Situated on the border of England and Scotland, Nicholforest has a long and fascinating history. This area was a part of the historically disputed territories which used to be known as the debateable lands. The parish extends about 10 miles east to west and 2 miles north to south.

  The parish church of St. Nicholas is a Grade II listed building and is situated close to Warwicksland and the village hall. The River Liddle, a tributary of the Border Esk, at Penton Bridge (also known as Liddell Water) has long been host to sea trout and salmon enthusiasts.

  The several small hamlets within the parish of Nicholforest include: Bushfield, Catlowdy, Kershopefoot, Penton, Scuggate, Stoneygate and Warwicksland.

  The area was once a huge forest between England and Scotland and today there are still many trees, watered by the Liddel and the Kershope coming down from the Cheviots.

  In 1870-72, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Nichol Forest like this:

"NICHOL-FOREST, a chapelry in Kirkandrews-upon-Esk parish, Cumberland; on Kershope burn and the river Liddel, and on the North British- railway, adjacent to Scotland, around Kershope-Foot r. station, 12 miles N E by N of Longtown. Post-town, Longtown, Cumberland. Acres, 7, 302. Real property, £4, 632. Pop.in 1851, 744; in 1861, 1, 216. Houses, 141. The increase of pop. arose from the temporary presence of labourers employed in the forming of the railway . The surface is hilly. The streams Kershope and Liddel here form several cascades. A medicinal spring, called Hert-feel spa, rises from the bed of the Liddel. The living is a p. curacy in the diocese of Carlisle. Value, £132. Patron, the Rector of Kirkandrews-upon-Esk. A new church was built in 1867, and is in the early English style. The poet Armstrong was a native”

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