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Medieval Cumbria

[ History of the Armitt ] [ Bibliographies ]

[ Medieval Cumbria ] [ Early Guide Books ] [ Bibliographies 2 ] [ Bibliographies 3 ] [ Bibliographies 4 ]

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF MEDIEVAL CUMBRIA

The Armitt Library holds a considerable amount of material on medieval Cumbria, including editions of several primary sources such as the Cumberland and Westmorland Pipe Rolls from the 13th century, the Cartularies (registers of possessions) of monasteries, and 14th century wills from Carlisle.  These are in Latin, and most of the material is not translated into English.  There are many general histories of the region which also cover the medieval period.  But in addition to these there are many references to the medieval period in the numerous works of local history held in the Library.  The list below includes any book in the Library on local history that contains substantial references to the medieval period.  Most towns and larger villages in Cumbria are to be found in this list, and the simplest way to locate medieval material from a particular place is to enter the name of the place into the ‘Find’ facility on your computer.

The bibliography is divided as follows:

General Works

Carlisle: City and Diocese, including Parish Registers

Other Specific Locations in Cumberland

Other Specific Locations in Westmorland

Cartmel and Furness

Other Locations [covering places in the north-west of England]

Note on Cumbria in Domesday

By 1086 Norman control of England had reached into what is now the south of Cumbria, but there were no separate counties of Westmorland and Cumberland identified at this time. In the later Cumberland there are only four places mentioned in Domesday (Bootle, Kirksanton, Millom and Whicham), and these are listed under the West Riding of Yorkshire. In the later South Westmorland there are 24 places listed, again under the West Riding of Yorkshire. Sedbergh and the surrounding area is, of course, also listed under the West Riding of Yorkshire. The Furness peninsula has 32 entries listed under Lancashire.

General Works

Anon., Heraldic Visitation of the Northern Counties in 1530 by Thomas Tonge (Surtees Society 1863)

Appleby, A.B., Famine in Tudor and Stuart England (Liverpool 1978)

Baldwin, J.R. and Whyte, I.D. (eds.)The Scandinavians in Cumbria (Leeds 1985)

Bulmer, T., History, Topography and Directory of Westmorland (Preston c.1910)

Collingwood, R.G., Lake District History (Kendal 1925). A general history from earliest times to the 19th century

Collingwood, W.G., An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Cumberland (Kendal 1923)

Collingwood, W.G., An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Westmorland and Lancashire-North-of-the-Sands (Kendal 1926)

CWAAS: Tract Series I-VI:

No.1                Description of the County of Westmoreland, by Sir Daniel Fleming of Rydal, 1671 (Kendal 1882)

No.2        An Account of the most considerable Estates and Families in the County of Cumberland from the conquest to the reign of King James (the first), by John Denton of Cardew, c.1610 (Kendal 1897)

No. 3                Description of the County of Cumberland, by Sir Daniel Fleming of Rydal, 1671 (Kendal 1889)

No. 4       A Cursory Relation of all the Antiquities and Families in Cumberland, by Edmund Sandford, c.1675(Kendal 1890)

No. 5       Account of the City and Diocese of Carlisle, by Henry Todd D.D. (1689-99) (Kendal 1890)

No. 6       Notitia Ecclesiae Cathedralis Carliolensis: et Notitia Prioratus de Wedderhal, by Hugh Todd D.D. (Kendal 1891)

Ekwall, E., The Place-Names of Lancashire (Manchester and London 1922)

Ferguson, Robert, The Northmen in Cumberland and Westmorland (London and Carlisle 1856)

Ferguson, R.S., History of Westmorland (London 1894)

Ferguson, R.S., History of Cumberland (London 1890)

Field, F.J., An Armorial for Cumberland (Kendal 1937)

Gambles, R., Man in Lakeland: 2000 Years of Human Settlement (Dalesman 1975)

Gambles, R., The Story of the Lakeland Dales (Phillimore 1997)

Gomme, G.L. (ed.), Topographical History of Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Cornwall and Cumberland (Gentleman’s Magazine 1731-1868) (London 1892)

Gomme, G.L. (ed.), Topographical History of Warwickshire, Westmoreland and Wiltshire (Gentleman’s Magazine 1731-1868) (London 1901)

