CALDER, Cumberland - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

"CALDER, (or Calder-Bridge), a village and chapelry in the parish of St. Bridget's Beckermet, ward of Allerdale-above-Derwent, in the county of Cumberland, 4 miles to the N.W. of Ravenglass, and 9¾ from Whitehaven. Egremont is its post town. It is pleasantly situated near the sea-coast, on the banks of the river Calder, 1½ mile from the Whitehaven and Furness Junction railway, which has a station at Sellafield. The Calder flows along a beautiful and wooded valley to the sea, and is at this place crossed by a bridge. In a secluded spot on its banks are the picturesque ruins of an abbey founded about 1134 by Ranulph de Meschines. It was for monks of the Cistercian order, and was dedicated to the Virgin. At the Dissolution it was valued at £64, and given to Dr. Thomas Leigh. The remains of the buildings, which were in the Norman style, consist of part of the tower of the church, supported on clustered columns of excellent workmanship, about 24 feet in height, with capitals ornamented by a roll, whence spring the beautiful pointed arches which formed the cupola or lantern; five arches of the nave similarly supported; and portions of the western entrance. The living is a perpetual curacy* in the diocese of Carlisle, and in the patronage of Captain Irwin. The church, dedicated to St. Bridget, is a cruciform stone building, in the early English style of architecture. It has an embattled tower with pinnacles, and was erected in 1842 at the sole expense of Captain Thomas Irwin. Near the abbey ruins is a modern mansion called Calder Abbey, the seat of Captain Thomas Irwin, who is chief landowner. Vestiges of a Roman camp exist in the neighbourhood. Ponsonby Hall is near Calder Bridge. General Wyndham is lord of the manor."

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