Mawbray

[1] Mawbray serves as the hub of a community of several smaller hamlets, including Beckfoot, Goodyhills, Hailforth, Holme St Cuthbert, Jericho, Newtown, Salta, and Tarns.

[3] Alternatively, the early forms of the first element seem to be from Old English mæge, later replaced by Maw from the variant māge.

The archaeologist in charge of the expedition, R. H. Bewley, called the find their "best evidence for permanent settlement" on the Solway Plain.

[6] On the Moss at nearby Salta, a Bronze Age rapier (a kind of sword) was discovered in the 1980s, and is believed to have been crafted as early as 1100 BC, providing further evidence of pre-Roman occupation.

During the Roman period, this part of the Cumbrian coastline was fortified, as coastal defences were constructed beyond the western end of Hadrian's Wall to protect against incursions across the Solway Firth.

[8] However, given the term "Pannon" used in the inscription, recent analysis suggests that it is more likely that soldiers from Pannonia – modern-day Hungary – were responsible for the Mawbray stone.

[11] A system called the seawake – a night watch along the coast – was instituted, and Mawbray participated along with other coastal communities in the area.

[5] Defence against Scottish raids was also important to the Lord and Steward of Holm Cultram when planning the settlement of New Mawbray, today known as Newtown, in the same period.

[12] Mawbray used to have many diverse shops and tradesmen operating in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, but in the present day, these have been lost.

An amateur dramatics group called the Mawbray Entertainers performed their own pantomime every year from 1988 to 2015 during the half-term break in February in Culterham Hall, and the money raised was donated to a range of local and national charities.

In addition, the hall plays host to craft sales several times a year, including in the run-up to Christmas, where local craftspeople sell a range of items.

Compared with the mountainous Lake District and the southern part of the county, Mawbray, as is the case with the rest of the Solway Plain, tends to have milder winters with snowfall being relatively uncommon thanks to its coastal location.

Mawbray fisherman
The Lowther Arms, which closed in 2018, is located roughly in the centre of the village. There is a play area for children located on the green opposite, and one of Mawbray's several farms in the background.