A substantial police presence was maintained at the house even after Whitelaw's retirement, owing to his time as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
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The mansion of Ennim just south of the village was the home for many years of the Conservative politician and cabinet minister William (Willie) later Viscount Whitelaw.
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It is divided by the River Petteril into Great Blencow to the south and Little Blencow to the north.
He was educated at the grammar school of Great Blencow, Cumberland, under Anthony Ireland, and prepared for the Presbyterian ministry in the academy of Thomas Dixon at Whitehaven.
The source of the Petteril is near Penruddock and Motherby, from where the young river runs northeast through Greystoke, Blencow and Newton Reigny, before passing under the M6 motorway, after which the river turns north, and the motorway roughly follows the course of the river towards Carlisle.