ESKDALE IN 1859, FROM
WHELAN'S HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND
William Whelan's "History and Topography of Cumberland and Westmorland" was published in 1860. It consists largely of material stolen from earlier historical works, but there is some useful descriptive material. This page reproduces Whelan's most useful information on Muncaster (with Ravenglass) and Birkby.
THE CHURCH
Muncaster church, dedicated to St. Michael, is an ancient edifice, standing in the park, near the centre of the parish, and closely adjoining the castle. It is completely surrounded by trees; and with its ivy-clad walls and venerable appearance, produces that tranquillising effect upon the mind so conducive to devotional feeling.
It consists of nave and chancel, with a western bell-turret containing two bells. The masonry is good. A south porch has been converted into the vestry: its gable seems to have been surmounted with a cross. The principal entrance is from the west, beneath a window of three lights with cinquefoil heads under a semicircular arch. On the apex of the gable of the eastern end of the nave where it joins the chancel, is a small turret, supposed to have contained in Catholic times the "Sanctus Bell,"- a bell rung at the conclusion of what is called the Preface, a prayer preceding the Canon of the Mass, and again at the Elevation. The parapets of the nave and chancel are battlemented. The nave is lighted by squareheaded windows of two lights. Its walls are hung with boards, upon which texts of Scripture are inscribed. There is a gallery at the west end. The pulpit and reading-desk are placed under the chancel arch, on the south side, thus leaving the whole interior exposed to view. The chancel is lighted by an east window of three lights. It is in the Perpendicular style. In the south side of the chancel are three windows of two semicircular-headed lights each. The walls of this part of the church are covered with monuments to various members of the Pennington family, whose pew occupies the north side of the chancel. The earliest of these monuments bears the date 1390...
On the south side of the churchyard is an ancient cross, four feet nine inches high, and ornamented with guilloches. Near it are two venerable yew trees. The church of Muncaster was appropriated to the priory of Conishead by Gamel de Pennington, in the reign of Henry II. The appropriation was confirmed by Edward II, On the suppression of the religious houses the church was restored to the Pennington family; and they have since continued possessors of the advowson. The benefice was formerly returned as worth £10 a year. In 1723 it received from Queen Anne's Bounty an augmentation of £200, and was returned to the Commissioners for Inquiring into the Ecclesiastical Revenues at £97 per annum. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of Lord Muncaster.
CHARITIES
Joseph Pennington's charity.- Joseph Pennington by will, dated 6th March, 1640, left £32 l0s., the interest thereof to be bestowed in penny loaves of bread, twelve loaves to be dealt weekly every Sunday throughout the year to the poor of Muncaster, at the parish church, by the churchwardens for the time being. The lord of the manor of Muncaster for the time being to see to the application. This charity is now distributed in money at the same time with the other charities of the parish, to the most necessitous poor, those being preferred who do not receive parochial relief. Since the death of John Lord Muncaster, the money so laid out has been charged to the account of the estate.
Bread and cheese Money.- Tbere is an entry in the parish book, dated 1667, which states that "20s. is yearly given at Easter by the lords and owners of Muncaster, for lieu and in consideration of bread and cheese formerly given at Easter." This is the only account we have of the origin of this charity. The sum of £1 is regularly paid at Easter, and charged to the account of the Muncaster estate. It is distributed with the interest of the poor money hereafter mentioned.
Poor Money.- Previously to the year 1811, there was a sum of £35, the interest of which was distributed amongst poor persons. Of that sum, twenty marks appear to have heen left by Thomas Troughton, in 1610, to help and maintain the poorest sort at Muncaster to pay the tithes, and other good and charitable purposes. Of this poor money, £10 was placed in the hands of one Joseph Jackson, a man of some property in the parish. In 1817 he failed, and afterwards died insolvent, and nothing has been recovered from his effects. Of the remainder of the money, £25 is now out at interest, which amounts to, 16s. 8d. per annum, and is distributed together with the twenty shillings, called bread and cheese money, on the Sunday after Easter, to poor persons not receiving parochial relief.
Lord Muncaster's Charity.- John Lord Muncaster, by will dated 11th April, 1812, directed his executors to pay to the respective clergyman and overseers of the poor of the several parishes of Muncaster, Waberthwaite, and Drigg, the sum of £50 each, to be distributed at their discretion to the poor of these respective parishes not receiving alms.
School.- Richard Brocklebank, by will dated 2nd June, 1696, left £160 for the use and benefit only of so many of the parishioners within the parish of Muncaster as should contribute proportionably to the building of a school in Muncaster Town Lane, the interest thereof to be disposed of for the maintaining a master to teach the said free school in Muncaster, for the sole benefit of so many of the parishioners of Muncaster as should contribute proportionately to the building of the school aforesaid; no other person whatever to be free to the said school. By articles of agreement entered into by several of the parishioners, dated 5th April, 1706, reciting that a school-house had been erected by the parties thereto at their own expense, it was agreed, and the said parties obliged themselves in the penal sum of £20 to repair the free school, and pay all cesses to be laid thereon; and that the advantage of the said free school should extend to the several estates which belonged to the parties to that agreement; and it was also agreed that future purchasers of land within the parish, if they descended from certain persons therein named, who had contributed to the building of the school should have the full benefit thereof; and that it should also be extended to such poor persons at Muncaster as should receive alms. The sum of £160, left by Richard Brocklebank, together with £100, left to the school by Sir William Pennington, £10 left by Thomas Kirby, and £3 paid by two parishioners for the freedom of the school, amounting in the whole to £273, form the endowment. The master takes no children free, the trustees having found it necessary to permit him to take 1s 6d a quarter from those who are called free. A higher quarterage is demanded from those who are not entitled to their freedom. There are upon an average forty or fifty children in the school. They are taught reading, writing, and accounts.
THE TOWN OF RAVENGLASS
The ancient market town and port of Ravenglass is in the township of Muncaster. It is situated at the confluence of the rivers Esk, Irt, and Mite, about sixteen miles south-south-east of Whitehaven, and six miles north-by-west of Bootle. The estuary of the three rivers just named forms a large sandy harbour, which has twenty-two feet of water on the bar in spring tides, and twelve feet at neap tides. Sandford tells us, that formerly Ravenglass was a place of some importance as a fishing town... In 1796 John Lord Muncaster procured a charter for two weekly markets at Ravenglass, on Wednesday and Friday, and three fairs ofor one day each: 11th March, 14th April, and 12th October. These fairs have already become obsolete. Two ancient fairs for horses and horned cattle are still held; one on the 8th June and the 5th August. The market has long since fallen into disuse. Some of the steps of the market cross still remain. Railway communication has entirely done away with the shipping trade of the port, which now only possesses one vessel. Guano is occasionally imported for use in the neighbourhood. The salmon fisheries belong to General Wyndham.
The Whitehaven and Furness railway has a station near to the town.
BIRKBY
The township is small, containing a few scattered houses, three miles south of Ravenglass, on the south side of the river Esk, which is here crossed by a good bridge. At a place called Chapelgarth, in this township, some ruins were dug up in 1822, supposed to have been those of a chapel or church which formerly stood here. There is a bobbin mill in this township.
The manor of Birkby has long been the property of the Stanley family, and is now held by Edward Stanley Esq. of Ponsonby Hall...
On Birkby Fell, near the foot of Devoke Water, are the remains of a fort or encampment, called the ruins of the city of Barnscar... At present (1859) there is little more to be seen than a number of small piles of unwrought stones scattered along the foot of the lake, and upon the hills bordering the north side; the stones comprising the foundations appearing to have been gathered into heaps in order to clear the ground...
