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UPPER DENTON, Cumberland
"Comprises a small district, bounded on the east by Northumberland, on the south-west by a detached part of Lanercost [Ed: Nether Denton], and on the west and north by the river Irthing. The manor belonged in the reign of Edward I. to one Richard Stonland, by whom it was conveyed to the Witheringtons, in which family it remained for several generations. The next possessors were the Tweedales; it was subsequently conveyed to the Howards, and is now [Ed: 1884] held by the Earl of Carlisle."
[Description from T. Bulmer & Co's History, Topography and Directory of East Cumberland, 1884]
Archives and Libraries
- There are no record repositories within the parish. Information on County Record Offices and Libraries generally may be found on our Cumberland Archives and Libraries web page. Additional records are at the University of Durham - Library Archives and Special Collections.
Bibliography
- History, Topography and Directory of East Cumberland, T.F. Bulmer, T.Bulmer & Co., Manchester, 1884.
- Shielings and Bastles, Royal Commission on Historical Momuments (England), H.M.S.O., 1970
Church History
- "The church, which is situated in the village, was restored about three years ago [Ed. restored ca. 1881]. The old fabric was a very humble structure in the early Norman style, built of stones taken from the old Roman Wall, and had undergone very little change during the course of many ages. For ecclesiastical purposes, this parish has been united with the district attached to St. Mary Magdalene, in Gilsland. In early times, this church belonged to the priory of Lanercost. Near the church is an old pele tower, supposed to have been originally the vicarage house." (Extract from Bulmer's 1884 History & Directory, cited above)
Church Records
- The following church records are available at the Carlisle office of the
Cumbria Archive Service:
Church of England (CRO Reference PR 95):
Baptisms Marriage Banns Burial Bishops Trans 1813-1975 1817-1970 1819-1837 1814-1871 1813-1882
Civil Registration
- Beginning 1 July 1837, births, deaths and marriages, regardless of religious affiliation, were recorded with Civil Registration Offices in Cumbria, as in the rest of England. Copies of certificates recording these events may be purchased.
Gazetteers
- The transcription of the section for Upper Denton from the National Gazetteer (1868) provided by Colin Hinson.
History
- "The pele tower, or fortified vicarage, is located at NY615654 on the Ordnance Survey
maps. In 1970 it was roofless, in ruin, but standing two stories high. It was one of a number of
fortified parsonages in the area."
(More information is available in 'Shielings and Bastles', cited above)
Manors
- Upper Denton was a part of the Howard of Naworth family estates and the Barony of Gilsland. Many of the Manorial Records are available at the Carlisle CRO, but the bulk of the family records have been deposited in the University of Durham's Library. More detailed information may be found on the Durham University Library - Special Collections website.
Probate Records
- Upper Denton fell under the authority of the ancient diocese of Carlisle and wills prior to 1858 were proved in the consistory court there. Records from 1548 to 1858 include original wills, letters of administration and inventories, although there are significant gaps in the years before 1661. These are deposited with the CRO at Carlisle. Comprehensive indexes exist, at the Carlisle CRO, in card files easily accessible in the reading room. The indexes cover from 1617 to 1941, listing the year of probate and the residence of the deceased. This is extraordinarily helpful in distinguishing between many individuals of the same name. Microfilm of many of these records, and a partial typescript of the indexes, is available at the Kendal office of the CRO.
- The Province of York covered most of northern England, including this parish, and anyone who died leaving property in more than one diocese within the province would have their will proved in the Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of York (PCY) or sometimes in the Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York. These records are now deposited with York University, Borthwick Institute of Historical Research.
- For probate from 1858 on, and general information, see our England - Probate page. However please note registered copy probate records for Cumberland are also available 1858-1941 at the Record Office in Carlisle.