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 | It has been suggested that Cumberland (unitary authority) be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since November 2023. |
| Cumberland | |
|---|---|
| Historic county | |
 | |
 | |
| Area | |
| • 1831 | 969,490 acres (3,923.4 km2)1831 Census cited in Vision of Britain – Ancient county data |
| • 1911 | 973,086 acres (3,937.94 km2) |
| • 1961 | 973,146 acres (3,938.18 km2) |
| Population | |
| • 1911 | 265,746 Vision of Britain – Cumberland population (density and area) |
| • 1961 | 294,303 |
| Density | |
| • 1911 | 0.27/acre (0.67/ha) |
| • 1961 | 0.3/acre (0.74/ha) |
| History | |
| • Origin | Historic |
| • Created | 12th Century |
| Status |
|
| Chapman code | CUL |
| Government | Cumberland County Council (1889–1974) |
| • HQ | Carlisle |
 Arms of Cumberland County Council | |
| Subdivisions | |
| • Type | Wards |
| • Units | |
 | |
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Cumberland (/ˈkʌmbərlənd/ KUM-bər-lənd) is an area of Northern England which was historically a county. The county was bordered by Northumberland to the north-east, County Durham to the east, Westmorland to the south-east, Lancashire to the south, and the Scottish counties of Dumfriesshire and Roxburghshire to the north. The area includes the city of Carlisle, part of the Lake District and North Pennines, and the Solway Firth coastline.
Cumberland had an administrative function from the 12th century until 1974, when it was subsumed into Cumbria with Westmorland as well as parts of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It gives its name to the unitary authority area of Cumberland, which has similar boundaries but excludes Penrith.
Early history
In the Early Middle Ages, Cumbria was part of the Kingdom of Strathclyde in the Hen Ogledd, or "Old North", and its people spoke a Brittonic language now called Cumbric. The first record of the term 'Cumberland' appears in AD 945, when the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle recorded that the area was ceded to Malcolm I, king of Alba (Scotland), by King Edmund I of England. As with 'Cymru', the native Welsh name for Wales, the names 'Cumberland' and 'Cumbria' are derived from kombroges in Common Brittonic, which originally meant "compatriots".[1][2]
At the time of the Domesday Book (AD 1086) most of the future county was part of Scotland, although some villages around Millom, which were the possessions of the Earl of Northumbria, had been incorporated into Yorkshire.[3]
In AD 1092, King William Rufus of England invaded the Carlisle district, settling it with colonists. He created an Earldom of Carlisle, and granted the territory to Ranulf le Meschin. In 1133, Carlisle was made the see of a new diocese, largely identical with the area of the earldom. However, on the death of King Henry I of England in 1135, the area was regained by King David I of Scotland. He was able to consolidate his power and made Carlisle one of his chief seats of government, while England descended into a lengthy civil war. The Cumbric language is believed to have become extinct in the 12th century.[4]
The area returned to the English crown in 1157, when Henry II of England took possession of the area (from Malcolm IV of Scotland). Henry II formed two new counties from the former earldom: Westmorland and Carliol – originally an abbreviation of the Latin Carlioliensis ' of Carlisle'. Westmorland also included areas formerly part of the Earldom of Lancaster. The lead- and silver-mining area of Alston, previously associated with the Liberty of Tynedale was later also added to the new county of Carliol for financial reasons.[5] By 1177, Carliol had become known as Cumberland.[6] The border between England and Scotland was made permanent by the Treaty of York in 1237.
Geography
The boundaries formed in the 12th century were not changed substantially over the county's existence. There are four English historic counties and two Scottish counties that it borders: Northumberland and County Durham to the east; Westmorland to the south, the Furness part of Lancashire to the southwest; Dumfriesshire to the north and Roxburghshire to the northeast.
To the west the county is bounded by the Solway Firth and the Irish Sea. The northern boundary is formed by the Solway Estuary and the border with Scotland running east to Scotch Knowe at Kershope Burn. The boundary runs south from Scotch Knowe along the Cheviot Hills, then followed a tributary of the River Irthing and crossed Denton Fell to the River Tees. From Tees Head the boundary crosses the Pennines to descend Crowdundale Beck, from where it followed the rivers Eden and Eamont to the centre of Ullswater. The line follows Glencoin Beck to the top of Helvellyn ridge at Wrynose Pass and along the River Duddon (near Millom) to the sea .
The highest point of the county is Scafell Pike, at 3,208 feet (978 m), the highest mountain in England. Carlisle is the county town.
Sub-divisions
The Earldom of Carlisle was partitioned into baronies. When the County of Cumberland was created, the baronies were subdivided as wards, a county sub-division also used in Durham, Northumberland and Westmorland. These originated as military subdivisions used to organise the male inhabitants for the county's defence from Scottish troop incursions.[7]
Each ward was composed of a number of parishes, areas originally formed for ecclesiastical administration. In common with other northern England counties, many ancient parishes in Cumberland were very large, often consisting of a number of distinct townships and hamlets. Many of these ancient parishes eventually became civil parishes and form the lowest level of local government.
