1097 



WESTMORLAND. 



WESTMORLAND. 



1093 



ward by Kendal, Shap, and Brougham, to Penrith ; before reaching 

 the last-mentioned town it crosses the Eamont into Cumberland. 

 Roads lead from Kendal south-westward to Ulverstone and Dalton-in- 

 Furness ; westward to Bownesa and across Windermere by the ferry 

 to Hawkahead, and Coniston- Water in Furness, and to Egremont and 

 Whitehaven in Cumberland ; north-westward by Ambleside to Kes- 

 wick, Cockermonth, and Workington in Cumberland ; north-eastward 

 by Orton to Appleby, with a branch road to Kirkby Stephen and 

 Brough ; eastward to Sedbergh, Hawes, Askrigg, and Richmond, all 

 in Yorkshire, with a branch from Sedbergh to Kirkby Stephen, and 

 south-eastward by Kirkby Lonsdale to Settle, Skipton, Otley, and 

 Leeds. 



The Preston, Lancaster, and Carlisle railway enters Westmorland 

 near Burton, and proceeds in a generally northern direction to Kendal, 

 where it turns north-west for a few miles to Bonk Mills, whence it 

 again proceeds northward till it quits the county at Penrith. Its 

 length in Westmorland is about 41 miles. The Windermere railway 

 quits the above at Kendal, and runs in a north-westward direction, 

 10J miles, to Bowness on Windermere. 



Climate, Soil, Agriculture. Although this county, from its moun- 

 tainous nature, is more interesting in a picturesque than in an agricul- 

 tural point of view, it contains some very fertile valleys, in which there 

 are many well-cultivated farms. The climate is mild and moist in 

 the valleys ; the high hills condense the clouds which come over the 

 Atlantic, and cause frequent and abundant rains, which keep the 

 pastures green, but are not so favourable to the ripening of the corn. 

 Much snow often accumulates in winter. 



The soil in the valleys is mostly a dry gravelly mould, composed of 

 different earths washed down from the Mils, and forming a soil well 

 fitted for the cultivation of turnip*, of which great crops are raised 

 on some well-managed {arms. Towards the east and north of the 

 county the soil is more inclined to clay ; and, unless thi* be well 

 drained, the land is too wet, in spring and autumn, to admit of clean 

 and careful cultivation. Wherever the water has no sufficient outlet, 

 basin* of peat are formed. 



There were formerly a gnat many small proprietors in Westmor- 

 land who were called 'Statesmen,' that is, 'Estatesmen' men who 

 held land of their own, either as freehold, or by a customary tenure, 

 somewhat resembling copyhold, under some great landlord. Witli the 

 exception of a fine or henot on the death of a tenant or on alienation, 

 they wen held free. The proprietors of these very small farms were 

 an independent set of men, who worked hard and lived frugally. They 

 often joined the trade of weaver to that of farmer, and thu* their 

 whole time was u*efully employed. The increase of wealth and conse- 

 quent luxury gradually led to a greater expense of living than the 

 small farms, imperfectly cultivated, could support ; and these small 

 proprietors gradually decreased, their farms being absorbed into the 

 greater estates which surrounded them. The larger farms are now 

 usually let on lease for various terms. Of late years considerable im- 

 provement ha* taken place in the cultivation of the county. Draining 

 the heavy land* has been much attended to; manuring is better under- 

 stood; more careful rotation* of crop* have been introduced; and 

 better implement* of husbandry employed ; but much yet remains to 

 be accomplished. 



From Kirkby Stephen to Brough and Appleby and thence to Temple 

 Sowcrby the soil is a deep sand, which the moisture of the climate of 

 Westmorland renders more compact on cultivation. Turnips and 

 potatoes grow well here, when plenty of manure is put on. Near 

 Kendal a great breadth of potatoes is planted for the supply not only 

 of the immediate neigbourhood, but also of the adjacent counties, many 

 thousand loads being annually sent into Lancashire and Yorkshire. 



Grass-land being abundant and the climate favourable to pastures, 

 a grrat portion of the soil is devoted to the maintenance of cattle. 

 Good meadows let at a high rent, and are carefully manured. Great 

 crops of hay are made in favourable yean, and, as those who keep 

 bone* generally hire a meadow to make hay of, it i seldom sold in 

 the dry state. Young cattle are kept on inferior lauds in summer, 

 and have bay and straw in winter, with turnips where these are 

 raised : a few an fatted at three yean old, but most of them are sold 

 to graziers in Yorkshire and Lancashire. Scotch cattle are purchased 

 in September, at the great fair at Brough-hill, held in that mouth : 

 they an wintered in coarse pastures and occasionally in straw-yards ; 

 the next year they an put on the best grass and are tit for the butcher 

 in October. A few hones are reared, but not to any extent The 

 beep an of a hardy kind, fit for the mountain-pastures ; they are 

 brought down to the valleys at the approach of winter and kept iu 

 the inclosed grounds till April The fattening of hogs and the curing 

 of bacon and ham* an well understood in Westmorland, and many 

 hams are sent to other part* of the country. The breed is not large. 

 The hogs are not made so fat as they are in some places ; the hama 

 are more delicate, and are very well cured and smoked. They aiv 

 ofun sold as York hams, whereas the latter are much larger and fatter, 

 tke Yorkshire breed of hogs being large and fattening very readily. 



The plantations are extensive in most part* of the county ; they 

 an chiefly of oak, ash, elm, beech, sycamore, Scotch fir and larch, 

 which 1 i-t thrive best. Many ornamented cottage* and villas have 

 been built on the borden of the several lakes ; and men of talent, 

 reputation, and wealth, have taken their temporary aud some their 



permanent abode there. This has tended to improve the immediate 

 neighbourhood more rapidly than would otherwise have been the case. 



