Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England that had an administrative function from the 12th century until 1974. It was bordered by Northumberland to the east, County Durham to the southeast, Westmorland and Lancashire to the south, and the Scottish counties of Dumfriesshire and Roxburghshire to the north. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria.
Early history
The first record of the term "Cumberland" appears in 945, when the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle recorded that the area was ceded to Malcolm I by King Edmund of England. As with Cymru, the native Welsh name for Wales, the names Cumberland and Cumbria are derived from *kombroges in Common Brittonic, which originally meant "compatriots".At the time of the Domesday Book most of the future county was part of Scotland, although some villages around Millom, which were the possessions of the Earl of Northumbria, had been incorporated into Yorkshire.
In 1092, King William Rufus of England invaded the Carlisle district, settling it with colonists. He created an Earldom of Carlisle, and granted the territory to Ranulf Meschyn. In 1133, Carlisle was made the see of a new diocese, largely identical with the area of the earldom. However, on the death of King Henry I in 1135, the area was regained by Scotland's King David I. He was able to consolidate his power and made Carlisle one of his chief seats of government, while England descended into a lengthy civil war.
The area returned to the English crown in 1157, when Henry II of England took possession of the area. Henry II formed two new counties from the former earldom: Westmorland and Carliol – originally an abbreviation of the Latin Carlioliensis " of Carlisle". Westmorland also included areas former part of the Earldom of Lancaster. The lead and silver-mining area of Alston, previously associated with the Liberty of Tynedale was later also added to the new county of Carliol for financial reasons. By 1177, Carliol had become known as Cumberland. The border between England and Scotland was made permanent by the Treaty of York in 1237.
Boundaries and subdivisions
The boundaries formed in the 12th century did not change substantially over the county's existence. It bordered four English counties and two Scottish counties. These were Northumberland and County Durham to the east; Westmorland to the south, the Furness part of Lancashire to the southwest; Dumfriesshire to the north and Roxburghshire to the northeast.To the west the county was bounded by the Solway Firth and the Irish Sea. The northern boundary was formed by the Solway Estuary and the border with Scotland running east to Scotch Knowe at Kershope Burn. The boundary ran south from Scotch Knowe along the Cheviot Hills, then followed a tributary of the River Irthing and crossed Denton Fell to the River Tees. From Tees Head the boundary crossed the Pennines to descend Crowdundale Beck, from where it followed the rivers Eden and Eamont to the centre of Ullswater. The line then followed the Glencoin Beck to the top of the Helvellyn ridge, thence to Wrynose Pass and along the River Duddon to the sea near Millom.
The highest point of the county was Scafell Pike, at 3,208 feet the highest mountain in England. Carlisle was the county town.
Division into wards
The Earldom of Carlisle was divided into baronies, but on the creation of the county these were replaced by wards. These took the place of hundreds found in most other English counties, and originated in military subdivisions organised for the defence of the county from incursions by Scottish troops. Each ward was composed of a number of parishes, areas originally formed for ecclesiastical administration. In common with other counties of northern England, many parishes in Cumberland were very large, often consisting of a number of distinct townships and hamlets. Many of these subdivisions were eventually to become civil parishes and form the lowest level of local government.The wards and their constituent parishes in 1821 were:
| Ward | Parishes | Notes |
