Killington

Township in Kirkby Lonsdale parish, Lonsdale ward, Westmorland.

Acreage:

4,938 acres [1,998 ha], including 2,110 acres [854 ha] of common land enclosed 1821.

Population:

in range 250-300 across most of 19th century (peak 335 in 1821); declining across 20th century to stand at 152 in 2001.

Landownership:

manor of Killington and Firbank held from 13th to 16th century by Pickering family of Killington. On death of Sir Christopher Pickering (d. 1548) it passed to his daughter Anne; then to her son by her third marriage, Francis Vaughan, who sold it to the tenants 1585.

Economy:

predominantly agricultural. Killington Lake, reservoir supplying Lancaster-Kendal canal, created 1819; service station on M6 motorway opened 1972.

Places of worship:

medieval chapel of ease, now church of All Saints, made parochial 1585; repaired 1824; re-roofed 1863; restored 1895.

Schools and other institutions:

school endowed 1677; taught in chapel in 18th century; separate school built by 1858; enlarged 1873; closed 1948; building converted to village hall; refurbished 1999.