WASHFOLDS HOME PAGE

A Survey of the Washfolds in the Duddon valley

Washfolds were used to clean the fleece of the flocks of sheep on the fells before they were clipped and the wool sent to the market. They are scattered over both sides of the valley and altogether we have found forty five sites recorded in the Heritage Envoronment Records (HER) or in the  Duddon Valley Local History Group survey, Ring Cairns to Reservoirs (R2R) survey in 2009. Some are marked on the early editions of the large scale Ordnance Survey maps as washfolds, wash dubs or sheep washes. Map legends record Washfold Point on Devoke Water and Wash Dub Beck above Turner Hall camp site.