Civil parishes in Cumbria


A civil parish in England is the lowest unit of local government. There are 284 civil parishes in the ceremonial county of Cumbria, with most of the county being parished, and Allerdale, Copeland, Eden and South Lakeland being entirely parished. At the 2001 census, there were 359,692 people living in those 284 parishes, accounting for 73.8 per cent of the county's population.
The extent of modern Civil parishes are largely geographically based on historic Church of England parish boundaries, which were ecclesiastical divisions that had acquired civil administration powers managed by the Vestry committee.

History

The Highways Act 1555 made parishes responsible for the upkeep of roads. Every adult inhabitant of the parish was obliged to work four days a year on the roads, providing their own tools, carts and horses; the work was overseen by an unpaid local appointee, the Surveyor of Highways.
The poor were looked after by the monasteries, until their dissolution. In 1572, magistrates were given power to 'survey the poor' and impose taxes for their relief. This system was made more formal by the Poor Law Act 1601, which made parishes responsible for administering the Poor Law; overseers were appointed to charge a rate to support the poor of the parish. The 19th century saw an increase in the responsibility of parishes, although the Poor Law powers were transferred to Poor Law Unions. The Public Health Act 1872 grouped parishes into Rural Sanitary Districts, based on the Poor Law Unions; these subsequently formed the basis for Rural Districts.
Parishes were run by vestries, meeting annually to appoint officials, and were generally identical to ecclesiastical parishes, although some townships in large parishes administered the Poor Law themselves; under the Divided Parishes and Poor Law Amendment Act 1882, all extra-parochial areas and townships that levied a separate rate became independent civil parishes.
Civil parishes in their modern sense date from the Local Government Act 1894, which abolished vestries; established elected parish councils in all rural parishes with more than 300 electors; grouped rural parishes into Rural Districts; and aligned parish boundaries with county and borough boundaries. Urban civil parishes continued to exist, and were generally coterminous with the Urban District, Municipal Borough or County Borough in which they were situated; many large towns contained a number of parishes, and these were usually merged into one. Parish councils were not formed in urban areas, and the only function of the parish was to elect guardians to Poor Law Unions; with the abolition of the Poor Law system in 1930 the parishes had only a nominal existence.
The Local Government Act 1972 retained civil parishes in rural areas, and many former Urban Districts and Municipal Boroughs that were being abolished, were replaced by new successor parishes; urban areas that were considered too large to be single parishes became unparished areas.

The current position

Recent governments have encouraged the formation of town and parish councils in unparished areas, and the Local Government and Rating Act 1997 gave local residents the right to demand the creation of a new civil parish.
A parish council can become a town council unilaterally, simply by resolution; and a civil parish can also gain city status, but only if that is granted by the Crown. The chairman of a town or city council is called a mayor. The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 introduced alternative names: a parish council can now choose to be called a community; village; or neighbourhood council.

List of civil parishes and unparished areas

ImageNameStatusPopulationDistrictFormer local authorityRefs
Above DerwentCivil parish1,207AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

AiktonCivil parish480AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

AllhallowsCivil parish548AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

AllonbyCivil parish462AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

AspatriaTown2,718AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

BassenthwaiteCivil parish412AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

Bewaldeth and SnittlegarthCivil parish40AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

Blennerhasset and TorpenhowCivil parish437AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

BlindbothelCivil parish148AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

BlindcrakeCivil parish287AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

BoltonsCivil parish585AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

BorrowdaleCivil parish438AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

Bothel and ThreaplandCivil parish438AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

BownessCivil parish1,221AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

BridekirkCivil parish636AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

BrighamCivil parish1,065AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

BromfieldCivil parish530AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

BroughtonCommunity1,727AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

Broughton MoorCivil parish726AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

ButtermereCivil parish127AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

CaldbeckCivil parish714AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

CamertonCivil parish172AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

CockermouthTown7,877AllerdaleCockermouth
Urban District

CrosscanonbyCivil parish1,054AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

DeanCivil parish1,077AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

DearhamCivil parish2,028AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

DundrawCivil parish167AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

EmbletonCivil parish297AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

GilcruxCivil parish303AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

Great CliftonCivil parish1,101AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

GreysouthenCivil parish508AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

Hayton and MealoCivil parish229AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

Holme AbbeyCivil parish776AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

Holme East WaverCivil parish306AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

