Plumbland

Ancient parish in Allerdale below Derwent ward, Cumberland, including villages of Arkleby and Parsonby.

Acreage:

2,568 acres [1,039 ha]. Plumbland Common (139 acres [56 ha]) and Parsonby Common (40 acres [16 ha]) enclosed at unknown date. Parsonby Hill and other small areas (36 acres [15 ha]) enclosed 1817. Arkleby Green (13 acres [5 ha]) enclosed 1803. Warthole Common (157 acres [63 ha]) remains open pasture but common rights extinguished.

Population:

estimated at 410 in 1688. Rising from 330 in 1801 to peak of 800 in 1851 (attributed to opening of collieries and lime works and establishment of free school); then gradual decline across later 19th and 20th century to stand at 367 in 2001.

Landownership:

parish contained four manors. Manor of Plumbland, in hands of Orfeur family by early 14th century; sold to Lawson family 1709. Manor of Parsonby, held by rector of Plumbland. Manor of Arkleby, held by Martindale family until forfeited to Crown 1568 and granted to Penruddock; sold to Gustavus Thompson 1725, left by his widow to Gale 1772; sold to Craik 1788; to Harrison then to Saterthwaite 1790; bought by Lawson 1803. Manor of Warthole (or Wardhall), held by Calder Abbey; Dykes family there by 15th century; manor descended in Dykes (later Ballantine-Dykes) family to 20th century.

Economy:

agriculture; fulling mill and colliery at Ward Hall, recorded 1688. Coal pits in Plumbland and Arkleby in early 19th century; small drift mine worked by unemployed miners c.1930. Limestone quarrying; large quarries at Thrushgill (1837-1891) and Warthole Gards (1847; extended 1887-8; quarrying ended 1942), with waggonway to Maryport & Carlisle railway, provided lime for West Cumberland iron works. Lime-burning: two lime works in mid-19th century; large limekilns at Wardhall lime works late 19th century (had closed by 1900). High Close quarry, worked by T. Armstrong Ltd 1938-1957, produced aggregate and road stone. Brick- and tile-making at Plumbland mid-19th century.

Places of worship:

medieval parish church of St Cuthbert at Parsonby; rebuilt 1869-71. Independent (Congregational) chapel built 1847; closed c.1961; bought by mission hall congregation 1962 (now Plumbland Evangelical Chapel). Plumbland mission hall (a wooden hut) set up by breakaway group of Congregationalists 1946; dismantled and sold 1963.

Schools and other institutions:

school recorded 1660; grammar school at Parsonby opened 1800 (endowed by John Sibson (d. 1760) but not established until after his widow’s death); now Plumbland CE Primary School. Reading room with small library established by curate of Plumbland c.1861; closed c.1930. Church rooms built c.1919; demolished and rebuilt as village hall 1984.