| Allerdale above Derwent | - | - |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Arlecdon | |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Beckermet St John | Included part of township of Calder & Beckermet or Calderbridge |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Beckermet St Bridget | Included townships of Ennerdale & Kinniside, Eskdale & Wasdale |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Bootle | |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Brigham | Included townships of Blindbothel, Buttermere, Cockermouth, Eaglesfield, Embleton, Greysouthen, Mosser, Setmurthey, Whinfell |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Cleator | |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Corney | |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Crosthwaite | Included township of Borrowdale |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Dean | |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Drigg and Carlton | |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Egremont | |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Gosforth | Included township of Bolton |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Haile | |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Harrington | |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Irton with Santon | Included township of Santon & Murthwaite |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Lamplugh | Included townships of Kelton & Winder, Murton |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Lorton | Included townships of Brackenthwaite, Wythop |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Loweswater | |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Millom | Included hamlet of Birker with Austhwaite, township of Ulpha |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Moresby | Included township of Parton |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Muncaster | |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Ponsonby | Included part of township of Calder & Beckermet or Calderbridge |
| Allerdale above Derwent | St Bees | Include townships of Hensingham, Lowside Quarter, Netherwasdale, Preston Quarter, Rottington, Sandwith, Wheddicarr, Whitehaven |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Waberthwaite | |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Whicham | |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Whitbeck | |
| Allerdale above Derwent | Workington | Included townships of Great Clifton, Little Clifton, Stainburn, Winscales |
| Allerdale below Derwent | Allhallows | |
| Allerdale below Derwent | Aspatria | Including townships of Hayton & Mealo, Oughterside & Allerby |
| Allerdale below Derwent | Bassenthwaite | |
| Allerdale below Derwent | Bolton | Including townships of Bolton Gate, Bolton Wood & Quarry Hill, Bolton Lowside, Isel Old Park, Sunderland |
| Allerdale below Derwent | Bridekirk | Including townships of Dovenby, Great Broughton, Little Broughton |
| Allerdale below Derwent | Bromfield | Including townships of Allonby, Langrigg & Mealrigg, Papcastle, Tallentire, Westnewton |
| Allerdale below Derwent | Caldbeck | |
| Allerdale below Derwent | Cammerton | Including township of Seaton |
| Allerdale below Derwent | Crosscanonby | Including townships of Birkby & Canonby, Blennerhasset & Kirkland, Crosby, Maryport |
| Allerdale below Derwent | Crosthwaite | Included townships of Castlerigg St John's & Wythburn, Keswick, Ribton, Underskiddaw |
| Allerdale below Derwent | Dearham | Including township of Ellenborough & Ewanrigg |
| Allerdale below Derwent | Flimby | |
| Allerdale below Derwent | Gilcrux | |
| Allerdale below Derwent | Holme Cultram | Including townships of Abbey Quarter, Holme East Waver Quarter, Holme St Cuthbert's Quarter, Holme Low Quarter |
| Allerdale below Derwent | Ireby | Including townships of High Ireby, Low Ireby |
| Allerdale below Derwent | Isel | Including township of Blindcrake and Redmain |
| Allerdale below Derwent | Plumbland | |
| Allerdale below Derwent | Torpenhow | Including townships of Bewaldeth and Snittlegarth, Bothel & Thrupland |
| Allerdale below Derwent | Uldale | |
| Allerdale below Derwent | West Ward | |
| Cumberland | Aikton | |
| Cumberland | Beaumont | |
| Cumberland | Bowness | Included townships of Anthorn, Drumburg, Fingland |
| Cumberland | Bromfield | Included townships of Blencogo, Dundraw |
| Cumberland | Burgh by Sands | |
| Cumberland | Carlisle, St Mary's * | Townships of Caldewgate Quarter, Cummersdale Quarter, Wreay |
| Cumberland | Carlisle St Mary Within* | Included township of Rickergate Quarter |