Holme LowCivil parish373AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

Holme St CuthbertCivil parish421AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

Ireby and UldaleCivil parish428AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

KeswickTown4,984AllerdaleKeswick
Urban District

KirkbamptonCivil parish471AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

KirkbrideCivil parish519AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

Little CliftonCivil parish391AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

LortonCivil parish250AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

LoweswaterCivil parish209AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

MaryportTown11,275AllerdaleMaryport Urban District
Oughterside and AllerbyCivil parish626AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

PapcastleCivil parish406AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

PlumblandCivil parish367AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

SeatonCivil parish4,861AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

SeberghamCivil parish361AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

SetmurthyCivil parish108AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

Silloth-on-SolwayTown2,932AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

Lands common to Holme Abbey, Holme Low and Holme St CuthbertCommon lands0AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

St John's Castlerigg and WythburnCivil parish407AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

ThursbyCivil parish1,185AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

UnderskiddawCivil parish282AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

WavertonCivil parish326AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

WestnewtonCivil parish247AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

WestwardCivil parish814AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

WigtonTown5,360AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

WinscalesCivil parish186AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

WoodsideCivil parish516AllerdaleWigton
Rural District

WorkingtonTown24,295AllerdaleWorkington
Municipal Borough

WythopCivil parish51AllerdaleCockermouth
Rural District

Barrow-in-FurnessUnparished area59,181Barrow-in-FurnessBarrow in Furness
County Borough

Askam and IrelethCivil parish3,632Barrow-in-FurnessDalton in Furness Urban District
Dalton Town with NewtonTown8,394Barrow-in-FurnessDalton in Furness Urban District
Lindal and MartonCivil parish773Barrow-in-FurnessDalton in Furness Urban District
ArthuretCivil parish2,434CarlisleBorder
Rural District

