Sockbridge and Tirril

Township in Barton parish, West ward, Westmorland, including village of Tirril.

Acreage:

1,159 acres [469 ha], including several small detached portions and one large one at High Winder (51 acres [21 ha]) but excluding intermixed detached portions of High Barton township. Sockbridge CP contained 1,195 acres [484 ha] after absorption of detached portions into respective CPs. Until 1934 Barton Fell (1,718 acres [695 ha]) was common to townships of Sockbridge, High Barton and Low Winder. Common land at Sockbridge and Yanwath & Eamont Bridge (228 acres [92 ha]) enclosed 1818.

Population:

in range 200-250 across 19th and first half of 20th century (peak of 263 in 1831 attributed partly to establishment of school); dropped to 196 in 1961, then rose again to stand at 397 in 2001.

Landownership:

manor of Sockbridge held by Lancaster family from 13th century, until passing to Lowther family by marriage of Frances, daughter of Christopher Lancaster, to Sir Christopher Lowther 1638; descended in Lowther family thereafter.

Economy:

farming; limestone quarrying and lime-burning; chair-making in earlier 19th century; brewing from mid-19th century: brewery at Tirril closed 1899 when taken over by Penrith brewery.

Places of worship:

Quaker meeting house at Tirril built 1731 (porch dated 1733); rebuilt 1801; closed 1862. Used as village reading room from 1902; sold 1932 and converted to dwelling. Wesleyan Methodist chapel built 1879; closed by 1980; converted to dwelling.

Schools and other institutions:

‘mathematical academy’ established in Tirril by John Slee (d. 1828) and continued by his son Thomas (d. 1849); gained renown as boarding establishment, attended by ‘university gentlemen’. Public elementary school built 1854 in corner of township close to Yanwath; became Sockbridge & Tirril Yanwath Council School; now Yanwath Primary School. Reading room and library at Tirril built 1914; now village hall.