| Cumberland | Carlisle St Cuthbert's Within* | |
| Cumberland | Carlisle St Cuthbert's Without* | |
| Cumberland | Dalston | |
| Cumberland | Eaglesfield Abbey* | |
| Cumberland | Grinsdale | |
| Cumberland | Kirkandrews upon Eden | |
| Cumberland | Kirkbampton | |
| Cumberland | Kirkbride | |
| Cumberland | Orton | Included township of Baldwinholme |
| Cumberland | Rockcliffe | |
| Cumberland | Sebergham | Low and High Quarters |
| Cumberland | Thursby | |
| Cumberland | Warwick | |
| Cumberland | Wetheral | |
| Cumberland | Wigton | Included townships of Oulton Water, Waverton High & Low, Woodside Quarter |
| Eskdale | - | - |
| Eskdale | Arthuret | Included townships of Braconhill, Lineside, Longtown, Netherby |
| Eskdale | Bewcastle | |
| Eskdale | Brampton | |
| Eskdale | Castlecarrock | |
| Eskdale | Crosby | High & Low |
| Eskdale | Cumrew | Outside and Inside |
| Eskdale | Cumwhitton | Included township of Northsceugh |
| Eskdale | East Farlam | |
| Eskdale | Hayton | Included townships of Little Crosby, Fenton & Faugh, Talkin |
| Eskdale | Irthington | Included townships of Kingwater, Laversdale, Newby, Newtown |
| Eskdale | Kingmoor | Extra-parochial liberty belonging to the Corporation of Carlisle |
| Eskdale | Kirkandrews upon Esk | Included townships of Kirkandrews Moat, Kirkandrews Nether Quarter, Kirkandrews Upper Quarter, Nichol Forest |
| Eskdale | Kirklinton | Included townships of Hethersgill, Westlinton |
| Eskdale | Lanercost | Included townships of Askerton, Burtholme & Banks, Lineside |
| Eskdale | Nether Denton | |
| Eskdale | Scaleby | East and West |
| Eskdale | Stanwix | |
| Eskdale | Stapleton | Included townships of Belbank, Solport Quarter, Trough |
| Eskdale | Upper Denton | |
| Eskdale | Walton | High and Low |
| Eskdale | West Farlam | |
| Leath | - | - |
| Leath | Addingham | Included townships of Gamblesby, Glassonby, Hunsonby & Winskill |
| Leath | Ainstable and Rushcroft | |
| Leath | Alston with Garrigill | Included the Chapelry of Garrigill |
| Leath | Caldbeck | Township of Mosedale |
| Leath | Carlisle, St Mary's | Township of Middlesceugh & Braithwaite |
| Leath | Castle Sowerby | |
| Leath | Croglin | |
| Leath | Dacre | |
| Leath | Edenhall | Included township of Langwathby |
| Leath | Great Salkeld | |
| Leath | Greystoke | Included townships of Berrier & Murrah, Bowscale, Hutton John, Hutton Roof, Hutton Soil, Matterdale, Mungrisdale, Threlkeld, Watermillock |
| Leath | Hesket in the Forest | |
| Leath | Hutton in the Forest | |
| Leath | Kirkland | Included townships of Culgaith, Kirkland & Blencarn |
| Leath | Kirkoswald | Included township of Staffield |
| Leath | Lazonby | Included township of Plumpton Wall |
| Leath | Melmerby | |
| Leath | Newton Reigny | Included township of Catterlen |
| Leath | Ousby | |
| Leath | Penrith | |
| Leath | Renwick | |
| Leath | Skirwith |
Ward of Cumberland
The ward of Cumberland was one of the ancient divisions of the historic county of Cumberland, England. In most other counties these divisions were called hundreds or Wapentakes.The ward included Carlisle and Wigton and took in parts of Inglewood Forest. It was bounded on the north and east by Eskdale Ward, on the south by Leath Ward and the west by Allerdale-below-Derwent Ward.
The parish of Stanwix just to the north of Carlisle was partly in both Eskdale and Cumberland wards.
Local government from the 19th century
During the 19th century a series of reforms reshaped the local government of the county, creating a system of districts with directly-elected councils.Poor law and municipal reform
The first changes concerned the administration of the poor law, which was carried at parish level. The Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 provided for the grouping of parishes into poor law unions, each with a central workhouse and an elected board of guardians. Cumberland was divided into nine unions: Alston with Garrigill, Bootle, Brampton, Carlisle, Cockermouth, Longtown, Penrith, Whitehaven and Wigton.In the following year the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 was passed, reforming boroughs and cities in England and Wales as municipal boroughs with a uniform constitution. The corporation of the City of Carlisle was accordingly remodelled with a popularly elected council consisting of a mayor, aldermen and councillors.
