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Caldbeck, Cumberland

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Description from Mannix & Whellan's History, Gazetteer and Directory of Cumberland, 1847

Transcription by Carol Bennett © 1999


CALDBECK.

CALDBECK PARISH extends about eight miles in length and six in breadth; being bounded on the east by Castle Sowerby, on the south by Skidaw, on the west by Bassenthwaite, Uldale, and Ireby parishes, and on the north by Catlands, Brocklebank, and Warnel Fells. The soil near Hesket and Caldbeck is fertile, but the western parts of the enclosed land is cold and heavy. It ranks among its mineral treasures lead, copper, coal and limestone. It is divided into the three townships of Caldbeck Haltcliff, Caldbeck High, and Caldbeck Low which together in 1841, contained 1553 inhabitants.
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CALDBECK is a large village with several good houses, in Low Caldbeck township at the north eastern extremity of the parish, near the confluence of the Caldew and Caldbeck rivulet. Here is a woollen manufactory, said to be noted for the manufacture of "self gray cloth" for top coats; a fulling mill; two corn mills and a brewery. The Church, which is dedicated to St. Mungo, or Kentigern - the tutular saint of the North is situate in the village, and is a very ancient supposed, from a date which it bears, to have been erected in the year 1112. The Rev. James Lynn, M.A. is the rector, for whom the Rev. Christopher Parker officiates as curate. Photo © Steve Bulman, used with permission.
More photographs of the village may be found on Steve Bulman's excellent Images of Cumbria website.
The manor of Caldbeck is divided into two divisions, called Caldbeck Upperton or Upton (being that part which lay near the church) and Caldbeck under Fell, the part neat the mountains. It was a parcel of the great barony of Allerdale, until the heiress of the Lucy family carried it in marriage to the Percys, earls of Northumberland, with whom it remained till the sixth earl gave it to Henry VIII, who sold it to Thomas Dalston Esq. and Thomas, Lord Wharton, the latter of whom subsequently purchased Mr. Dalston's moiety. The whole continued in the Wharton family till the famous Duke Philip was obliged to alienate this and other great estates to four trustees, for the payment of his debts. It was re-sold to Charles, Duke of Somerset, from whom it passed to the Earl of Egremont, so that General Wyndham is now Lord of the soil; but the minerals which had been reserved by the Crown, now belong to the Earl of Pomfret, Sir George William Denys, Bart., and Sir Francis Shuckburgh, Bart. BROWN RIGG and RATTEN ROW are two hamlets in Low Caldbeck township, at the latter of which the rector has a little manor. There were here for many years, a coal mine and slate quarry. CALDBECK FELLS About the year 1790 a Mr. Row opened a rich lead mine and also erected Little Smelting Works, near Carrock beck which are still remaining. Having remained idle for several years, the mine was leased and re-opened in 1810, by Messrs Richardson, Lowrey and others. T.R.G. Braddyll Esq., of Conishead Priory next purchased this mine. CALDBECK HIGH contains the hamlets of Branthwaite, Fellside, Hudscales, Green-Rigg and Nether-Row, with some scattered dwellings. Hudscales seems to have taken its name from the Saxon term "hyde" and "scales" or "skales" formed also from the Saxon or Gothic word "skalga" ( a cover) were huts built of peat for the shelter of the shepherds. CALDBECK HALTCLIFF township contains the town of Hesket New Market, the hamlet of Haltcliff, half a mile south, with the hanmlets of Howbeck, Woodhall and Mosedale. The latter is four miles S. of Hesket and with Swineside, which lies opposite to it, forms a mense manor, held of General Wyndham. George Fox the founder of the Society of Friends, resided for some time at Woodhall. HESKET NEW MARKET is a small market town at the southern extremity of the parish, on the west side of the Caldew. Its name is supposed to be a corruption, arising out of the rapid pronunciation of "East Cote" or "East Gate." The market which was held on a Friday is nearly obsolete, or at least of little consequence; but cattle fairs are held here on the first Friday in May, and every alternate Friday till Whitsuntide; and for sheep and cattle, on the last Thursday in August, and the second Thursday in October. Hesket Hall, now a farm house "is a curious old building." Howbeck forms the southern suburb of Hesket and here is a school to which Richard Richardson has left £3 a year to be paid out of his estate at Wham, for the education of three poor children of Caldbeck parish." History, Gazetteer and Directory of Cumberland, Mannix & Whellan, 1847.

[Transcribed by Carol Bennett in 1999]

More extracts from Mannix & Whelan's Directory can be found on Steve Bulman's excellent Images of Cumbria website.