Allerdale above Derwent
| Parishes[8] | Notes |
|---|---|
| Arlecdon | |
| Beckermet St John | Included part of township of Calder & Beckermet or Calderbridge |
| Beckermet St Bridget | Included townships of Ennerdale & Kinniside, Eskdale & Wasdale |
| Bootle | |
| Brigham | Included townships of Blindbothel, Buttermere, Cockermouth, Eaglesfield, Embleton, Greysouthen, Mosser, Setmurthey, Whinfell |
| Cleator | |
| Corney | |
| Crosthwaite (part) | Included township of Borrowdale |
| Dean | |
| Drigg and Carlton | |
| Egremont | |
| Gosforth | Included township of Bolton |
| Haile | |
| Harrington | |
| Irton with Santon | Included township of Santon & Murthwaite |
| Lamplugh | Included townships of Kelton & Winder, Murton |
| Lorton | Included townships of Brackenthwaite, Wythop |
| Loweswater | |
| Millom | Included hamlet of Birker with Austhwaite, township of Ulpha |
| Moresby | Included township of Parton |
| Muncaster | |
| Ponsonby | Included part of township of Calder & Beckermet or Calderbridge |
| St Bees | Include townships of Hensingham, Lowside Quarter, Netherwasdale, Preston Quarter, Rottington, Sandwith, Wheddicarr, Whitehaven |
| Waberthwaite | |
| Whicham | |
| Whitbeck | |
| Workington | Included townships of Great Clifton, Little Clifton, Stainburn, Winscales |
Allerdale below Derwent
| Parishes[8] | Notes |
|---|---|
| Allhallows | |
| Aspatria | Including townships of Hayton & Mealo, Oughterside & Allerby |
| Bassenthwaite | |
| Bolton | Including townships of Bolton Gate, Bolton Wood & Quarry Hill, Bolton Lowside, Isel Old Park, Sunderland |
| Bridekirk | Including townships of Dovenby, Great Broughton, Little Broughton |
| Bromfield (part) | Including townships of Allonby, Langrigg & Mealrigg, Papcastle, Tallentire, Westnewton |
| Caldbeck (part) | |
| Cammerton | Including township of Seaton |
| Crosscanonby | Including townships of Birkby & Canonby, Blennerhasset & Kirkland, Crosby, Maryport |
| Crosthwaite (part) | Included townships of Castlerigg St John's & Wythburn, Keswick, Ribton, Underskiddaw |
| Dearham | Including township of Ellenborough & Ewanrigg |
| Flimby | |
| Gilcrux | |
| Holme Cultram | Including townships of Abbey Quarter (or Holme Abbey), Holme East Waver Quarter, Holme St Cuthbert's Quarter, Holme Low Quarter |
| Ireby | Including townships of High Ireby, Low Ireby |
| Isel | Including township of Blindcrake and Redmain |
| Plumbland | |
| Torpenhow | Including townships of Bewaldeth and Snittlegarth, Bothel & Thrupland |
| Uldale | |
| West Ward |
Eskdale
| Parishes[8] | Notes |
|---|---|
| Arthuret | Included townships of Braconhill, Lineside, Longtown, Netherby |
| Bewcastle | |
| Brampton | |
| Castlecarrock | |
| Crosby | High & Low |
| Cumrew | Outside and Inside |
| Cumwhitton | Included township of Northsceugh |
| East Farlam | |
| Hayton | Included townships of Little Crosby, Fenton & Faugh, Talkin |
| Irthington | Included townships of Kingwater, Laversdale, Newby, Newtown |
| Kingmoor (hamlet) | Extra-parochial liberty belonging to the Corporation of Carlisle |
| Kirkandrews upon Esk | Included townships of Kirkandrews Moat, Kirkandrews Nether Quarter, Kirkandrews Upper Quarter, Nichol Forest |
| Kirklinton | Included townships of Hethersgill, Westlinton (or Levington) |
| Lanercost | Included townships of Askerton, Burtholme & Banks, Lineside |
| Nether Denton | |
| Scaleby | East and West |
| Stanwix | |
| Stapleton | Included townships of Belbank, Solport Quarter, Trough |
| Upper Denton | |
| Walton | High and Low |
| West Farlam |
Leath
| Parishes[8] | Notes |
|---|---|
| Addingham | Included townships of Gamblesby, Glassonby, Hunsonby & Winskill |
| Ainstable and Rushcroft | |
| Alston with Garrigill | Included the Chapelry of Garrigill |
| Caldbeck (part) | Township of Mosedale |
| Carlisle, St Mary's (part) | Township of Middlesceugh & Braithwaite |
| Castle Sowerby | |
| Croglin | |
| Dacre | |
| Edenhall | Included township of Langwathby |
| Great Salkeld | |
| Greystoke | Included townships of Berrier & Murrah, Bowscale, Hutton John, Hutton Roof, Hutton Soil, Matterdale, Mungrisdale, Threlkeld, Watermillock |
| Hesket in the Forest | |
| Hutton in the Forest | |
| Kirkland | Included townships of Culgaith, Kirkland & Blencarn |
| Kirkoswald | Included township of Staffield |
| Lazonby | Included township of Plumpton Wall |
| Melmerby | |
| Newton Reigny | Included township of Catterlen |
| Ousby | |
| Penrith | |
| Renwick | |
| Skirwith |
Cumberland Ward
Cumberland Ward included Carlisle and Wigton as well as parts of Inglewood Forest. The parish of Stanwix just to the north of Carlisle was partly in both Eskdale and Cumberland wards.
