The present Masonic Province covers the old counties of Cumberland and Westmorland which were united in 1974 to form the county of Cumbria - the second largest (with 2629 square miles) and second least densely populated (118 persons per square mile) county in England.


At its formation, Cumbria absorbed all of Cumberland, most of Westmorland together with some parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire.


Geographically, it probably has the most diverse features and scenery of any in the country.


To the west and north, the county is bordered by the Irish Sea, the Solway Firth and the Scottish Border, while to the east runs the western escarpments of the Pennines.  The southern boundary runs roughly westwards to Morcambe Bay.


The central part of the county is occupied by the Lake District, a National Park of lakes and mountains radiating out from the highest point of England, Scafell Pike at 3210 feet.


This central core consists of old sedimentary and volcanic rocks laid down between 400 and 500 million years ago when Britain was part of a super-continent sandwiched between Europe and North America.


The western coastal areas contained rich coal and iron deposits which for many years brought prosperity and employment to the main towns of Whitehaven, Workington and Maryport and surrounding villages.


These traditional industries have now declined dramatically, particularly in the second half of the twentieth century and at the beginning of the new Millennium, tourism, based on the Lake District, is now the most important single Industry.


Carlisle to the north, with a population of around 80,000, is the administrative centre for Cumbria and its strategic position, military and industrially, just south of the Scottish border has resulted in a turbulent history since Roman times.


Industry today is diversified into engineering, food processing and manufacture and textiles and the town is an important junction on the west coast railway between London and Scotland as well as the M6 Motorway.


Today, it is the administrative centre for the Lake District National Park and its commerce includes shoe making, insurance and printing.


Kendal in the south, also dating from Roman times, was an important Norman centre and later the largest market town in Westmorland.