EGREMONT, Cumberland - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

"EGREMONT, a parish and ancient market town in the ward of Allerdale-above- Derwent, county Cumberland, 5 miles S.E. of Whitehaven, its post town, and 20 S.W. of Carlisle. The Nethertown station on the Whitehaven and Furness Junction railway is about 2 miles S.W. of the town. There is also a branch line from Whitehaven to the N. side of the town. This place is of great antiquity, and the neighbourhood is asserted by tradition to have been the scene of several engagements between the Danes and Saxons. At the Conquest, Ralph de Meschines, to whom William had granted the whole county of Cumberland, gave the barony of Egremont, then called Copeland, to his brother, William de Meschines, who erected the castle, the ruins of which still occupy a hill to the N.W. of the town. A new bridge has been built over the river Echen. The town, which is situated within 3 miles of the Irish Sea, was anciently a borough, and returned members to parliament in the 23rd of Edward I., but was on its own petition disfranchised in the 24th of the same reign. It is governed by a borough serjeant, 2 bailiffs, 4 constables, &c., appointed at the court-leet of the lord of the manor, held in April. It consists mainly of one long street, lighted with gas. The houses are for the most part ancient. It is a polling place for the western division of the county. The people are chiefly employed in the flax and paper mills, tanneries, brewery, quarries, and in the manufacture of check and sailcloth. Soapstone is found here, and a considerable quantity of lime is burnt. The business of the place has greatly improved of late years, there having been a greatly increased demand for the mineral products of the district. Above 100 tons of iron ore are raised per day, and shipped at Whitehaven for the supply of the iron foundries of South Wales. The living is a rectory* in the diocese of Carlisle, value £249. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is an ancient structure with low tower. It contains a handsomely-carved oak pulpit and ancient stone font of an octagon form. The parochial charities produce about £10 per annum. There are chapels belonging to the Wesleyan Methodists and Wesleyan Association. There is a parochial school for boys and girls, also an infant school. The remains of the old Norman castle consist chiefly of the gateway, tower, and vaulted entrance, of circular Norman arches, with the western and three narrow gateways. There are several good residences in the neighbourhood. General Wyndham is lord of the manor. The market is held around the cross on Saturday, and is well supplied with corn. Fairs for horses, cattle, &c., take place on the 17th February, third Friday in May, and 18th September; also on the 5th of every month for live stock. Statute fairs for hiring servants are held at Whitsuntide and Martinmas."

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