Blawith

Chapelry and township in Ulverston parish, Lonsdale hundred, Lancashire North of the Sands. Combined with Subberthwaite to form Blawith and Subberthwaite CP1986.

Acreage:

2,998 acres [1,213 ha].

Population:

170 in 1811, rising to 193 in 1861 and gradually falling to 101 in 1981 (last census year for which separate figure available).

Landownership:

granted to William de Lancaster, baron of Kendal, c. 1160; held jointly by manor of Ulverston and Conishead Priory from 1189; annexed to Duchy of Lancaster 1536; purchased 1736 by duke of Montagu, from whom it descended to dukes of Buccleuch.

Economy:

farming; charcoal burning, 12th to 20th centuries; small-scale iron smelting, 13th-14th centuries; small-scale slate quarrying 17th to 20th centuries; pill-box manufacturing, 19th century.

Places of worship:

chapel of ease, recorded 1577; rebuilt 1749; replaced 1863 by new church of St John the Baptist on new site close by; declared redundant 1988 and sold 2011.

Schools and other institutions:

school taught in chapel in early 18th century. Separate schoolhouse erected 1747; replaced 1859; closed c.1965 and converted to dwelling. Blawith and Nibthwaite village hall at Water Yeat built c.1920.