St Oswald
Thornton in Lonsdale, Yorkshire
Discover our fascinating church and its surrounding literary landscape with connections to the Brontes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; what might St. Oswald’s inspire in you?
The church is a reminder to the industrial heritage of the area and the harsh conditions faced by many who lived here. Around 1870, work began on the Ribblehead viaduct and Blea Moor tunnel. Over 200 men, women and children, from the shanty towns which sprang up, died through accident and disease. These are buried in the quiet churchyard, and plaques in the church and the churchyard commemorate them.
Visitors comment on the sense of peace and tranquility which they find in this lovely spot. Various books about the history of the church, and its connection with the railway, are for sale within the church.