AskertonCivil parish162CarlisleBorder
Rural District

BeaumontCivil parish447CarlisleBorder
Rural District

BewcastleCivil parish411CarlisleBorder
Rural District

BramptonCivil parish4,361CarlisleBorder
Rural District

Burgh by SandsCivil parish1,143CarlisleBorder
Rural District

BurtholmeCivil parish184CarlisleBorder
Rural District

CarlattonCivil parish29CarlisleBorder
Rural District

CarlisleUnparished area68,735CarlisleCarlisle
County Borough

Castle CarrockCivil parish309CarlisleBorder
Rural District

CummersdaleCivil parish486CarlisleBorder
Rural District

CumrewCivil parish85CarlisleBorder
Rural District

CumwhittonCivil parish293CarlisleBorder
Rural District

DalstonCivil parish2,643CarlisleBorder
Rural District

FarlamCivil parish590CarlisleBorder
Rural District

HaytonCivil parish2,180CarlisleBorder
Rural District

HethersgillCivil parish382CarlisleBorder
Rural District

IrthingtonCivil parish712CarlisleBorder
Rural District

KingmoorCivil parish407CarlisleBorder
Rural District

KingwaterCivil parish164CarlisleBorder
Rural District

KirkandrewsCivil parish447CarlisleBorder
Rural District

Kirklinton MiddleCivil parish369CarlisleBorder
Rural District

MidgeholmeCivil parish67CarlisleBorder
Rural District

Nether DentonCivil parish318CarlisleBorder
Rural District

NicholforestCivil parish386CarlisleBorder
Rural District

OrtonCivil parish383CarlisleBorder
Rural District

RockcliffeCivil parish733CarlisleBorder
Rural District

ScalebyCivil parish349CarlisleBorder
Rural District

SolportCivil parish168CarlisleBorder
Rural District

St Cuthbert WithoutCivil parish2,043CarlisleBorder
Rural District

Stanwix RuralCivil parish3,043CarlisleBorder
Rural District

StapletonCivil parish221CarlisleBorder
Rural District

Upper DentonCivil parish92CarlisleBorder
Rural District

WaltonCivil parish278CarlisleBorder
Rural District

WaterheadCivil parish124CarlisleBorder
Rural District

WestlintonCivil parish359CarlisleBorder
Rural District

WetheralCivil parish5,203CarlisleBorder
Rural District

Arlecdon and FrizingtonCivil parish3,678CopelandEnnerdale
Rural District

BeckermetCivil parish2,310CopelandEnnerdale
Rural District

BootleCivil parish745CopelandMillom
Rural District

Cleator MoorTown6,939CopelandEnnerdale
Rural District

DistingtonCivil parish2,247CopelandEnnerdale
Rural District

Drigg and CarletonCivil parish450CopelandMillom
Rural District

EgremontTown7,444CopelandEnnerdale
Rural District

Ennerdale and KinnisideCivil parish240CopelandEnnerdale
Rural District

EskdaleCivil parish264CopelandMillom
Rural District

GosforthCivil parish1,230CopelandEnnerdale
Rural District

HaileCivil parish237CopelandEnnerdale
Rural District

Irton with SantonCivil parish373CopelandMillom
Rural District

LamplughCivil parish763CopelandEnnerdale
Rural District

LowcaCivil parish773CopelandEnnerdale
Rural District

Lowside QuarterCivil parish379CopelandEnnerdale
Rural District

MillomTown7,132CopelandMillom
Rural District

Millom WithoutCivil parish1,638CopelandMillom
Rural District

MoresbyCivil parish1,280CopelandEnnerdale
Rural District

MuncasterCivil parish335CopelandMillom
Rural District

PartonCivil parish924CopelandEnnerdale
Rural District

PonsonbyCivil parish92CopelandEnnerdale
Rural District

SeascaleCivil parish1,747CopelandMillom
Rural District

St BeesCivil parish1,717CopelandEnnerdale
Rural District

UlphaCivil parish159CopelandMillom
Rural District

WaberthwaiteCivil parish274CopelandMillom
Rural District

WasdaleCivil parish79CopelandEnnerdale
Rural District

WeddicarCivil parish442CopelandEnnerdale
Rural District

WhichamCivil parish395CopelandMillom
Rural District

WhitehavenTown25,032CopelandWhitehaven
Municipal Borough

AinstableCivil parish532EdenPenrith
Rural District

Alston MoorCivil parish2,156EdenAlston with Garrigill
Rural District

Appleby-in-WestmorlandTown2,862EdenAppleby
Municipal Borough

AsbyCivil parish280EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

AskhamCivil parish360EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

BamptonCivil parish283EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

Barton and Pooley BridgeCivil parish232EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

BoltonCivil parish416EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

BroughCivil parish680EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

Brough SowerbyCivil parish127EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

BroughamCivil parish279EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

Castle SowerbyCivil parish337EdenPenrith
Rural District

CatterlenCivil parish471EdenPenrith
Rural District

CliburnCivil parish204EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

CliftonCivil parish461EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

ColbyCivil parish120EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

CrackenthorpeCivil parish77EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

Crosby GarrettCivil parish112EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

Crosby RavensworthCivil parish538EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

CulgaithCivil parish721EdenPenrith
Rural District

DacreCivil parish1,326EdenPenrith
Rural District

DuftonCivil parish169EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

GlassonbyCivil parish314EdenPenrith
Rural District

Great SalkeldCivil parish445EdenPenrith
Rural District

Great StricklandCivil parish246EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

GreystokeCivil parish733EdenPenrith
Rural District

HartleyCivil parish133EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

HelbeckCivil parish19EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

HesketCivil parish2,363EdenPenrith
Rural District

HoffCivil parish189EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

HunsonbyCivil parish383EdenPenrith
Rural District

HuttonCivil parish326EdenPenrith
Rural District

KaberCivil parish89EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

King's MeaburnCivil parish105EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

Kirkby StephenCivil parish1,832EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

Kirkby ThoreCivil parish731EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

KirkoswaldCivil parish870EdenPenrith
Rural District

LangwathbyCivil parish748EdenPenrith
Rural District

LazonbyCivil parish980EdenPenrith
Rural District

Little StricklandCivil parish96EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

Long MartonCivil parish704EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

LowtherCivil parish402EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

MallerstangCivil parish87EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

MartindaleCivil parish49EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

MatterdaleCivil parish526EdenPenrith
Rural District

MelmerbyCivil parishEdenPenrith
Rural District

MilburnCivil parish171EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

MorlandCivil parish380EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

MungrisdaleCivil parish284EdenPenrith
Rural District

MurtonCivil parish330EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

MusgraveCivil parish152EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

NatebyCivil parish110EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

NewbigginCivil parish96EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

NewbyCivil parish164EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

OrmsideCivil parish133EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

OrtonCivil parish594EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

OusbyCivil parish362EdenPenrith
Rural District

PatterdaleCivil parish460EdenLakes
Urban District

PenrithTown14,756EdenPenrith Urban District
RavenstonedaleCivil parish570EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