Da-isions, Towm, <tc. The county is divided into two baronies 

 the barony of Kendal, which appears to have been anciently a part of 

 Lancashire, and comprehended, so late as the time of Henry VIII., 

 several places now in Lancashire ; and the barony of Westmorland 

 sometimes called the barony of Appleby, sometimes the bottom of 

 Westmorland which now comprehends some places formerly included 

 in the barony of Kendal. There is some diversity in the customs of 

 inheritance iu the two baronies of Kendal and Westmorland : in other 

 respects the division into baronies is little used. The usual division 

 is into four wards : East ward, north-east; Kendal ward, south-west; 

 Lonsdale ward, south-east; West ward, north-west. The town of 

 Kendal is included in Kendal ward. Keudal and Lonsdale wards are 

 in the barony of Keudal ; the East and West wards in the barony of 

 Westmorland. 



Westmorland has no city ; it contains the county-town of APPLEBY, 

 the parliamentary borough of KENDAL, and the market-towns of Amble- 

 side, BROUGH, BURTOX-IN-KENDAL, Kirkby Lonsdale, Kirkby Stephen, 

 Milnthorpe, Orton, Ravenstonedale, and Snap. The places printed in 

 small capitals are noticed under their respective titles; tho others are 

 noticed here : 



Amt/lctide is a small market-town, 14 miles N.W. from Kendal : popu- 

 lation of the chapelry 1592 in 1351. Ambleside lies in a beautiful 

 valley near the upper end of \Viudermere, and on the left bank of the 

 little river liothay. The streets are partially paved. The chapel is a 

 plain but commodious and substantial edifice, rebuilt iu 1812. There 

 are an Independent chapel; a Free Grammar school ; National, British, 

 and Infant schools ; and a savings bank. Ambleside is a place of consi- 

 derable resort for visitors to the lakes of Cumberland and Westmor- 

 land. The market, which is chiefly for provisions, is on Wednesday ; 

 fairs are held on the Wednesday in Whitsun week; October 13th, the 

 principal one, called the tip (that is, tup) fair; and October 29th for 

 cattle. Slate quarries are in the vicinity. A county court is held in 

 the town. 



Kirkby Lonidale (that is, a church-town in the dale or valley of Lon 

 or Lune) is on the right bank of the Lune, 154 miles N.E. from 

 Lancaster, and 114 miles S.W. from Kendal. The population of the 

 township in 1851 was 1C75. The market-place is in the cantre of the 

 town ; the street* are lighted, but not paved. The houses are well- 

 built of freestone and roofed with slate. The church is 120 feet long 

 and 102 feet broad, and is divided into four aisles or portions by three 

 rows of pillars ; it has a square tower 68 feot high, with a peal of six 

 bells. The Weeleyan Methodist*, Independents, and Sandeiuanians 

 have place* of worship. There are a Free Grammar school, National 

 and Infant schools, and a savings bank. At Castertou are a Clergy 

 Daughters' school, a Preparatory Clergy Daughters' school, and a 

 Servants' school Some of the females employ themselves in knitting 

 stockings. The market is on Thursday ; and fairs for cattle are held 

 on Holy Thursday, the third Thursday after October 5th, and December 

 21st. A county court, a court leet, aud petty sessions are held in the 

 town. 



Kirkly Step/ten, 11 miles S.E. from Appleby, on the left bank of the 

 Eden : population of the township 1339 in 1851. The church is a 

 large ancient building with a square tower. The Wesleyan Method- 

 ists and Independent* have places of worship. An endowment 

 provides for the support of a Grammar school, au hospital for twelve 

 aged and infirm men and as many women, aud four preparatory 

 schools. There is a modern market-house. In tho vicinity are copper- 

 and lead-mines, slate quarries and coal-pits. Upon the Eden are corn-, 

 woollen-, and saw-mills. The market is on Monday for corn and 

 provisions ; fairs or great markets for cattle and sheep are held five 

 times in the year. 



MUnthorpe, or MUUhorpe, population 1534, is situated near the left 

 bank of the estuary of tiie Kent, 7 miles S. from Kendal. The prin- 

 cipal street runs from east to west, nearly parallel to the little river 

 Beela, over which is a bridge of one arch. In the town are chapels 

 for Episcopalians and Independents, and a National school. Miln- 

 thorpe is a member of the port of Lancaster ; small vessels by the 

 help of the tide get up the river to tho town. There are a corn-mill 

 aud a paper-mill ; some twine and sacking are made. The market w 

 on Friday, and there are fairs for cattle and sheep on May llth and 

 October 17th. 



Orton (anciently Scar Overton), 14 miles N.N.W. from Kendal : 

 population of the pariah 1456. The church is on ancient building 

 with a low embattled tower. There are a Grammar school, aud a 

 branch savings bank. The market is held on Friday ; fairs arc held 

 four times in the year. The remains of a beacon, and of au old fort 

 or encampment, a large tumulus, and some other antiquities are in 

 the neighbourhood. 



Ravcnitonettalc, 5 miles S.W. from Kirkby Stephen, population of 

 the parish 939, is aituateil in a mountainous district near tho con- 

 fluence of Scandale-Beck and Cold-Beck. There are a spacious church, 

 places of worship for Wesleyan and Primitivo Methodists, Inde- 

 pendents, and Quakers; and a Grammar school. A small market is 

 held on Thursday ; fairs are held four times in the year. Many of 

 the inhabitants are engaged in knitting. Stone quarries are in the 

 neighbourhood. 



