BURGH-BY-SANDS, Cumberland - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

"BURGH-BY-SANDS, a parish in the ward and county of Cumberland, 5 miles to the N.W. of Carlisle, its post town. It is situated near the S. coast of the Solway Frith, and is a station on the Carlisle and Silloth Bay railway. The parish, which is very extensive, comprising an area of 7,839 acres, is crossed by the ship canal from Carlisle to the Solway Frith, and contains the townships of Boustead Hill, Burgh-by-Sands, Longburgh, and Moor-house. This place was the site of the Roman Axelodunum, one of the stations on the line of the great wall of Severus. The vallum constructed by Adrian terminated here. Roman relics have been found, and remains of the ramparts still exist. Here was formerly a castle, which is said to have been taken by William, King of Scotland, in 1174, and the ruins of which existed till the reign of Henry VIII. During the border wars this place was the scene of several contests between the Scots and English; and in 1307 Edward I., on his last expedition against the Scots, died hero. An obelisk was erected in commemoration of this event on Burgh Marsh, the site of the English camp, by Henry, Duke of Norfolk, in 1685. This monument was restored in 1803 by the Earl of Lonsdale. Burgh is the head of a barony which belonged to De Morville, one of the murderers of Thomas-à-Becket, and was given by him as an endowment to the abbey of Holme-Cultram. It was subsequently held by the Dacres and Howards. The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Carlisle, worth £120, in the patronage of the lord chancellor. The church is dedicated to St. Michael. Like that of Annan, on the opposite side of the Solway, it was strongly fortified as a place of defence, the walls of the tower being from 6 to 7 feet thick, and the basement story vaulted. The parochial charities, including a bequest for education, produce £10 a year." "BOUSTEAD HILL, a township in the parish of Burgh by Sands, Cumberland ward, in the county of Cumberland, 7 miles to the W. of Carlisle. The Ship canal, connecting Carlisle with the Solway Frith, passes this place." "DYKESFIELD, a village in the township of Longburgh and parish of Burgh by Sands, in the county of Cumberland, 6 miles N.W. of Carlisle." "LONGBURGH, a township in the parish of Burgh-by-Sands, ward and county of Cumberland, 1 mile W. of Burgh, and 6 N.W. of Carlisle. It is situated on the south bank of the ship canal, and includes the two hamlets of Dykesfield and Shield." "MOOR-HOUSE, a township in the parish of Burgh-by-Sands, county Cumberland, 5 miles W. of Carlisle, and 2 S. of Burgh. It is situated near the Ship canal, and includes Thurstonfield. The Society of Friends have a meeting-house." "SHIELD, a hamlet in the township of Longburgh, parish of Burgh-by-Sands, county Cumberland, 8 miles N.E. of Carlisle, on the Ship canal." "THURSTONFIELD, a village in the township of Moorhouse, county Cumberland, 5 miles W. of Carlisle." "WESTEND, a township in the parish of Burgh-by-Sands, ward and county of Cumberland."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]