DACRE, Cumberland - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

"DACRE, a parish in the ward of Leath, in the E. division of the county of Cumberland, 4½ miles S.W. of Penrith, and 2 from Lake Ulleswater. It is situated on the river Dacre and the Carlisle railway. The parish contains the townships of Dacre, Great Blencowe, Stainton, Newbiggin, and Soulby. In the year 930, Constantine, King of Scotland, and Eugenius, King of Cumberland, did homage to King Athelstan at this place. The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Carlisle, value £120, in the patronage of the lord chancellor. The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, is an old structure in the Norman style. It is said to have been built from the ruins of an ancient monastery, and contains several tombs and effigies of the Dacres. The charities amount to £235 per annum. There are National and Sunday schools; the former has an endowment of £150 per annum. The small tithes of the townships of Dacre and Soulby were commuted for land in 1806. W. Hasell, Esq., of Dalemain, is lord of the manor. Dacre gives the title of baron to the Brands, of Hoo. In the vicinity is the old seat of the Dacres, with its four square towers, now converted into a farmhouse." "GREAT BLENCOW, a township in the parish of Dacre, Leath ward, in the county of Cumberland, 4 miles to the N.W. of Penrith. Here is a free grammar school, established and endowed by Thomas Burbank, in 1576, which has a revenue of about £190 per annum. The first Lord Ellenborough was a pupil in this school." "NEWBIGGIN, a township in the parish of Dacre, Leath ward, county Cumberland, 3½ miles W. by S. of Penrith. The township, which is chiefly moorland, contains a few ancient farmhouses of an embattled construction. There is a school for both sexes. Henry Howard, Esq., is lord of the manor. On the enclosure of the parish in 1772 the tithes were commuted for land and a money payment." "SOULBY, a township in the parish of Dacre, Leath ward, county Cumberland, 5 miles S.W. of Penrith. It is situated on the margin of Ulleswater, under Soulby Fell. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture. E. W. Hasell, Esq., is lord of the manor." "STAINTON, a township in the parish of Dacre, Leath ward, county Cumberland, 2½ miles S.W. of Penrith. It is a small village situated on the river Emont, near the Lancaster and Carlisle railway. The soil consists of clay and sand. Stainton was formerly a Roman station. H. Howard, Esq., is lord of the manor."

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