Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
A Shared Responsibility for a Very Special Place
The Edwardian Promenade -
The Banks Bowness on Solway
The third phase of this project to improve the 'Banks' at Bowness-on-Solway is continuing successfully.
Thanks to funding from the Local Heritage Initiative
Gilly Walton, a local resident artist and member of the Community Group, has designed a fantastic Roman style mosaic that forms the floor of the Roman Shelter on the Banks, now the official end of Hadrian's Wall Path Trail in Cumbria. Community and school workshops have been held to produce the designs and creative ideas, and these are now incorporated into the complete mosaic. The garden on the Banks has been inspired by Jeannette Murray, also a Community Group member, and planted with Roman herbs and flowers. Jeannette and her band of happy helpers have done all the hard graft and produced a wonderful scented and colourful place to sit on a warm spring day. The benches are in place, one depicting a local Haaf-Net, and the other in a Roman style, both locally produced. Luckily the January storms did not set sail to sea the Haaf-Net bench, but it was a near miss. Turfing was carried out on the front of the Banks in the traditional Edwardian style, and again the rages of the winter storms did not manage to rip away the turf, all due to the good work of the volunteer turf layers. Community Group meetings have gathered together the information for the interpretation panels, to be housed within the shelter, and accompanying leaflets. The history, wildlife and culture of Bowness and the surrounding area will be included in the interpretation. Looking up to the top of the Roman style shelter, you will now see a pediment, provided by the Countryside Agency, translating the Latin for a welcome to and good luck for the walk along the Wall. The Banks are definitely worth a visit, even if you are not following the Hadrian's Wall Path Trail. Solway Coast AONB © 2006 
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