Local boards and sanitary districts
Outside of municipal boroughs, there was no effective local government until the 1840s. In response to poor sanitary conditions and outbreaks of cholera, the Public Health Act 1848 and the Local Government Act 1858 allowed for the formation of local boards of health in populous areas. Local boards were responsible inter alia for water supply, drainage, sewerage, paving and cleansing. Eleven local boards were initially formed at Brampton, Cleator Moor, Cockermouth, Egremont, Holme Cultram, Keswick, Maryport, Millom, Penrith, Whitehaven, Wigton and Workington.Further reform under the Public Health Act 1875 saw the creation of sanitary districts throughout England and Wales. The existing municipal boroughs and local boards became "urban sanitary districts", while "rural sanitary districts" were formed from the remaining areas of the poor law unions.
Three more local boards were formed: Arlecdon and Frizington in 1882, Harrington in 1891 and Aspatria in 1892. In addition Workington and Whitehaven received charters of incorporation to become municipal boroughs in 1883 and 1894 respectively.
Local government acts of 1888 and 1894
In 1889, under the Local Government Act 1888, the Cumberland County Council was created as the county council for Cumberland, taking over administrative functions from the Court of Quarter Sessions. The Local Government Act 1894 reconstituted the existing sanitary districts as urban districts and rural districts, each with an elected council.The Act of 1888 also allowed any municipal borough with a population of 50,000 people or more to become a "county borough", independent of county council control. In 1914, Carlisle successfully applied for this status, ceasing to form part of the administrative county, although remaining within Cumberland for the purposes such as Lieutenancy and shrievalty.
Reform in 1934
The Local Government Act 1929 imposed the duty on county councils of reviewing the districts within their administrative county so as to form more efficient units of local government. In general, this meant the merging of small or lightly populated areas into larger units. A review was carried in Cumberland in 1934. The following table lists the urban and rural districts before and after the changes.The distribution of population in 1971 was as follows:1971 Census; Small Area Statistics
| District | Population |
| County Borough of Carlisle | 71,580 |
| Cockermouth Urban District | 6,366 |
| Keswick Urban District | 5,184 |
| Maryport Urban District | 11,612 |
| Penrith Urban District | 11,308 |
| Municipal Borough of Whitehaven | 26,721 |
| Municipal Borough of Workington | 28,431 |
| Alston with Garrigill Rural District | 1,917 |
| Border Rural District | 29,267 |
| Cockermouth Rural District | 21,520 |
| Ennerdale Rural District | 30,983 |
| Millom Rural District | 14,088 |
| Penrith Rural District | 11,380 |
| Wigton Rural District | 21,830 |
In 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, the administrative county and county borough were abolished and their former area was combined with Westmorland and parts of Lancashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire to form the new county of Cumbria. The area from Cumberland went on to form the districts of Carlisle, Allerdale, Copeland and part of Eden.
Legacy
The name continues in use as a geographical and cultural term, and it survives in Cumberland sausages; HMS Cumberland; Cumberland County Cricket Club; the Cumberland Fell Runners Club; the Cumberland Athletics Club; and various organisations and companies, such as the local newspapers The Cumberland News, and The West Cumberland Times and Star, and the Cumberland Building Society. It is also mentioned in Macbeth as the kingdom given to Prince Malcolm.In June 1994, during the 1990s UK local government reform, the Local Government Commission published draft recommendations, suggesting as one option a North Cumbria unitary authority. It also suggested that Cumberland could be reinstated as an independent ceremonial county. The final recommendations, published in October 1994, did not include such recommendations, apparently due to lack of expression of support for the proposal to the commission.
As part of a 2002 marketing campaign, the plant conservation charity Plantlife chose the Grass-of-Parnassus as the county flower. Parnassus flowers had been associated with the county since 1951, when they were included in the coat of arms granted to the Cumberland County Council. They subsequently featured in the arms granted to Cumbria County Council and Copeland Borough Council, in both cases to represent Cumberland.
In 2012, a flag based on the arms of the former Cumberland County Council was registered as the flag of Cumberland with the Flag Institute.
In 2013, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, formally recognised and acknowledged the continued existence of England's 39 historic counties, including Cumberland.