GOSFORTH, Cumberland - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

"GOSFORTH, a parish in the ward of Allerdale-above-Derwent, county Cumberland, 5 miles N. of Ravenglass, and 12 S.E. of Whitehaven, its post town. It is situated on the river Bleng, and includes the townships of High and Low Bolton, Boonwood, and Newton. Seascale is a large sea-side hamlet of the parish, much frequented for bathing, where there is a station on the Whitehaven and Furness Junction railway, about 3 miles W. of Gosforth. There is a large tract of moorland, and several extensive peat mosses. This place supplies good building stone, which is extensively quarried. The tithes were commuted for land under an Enclosure Act in 1810. The living is a rectory* in the diocese of Carlisle. The church is a substantial edifice, partly in the Norman style of architecture, decorated with curious stone carvings. It is dedicated to St. Mary, and has monuments of the Senhouse and Parker families. The register commences in 1571. There are a few small charities. There is a National school possessing a small endowment. Gosforth Hall, formerly a good mansion, is now a farmhouse. A copper battle-axe was found at Bolton Wood, and at Seascale are the remains of a Druidical temple. General Wyndham is lord of the manor. Cattle fairs are held at Boonwood on 25th April and 18th October; statute fairs for hiring servants at Gosforth at Whitsuntide and Martinmas." "BOLTON, a hamlet in the parish of Gosforth, ward of Allerdale-above-Derwent, in the county of Cumberland, 5 miles to the N. of Ravenglass." "BOON WOOD, a hamlet in the parish of Gosforth, ward of Allerdale-above-Derwent, in the county of Cumberland, 5 miles to the N. of Ravenglass. Two annual fairs are held here for the sale of cattle, on the 25th April and the 18th October." "NEWTON, a hamlet in the parish of Gosforth, county Cumberland, 5 miles N.W. of Ravenglass." "SEASCALE, a station on the Whitehaven and Furness junction railway, county Cumberland, 5 miles N.W. of Ravenglass, on the coast."

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