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In 1066 Cumbria was part of Scotland, only a small portion of Furness
appears in the Domesday Book. In 1092 Cumbria became part of
England – the border moved from south of Kendal to north of Carlisle.
This area was then fought over for the next six centuries with devastating
consequencies for the regions vernacular architecture. Villages and towns
were frequently attacked and the buildings destroyed. The surviving
buildings from this period are defensive, the buildings of the poor were
those which could be easily repaired or rebuilt with cheap materials.
The area closest to the border was most at risk and the tower house,
stone house and the bastle survived longest here. While in the south, 50
miles from the border and relatively safe, undefended houses with
significant architectural features were being built initially in the 14
th
century for the gentry and by the late 16
th
century for the yeoman farmer
or statesman. This was aided considerably by industrial growth in the
cloth and woolen industries in the south which made many people
wealthy. Similar industry in the north was attempted but never
succeeded until after the Union of the Crowns in 1603.