Yanwath & Eamont Bridge

Township in Barton parish, West ward, Westmorland.

Acreage:

1,299 acres [526 ha]. Commons enclosed 1818.

Population:

rising from 198 in 1801 to 327 in 1831; remained in range 250-350 across rest of 19th and first half of 20th century. Temporary surge to 569 in 1951, then decline to 184 by 1981 before rising again to stand at 457 in 2001.

Landownership:

manor of Yanwath held under barony of Westmorland by barons of Greystoke, and under them by Threlkeld family, who probably built Yanwath Hall in 15th century. On death of Sir Lancelot Threlkeld (d. 1506-10), passed by marriage of his daughter Grace to Thomas Dudley; Sir Christopher Dudley sold it 1654 to Sir John Lowther, from whom it descended to earls of Lonsdale.

Economy:

farming; quarrying and lime-burning in 19th century. Eamont Bridge river crossing (bridge recorded 1425) with inns on main north-south route (A6). Textile manufacture recorded by place-name Walk Mill (i.e. fulling mill), recording woollens; its later name, Bleach Green, suggesting linen or cotton (cotton spinner/candlewick manufacturer recorded 1829). Snuff mill at Eamont Bridge (on Cumberland side of river) from 1835; closed 1937. Bobbin mill on River Lowther in mid-19th century. Tourism and leisure businesses increasingly important from later 20th century: chalet park at Southwaite Green Mill, opened 1994; archaeological tourism to Neolithic henges of Mayburgh and King Arthur’s Round Table.

Places of worship:

St John’s mission room (an ‘iron church’), Eamont Bridge, built 1871; in use until 1932 when Brougham and Eamont Bridge parishes merged.

Schools and other institutions:

for Yanwath school, see Sockbridge. Workhouse at Eamont Bridge established 1837 in building known as ‘The Mansion House’ (built 1685); closed 1874. Jubilee House rehabilitation and therapy centre for injured firefighters, opened 1995. Village hall at Eamont Bridge built 1933 on site of mission room.