking
Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park. N 54 26.718 W 003 06.148 Pay and Display

Streetmap.co.uk OS map (visit link)

source: (visit link)

List of Unconsecrated graves in UK (visit link)

Another account and poem (visit link)

Mentioned in The Mountains of England and Wales: Volume 2 England from Cicerone.co.uk
(visit link)

A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells: Book Four - The Southern Fells by Alfred W Wainwright (visit link)

First Name: Packwoman Died: 01/01/1790 Last Name: Not listed Born: Not listed

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   04/30/2022 hillhiker1 visited it 04/10/2017 yamanobori visited it 07/26/2013 grahamcumbria wrote comment for it 10/17/2009 Greygeeza&Tike visited it 02/17/2008 duncscott visited it 11/25/2007 flipflopnick wrote comment for it 11/25/2007 Tigg visited it 11/17/2007 fellsmanhiker visited it 10/10/2006 flipflopnick visited it

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