THURSBY, Cumberland - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

"THURSBY, a parish in the ward and county of Cumberland, 6 miles S.W. of Carlisle, its post town, 5 N.E. of Wigton, and 1 mile from the Curthwaite station on the Maryport and Carlisle railway. The village is situated on the river Wampool. The parish is divided into three townships, High-Thursby, Crofton, and Parton, with the hamlet of Micklethwaite. The soil is fertile. This place is supposed to have derived its name from Thor, to whom a temple is said to have been erected at Woodrigs, in the neighbourhood. A pillar of coarse stone, inscribed to Philip the Emperor and his son, bearing date 248, was dug up near the line of the military way to Wigton, and is preserved here. The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Carlisle, value £160, in the patronage of the dean and chapter. The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, contains monuments of the Briscoe family. It was built in 1846 on the site of the old one, which was partly built by David I. The parochial charities produce about £31 per annum, of which £18 go to Tomlinson's school. The Earl of Lonsdale and Sir W. Brisco, Bart., are lords of the manor." "CROFTON, a township in the parish of Thursby, Cumberland ward, in the county of Cumberland, 3½ miles N.E. of Wigton, and near Curthwaite railway station. Crofton Hall, the seat of Sir Wastell Briscoe, Bart., is delightfully situated in an extensive park, well stocked with deer, and which contains a fishpond of nearly 12 acres. Sir W. Briscoe is lord of the manor, and has recently reclaimed much land from the heath. Many ancient coins have been found; and at a short distance is a conical artificial mound, now planted with trees, supposed to be a tumulus of some British chieftain." "MICKLETHWAITE, a hamlet in the parish of Thursby, ward and county of Cumberland, 2 miles N.E. of Wigton. It is in conjunction with the hamlet of Parton, which together form a township" "PARTON, a township in the parish of Thursby, ward and county of Cumberland, 2 miles N.E. of Wigton. It is situated on the river Wampool. It is joined with Micklethwaite to form a township."

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