| Parishes[8] | Notes |
|---|---|
| Aikton | |
| Beaumont | |
| Bowness | Included townships of Anthorn, Drumburg, Fingland |
| Bromfield (part) | Included townships of Blencogo, Dundraw |
| Burgh by Sands | |
| Carlisle, St Mary's (part)* | Townships of Caldewgate Quarter, Cummersdale Quarter, Wreay |
| Carlisle St Mary Within* | Included township of Rickergate Quarter |
| Carlisle St Cuthbert's Within* | |
| Carlisle St Cuthbert's Without* | |
| Dalston | |
| Eaglesfield Abbey* | |
| Grinsdale | |
| Kirkandrews upon Eden | |
| Kirkbampton | |
| Kirkbride | |
| Orton | Included township of Baldwinholme |
| Rockcliffe | |
| Sebergham | Low and High Quarters |
| Thursby | |
| Warwick | |
| Wetheral | |
| Wigton | Included townships of Oulton Water, Waverton High & Low, Woodside Quarter |
* Parts or all of these parishes and townships constituted the City of Carlisle, and were largely outside the jurisdiction of Cumberland Ward.
Local government from the 19th century
During the 19th century a series of reforms reshaped the local government of the county, creating a system of districts with directly elected councils.
Poor law and municipal reform
The first changes concerned the administration of the poor law, which was carried at parish level. The Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 provided for the grouping of parishes into poor law unions, each with a central workhouse and an elected board of guardians. Cumberland was divided into nine unions: Alston with Garrigill, Bootle, Brampton, Carlisle, Cockermouth, Longtown, Penrith, Whitehaven and Wigton.
In the following year the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 was passed, reforming boroughs and cities in England and Wales as municipal boroughs with a uniform constitution. The corporation of the City of Carlisle was accordingly remodelled with a popularly elected council consisting of a mayor, aldermen and councillors.
Local boards and sanitary districts
Outside of municipal boroughs, there was no effective local government until the 1840s. In response to poor sanitary conditions and outbreaks of cholera, the Public Health Act 1848 (11 & 12 Vict. c. 63) and the Local Government Act 1858 allowed for the formation of local boards of health in populous areas. Local boards were responsible inter alia for water supply, drainage, sewerage, paving and cleansing. Eleven local boards were initially formed at Brampton, Cleator Moor, Cockermouth, Egremont, Holme Cultram, Keswick, Maryport, Millom, Penrith, Whitehaven, Wigton and Workington.
Further reform under the Public Health Act 1875 (38 & 39 Vict. c. 55) saw the creation of sanitary districts throughout England and Wales. The existing municipal boroughs and local boards became "urban sanitary districts", while "rural sanitary districts" were formed from the remaining areas of the poor law unions.
Three more local boards were formed: Arlecdon and Frizington in 1882, Harrington in 1891 and Aspatria in 1892. In addition Workington and Whitehaven received charters of incorporation to become municipal boroughs in 1883 and 1894 respectively.
Local government acts of 1888 and 1894
In 1889, under the Local Government Act 1888, the Cumberland County Council was created as the county council for Cumberland, taking over administrative functions from the Court of Quarter Sessions. The Local Government Act 1894 reconstituted the existing sanitary districts as urban districts and rural districts, each with an elected council.
The Act of 1888 also allowed any municipal borough with a population of 50,000 people or more to become a "county borough", independent of county council control. In 1914, Carlisle successfully applied for this status, ceasing to form part of the administrative county, although remaining within Cumberland for the purposes such as Lieutenancy and shrievalty.
Reform in 1934
The Local Government Act 1929 imposed the duty on county councils of reviewing the districts within their administrative county so as to form more efficient units of local government. In general, this meant the merging of small or lightly populated areas into larger units. A review was carried in Cumberland in 1934. The following table lists the urban and rural districts before and after the changes.