Urswick

Ancient parish in North Lonsdale hundred, Lancashire North of the Sands, comprising townships of Bardsea, Great Urswick and Little Urswick (itself divided into three subdivisions).

Acreage:

3,905 acres [1,561 ha], divided between townships thus: Bardsea: 828 acres [331 ha]; Great Urswick: 1,232 acres [493 ha]; Little Urswick: 1,845 acres [738 ha]. Subdivisions of Little Urswick were: Little Urswick (621 acres [248 ha]); Bolton with Adgarley (688 acres [275 ha]) and Stainton (536 acres [214 ha]). Common land at Skelding Moor (90 acres [36-ha]) in Little Urswick and Scales enclosed by act of 1820. Urswick parish also had rights, in common with neighbouring parish of Aldingham, on Birkrigg Common (276 acres [110 ha]), which was transferred to Urswick CP 1986.

Population:

rising from 633 in 1801 to peak at 1,287 in 1881; then remaining fairly stable, standing at 1,128 in 1961 (last census year for which separate figure available).

Landownership:

part of manor of Muchland (see Aldingham). Manor of Bolton with Adgarley, originally part of manor of Muchland, passed by marriage to Coupland family; forfeited by Sir Thomas Broughton 1487; then granted to earl of Derby and descended with earls of Derby to 20th century.

Economy:

largely agricultural; fishing and coastal trade at Bardsea. Short-lived iron ore mining at Stainton in 19th century. Limestone quarrying and lime-burning; extensive quarries at Stainton, opened 1868 to supply ironworks at Barrow; continue in production.

Places of worship:

medieval parish church of St Mary and St Michael; surviving pre-Conquest sculpture indicates early origin. Site of medieval chapel at Bolton. Holy Trinity church (Anglican), Bardsea, built 1843-53. Congregational chapel (iron building) at Stainton opened 1873; replaced by new building in Long Lane 1902; closed 1951. Mission room at Stainton built 1904 (also used as school, reading room and working men’s club); closed and converted to dwelling. Mission room at Great Urswick in early 20th century. Tarn Close Church of Christ, Great Urswick, a ‘tin tabernacle’ built 1914; became United Reformed Church 1981; still in use.

Schools and other institutions:

Urswick Grammar School founded by bequest of William Marshall 1585; replaced by Low Furness CE Primary School on new site, opened 1994. Endowed school at Bardsea founded 1781; replaced by new school, built 1851; enlarged 1897; closed c.1927. Infants’ school at Stainton opened 1904; closed c.1927. Urswick Recreation Hall, midway between Great and Little Urswick, built 1929. Village hall at Bardsea (former malt kiln) established as memorial hall 1946; refurbished 2003-4. Stainton Recreation Hall (former Congregational chapel) opened 1953.