"Asby was anciently written Askeby, probably from the same origin as Askham...

This parish is bounded on the East by the parishes of Ormshead, Warcop, and Crosby Garret; on the South, by the parishes of Crosby Garret and Orton; on the West, by the parish of Crosby Ravensworth; and on the North, by the parishes of Crosby Ravensworth and St. Laurence Appleby: And contains about 72 families, all of the church of England.

The church is dedicated to St. Peter; and is a rectory: in the patronage of Walter Fletcher of Hutton in the Forest in the county of Cumberland esquire. The church of Asby is an ancient building, with three bells.

It seemeth that anciently all the Askebys (which now make three distinct manors) were one undivided entire manor. Afterwards, the same became distinguished into Little Asby and Great Asby. Little Asby seems to have originally been the principal place; for in ancient writings we sometimes find it styles Old Askeby (Askeby Vetus) . Great Asby became again divided into moieties, Askeby Wynanderwath and Askeby Cotesford. There is a Winanderwath in the parish of Cliburn, and Winandermere in the barony of Kendal. But from whence any of them derive their name, we have not certainly found; most likely, from the name of the owner. Asby Cotesford .. had its name of distinction evidently from the owner. At Little Asby was a chapel, dedicated to St. Leonard.

Garthorne... seems to have belonged to the hospital of St. Leonard's York... a small part of it is in the manor of Crosby Ravensworth."

Nicolson and Burn: The history and antiquities of the counties of Westmorland and Cumberland. 1777. Transcribed by Anne Nichols.