Nearby Places
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]
- 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
- "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)
- 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 |
- 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.
- "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)
- 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
are deposited at the University of Durham, special collections.
More detailed information may be found in the
Guide to the Archives and Special Collections at Durham University Library.
- 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.
[Page originated by Don Noble on 7 Sep 1997 and updated 18 Mar 2000 - Don Noble]
© Copyright Rosemary Lockie, GENUKI and Contributors 1999-2008, &c.
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[Created 7 Sep 1997. Last updated 24 Sep 2008 - 18:17 by Rosemary Lockie]
