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KIRKOSWALD, Cumberland - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

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[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer (1868)]
"KIRKOSWALD, a parish in Leath ward, county Cumberland, 8 miles N.E. of Penrith, its post town, 15 S. of Carlisle, and 6 from the Plumpton station on the Lancashire and Carlisle railway. The village, which is considerable, but irregularly built, is situated on the declivity of a hill near the eastern bank of the river Eden. The parish, which is about 6 miles in length by 4 broad, contains the township of Staffield. It was formerly a market town, but the market is now discontinued. At the W. end of the town are the remains of Kirk Oswald Castle, once held by the lords of Burgh, but now in the possession of the Musgrave family. There are paper, corn, and saw mills, which give employment to many of the inhabitants. The land is well cultivated, and chiefly arable. Over the Eden is a neat bridge of six arches, built in 1762. The Raven Beck, which flows through the town, is spanned by a bridge of one arch. Kirk Oswald is a polling place for the eastern division of the county. The parish is embellished with plantations of oak, fir, and other trees. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Carlisle, value £120, in the patronage of the lord chancellor. The church, dedicated to St. Oswald, is an ancient stone edifice, with a detached tower built on a hill 200 yards from the church. In the churchyard are some ancient gravestones. A spring of water runs through the church, which is supposed at one time to have been used for baptism. There are a few small charities for the poor. The Independents and Wesleyans have each a chapel, and there is a National school, with an endowment of £15 per annum. The principal residences are Eden Hall, Staffield Hall, and the College, which last is built on the site of the old college. This mansion was appropriated as the residence of twelve priests belonging to the church, and was plundered by the parliamentary troops in the reign of Charles I. Some remains of the old buildings are still to be seen. Fairs are held on the Thursday before Whit-Monday, and the 5th August, for pedlery." "BUSK, a village in Leath ward, in the parish of Kirkoswald and county of Cumberland, 3 miles from Kirkoswald." "STAFFIELD, a township in the parish of KirkOswald, Leath ward, county Cumberland, 1½ mile N. of Kirk-Oswald. It is a small agricultural village, situated on Croglin Water. The township includes the hamlets of Scaromanie, Little Croglan, and Haresceugh. The soil is gravelly."

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