ShapCivil parish1,221EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

Shap RuralCivil parish119EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

SkeltonCivil parish1,059EdenPenrith
Rural District

SleagillCivil parish100EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

Sockbridge and TirrilCivil parish397EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

SoulbyCivil parish186EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

StainmoreCivil parish253EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

TebayCivil parish728EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

Temple SowerbyCivil parish333EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

ThrelkeldCivil parish454EdenPenrith
Rural District

WaitbyCivil parish60EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

WarcopCivil parish491EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

WhartonCivil parish31EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

WintonCivil parish213EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

Yanwath and Eamont BridgeCivil parish457EdenNorth Westmorland
Rural District

AldinghamCivil parish1,187South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

AngertonCivil parish14South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

ArnsideCivil parish2,301South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

BarbonCivil parish263South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

BeethamCivil parish1,724South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

Blawith and SubberthwaiteCivil parish189South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

Broughton EastCivil parish173South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

Broughton WestCivil parish954South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

Burton-in-KendalCivil parish1,411South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

Cartmel FellCivil parish309South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

CastertonCivil parish500South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

ClaifeCivil parish392South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

ColtonCivil parish765South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

ConistonCivil parish1,058South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

CrookCivil parish340South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

Crosthwaite and LythCivil parish562South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

DentCivil parish675South LakelandSedbergh
Rural District

DockerCivil parish55South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

Dunnerdale with SeathwaiteCivil parish129South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

Egton with NewlandCivil parish898South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

Fawcett ForestCivil parish23South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

FirbankCivil parish97South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

GarsdaleCivil parish202South LakelandSedbergh
Rural District

Grange-over-SandsTown4,042South LakelandGrange Urban District
GrayriggCivil parish223South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

HaverthwaiteCivil parish728South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

HawksheadCivil parish589South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

HelsingtonCivil parish288South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

HevershamCivil parish647South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

HincasterCivil parish195South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

HolmeCivil parish1,167South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

HugillCivil parish416South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

Hutton RoofCivil parish193South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

KendalTown27,505South LakelandKendal
Municipal Borough

KentmereCivil parish95South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

KillingtonCivil parish152South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

Kirkby IrelethCivil parish1,247South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

Kirkby LonsdaleTown1,771South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

LakesCivil parish5,127South LakelandLakes Urban District
LambriggCivil parish90South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

LevensCivil parish1,007South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

Lindale and Newton-in-CartmelCivil parish824South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

LongsleddaleCivil parish73South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

Lower AllithwaiteCivil parish1,758South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

Lower HolkerCivil parish1,808South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

LowickCivil parish224South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

LuptonCivil parish165South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

ManserghCivil parish141South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

MansriggsCivil parish42South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

MiddletonCivil parish109South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

MilnthorpeCivil parish2,106South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

NatlandCivil parish747South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

Nether StaveleyCivil parish677South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

New HuttonCivil parish313South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

Old Hutton and HolmescalesCivil parish357South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

OsmotherleyCivil parish234South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

Over StaveleyCivil parish516South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

PenningtonCivil parish1,794South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

Preston PatrickCivil parish438South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

Preston RichardCivil parish1,307South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

SatterthwaiteCivil parish257South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

SedberghCivil parish2,705South LakelandSedbergh
Rural District

SedgwickCivil parish380South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

Skelsmergh and ScalthwaiteriggCivil parish374South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

SkelwithCivil parish185South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

StaintonCivil parish301South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

Staveley-in-CartmelCivil parish428South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

Strickland KetelCivil parish1,093South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

Strickland RogerCivil parish544South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

TorverCivil parish135South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

UlverstonTown11,524South LakelandUlverston
Urban District

Underbarrow and BradleyfieldCivil parish351South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

UrswickCivil parish1,467South LakelandNorth Lonsdale
Rural District

WhinfellCivil parish152South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

Whitwell and SelsideCivil parish198South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District

WindermereTown8,245South LakelandWindermere Urban District
Witherslack, Meathop and UlphaCivil parish625South LakelandSouth Westmorland
Rural District