Burneside

Chapelry in Kendal parish, Kendal ward, Westmorland, comprising townships of Strickland Ketel and Strickland Roger, each of which remains a separate CP. Burneside village straddles boundary between the two CPs.

Acreage:

Strickland Ketel township: 2,349 acres [951 ha]; Strickland Roger township: 3,210 acres [1,299 ha]. Commons enclosed 1816 (Strickland Ketel) and 1853 (Strickland Roger).

Population:

combined population of Strickland Ketel and Strickland Roger townships rose from 519 in 1801 to 770 by 1851; then rose steeply in later 19th century as mill village of Burneside grew, reaching 1,141 by 1891. Further growth across 20th century lifted population to 1,309 by 1931 and over 1,600 by 1980s; it stood at 1,637 in 2001.

Landownership:

Strickland (‘Stercaland’ in Domesday Book) appears to have been pre-Conquest forerunner of Kendal as centre of large estate covering much of southern Westmorland. Post-Conquest manor of Strickland was divided into two, suffixes referring to medieval owners. Strickland Roger later descended with Marquis fee of barony of Kendal (q.v.). Manor of Burneside was held from Roger de Lancaster by Gilbert of Burneside 1348; then passed to Bellinghams in 14th century. Bought by Thomas Braithwaite (d. 1610) of Ambleside and descended through Braithwaite family until sold by Richard Braithwaite (d. c.1750) to Thomas Shepherd of Kendal. All three manors had passed to Lowther family by 19th century. Cropper family acquired considerable landholding in 19th century, centred on Tolson Hall and Ellergreen.

Economy:

rural economy transformed by industry based on water-powered mills on River Kent. Paper mill at Cowan Head built by Thomas Ashburner 1753; Roger Wakefield (d. 1756) owned corn, fulling, frizing and sickle mills at Burneside. Three-storey woollen mill built at Burneside 1761 by John Wakefield; converted to paper mill 1833 by Hudson, Nicholson & Foster. Paper mills at Cowan Head and Burneside leased 1845 to James Cropper, from Liverpool, who enlarged and modernised them before assuming full control 1854: firm, still bearing his name, prospered with coming of railway in 1847 and Burneside mill continues as manufacturer and exporter of specialist papers. Mill at Cowan Head closed 1981. Mills on River Sprint in Strickland Roger township included bobbin mill at Sleddalefoot and woollen mill at Sprint Mill in 19th century.

Places of worship:

chapel of ease at Burneside, said to have been rebuilt 1602; rebuilt 1823–8 and again (in part) 1881; now parish church of St Oswald. Chapeltree Wood, near Hundhow, said to record site of early chapel.

Schools and other institutions:

school by chapel built 1717; rebuilt 1787 on endowment by Rev. Alen Fisher. Rebuilt as National school on new site adjacent to Burneside paper mill 1855 (extended 1885); moved to present site 1963; now St Oswald’s CE Primary School. Bryce Institute opened in 1897, with reading & billiard rooms; still serves as village hall.