Gordon, M.A., Early History of North-West England (Kentmere 1963), vol. 1 (to 1300)

Hodgson, Rev. M., A Topographical and Historical Description of the County of Westmoreland (London 1820)

Hutchinson, William, The History of the County of Cumberland (2 vols., Carlisle 1794)

Jackson, William, Papers and Pedigrees mainly relating to Cumberland and Westmorland (CWAAS 1892)

Jefferson, Samuel, The History and Antiquities of Allerdale Ward Above Derwent in the County of Cumberland (Carlisle 1842)

Lysons, D. and S., Topographical and Historical Account of the County of Cumberland (London c.1815)

Mee, Arthur, The King’s England: The Lake Counties (Hodder and Stoughton 1937). See index for individual sites.

Mee, Arthur, The King’s England: Lancashire (Hodder and Stoughton 1936). See index for individual sites.

Nicholson, Norman, Portrait of the Lakes (London 1963). See index.

Nicolson, J. and Burn, R., The History and Antiquities of the Counties of Westmorland and Cumberland (2 vols. London 1777 and 1778). Also Index by Henry Hornyold-Strickland (Kendal 1934)

Millward, R., and Robinson, A., The Lake District (London 1970), especially chs. 5-7

Parker, F.H.M., The Pipe Rolls of Cumberland and Westmorland 1222-1260 (Kendal 1905)

Pearsall, W.H., and Pennington, W., The Lake District (London 1973), especially chs. 14-16

Pevsner, Nikolaus, The Buildings of England: Cumberland and Westmorland (Penguin 1967). See index

Pevsner, Nikolaus, The Buildings of England: North Lancashire (Penguin 1969). See index

Rawnsley, Canon H.D., Past and Present at the English Lakes (Glasgow 1916), especially pp. 64-101 (German miners at Keswick)

Rawnsley, Canon H.D., Round the Lake Country (Glasgow 1909), especially chs. 4 (Gosforth Cross), 5 (St. Bees), 6 (St. Cuthbert), 12 (Bewcastle Cross)

Ridpath, George, The Border-History of England and Scotland (London 1776)

Rollinson, W., A History of Cumberland and Westmorland (Phillimore 1978), especially pp. 28-57

Rose, Thomas, Westmorland, Cumberland, Durham and Northumberland (London 1832)

Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, England: An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Westmorland (HMSO 1936). See index

Sayer, History of Westmorland (2 vols., Kendal and London 1847)

Sedgefield, W.J., The Place-Names of Cumberland and Westmorland (Kendal 1915)

Victorian History of the Counties of England: A History of Cumberland, ed. James Wilson (2 vols. Westminster 1901 and 1905), especially from Vol. I p.253. Of particular interest for the medieval period are II.1-127: Ecclesiastical History; II.127-210: Religious Houses; II.211-219: Monumental Effigies

Whellan, William, The History and Topography of the Counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland (Pontefract, London and Manchester 1860)

Carlisle: City and Diocese, including Parish Registers

Anon., Carlisle: The Cathedral and the Diocese 1133-1933 (Carlisle 1933)

Barnes, A.W. and Hodges, R.G., A Light to Follow (Carlisle 1959)

Blake, J. and B., The Story of Carlisle (Carlisle 1958)

Bouch, C.M.L., Prelates and People of the Lake Counties: A History of the Diocese of Carlisle 1133-1933 (Kendal 1948)

Creighton, M., Historic Towns: Carlisle (London 1889)

Cropper, Margaret, Shepherds and Wayfarers: A History for Children of the Diocese of Carlisle (Carlisle 1933)

Eley, C.K., The Cathedral Church of Carlisle (London 1900)

Ferguson, R., Diocesan Histories: Carlisle (London 1889)

Ferguson, R.S. and Nanson, W. eds.), Some Municipal Records of the City of Carlisle (CWAAS, Carlisle and London 1887)

Ferguson, R.S., (ed.), Testamenta Karleolensia (1353-1386) (Kendal 1893)

Ferguson, R.S., The Royal Charters of the City of Carlisle (CWAAS, Carlisle and London 1894)

Fletcher, J.S., The Reformation in Northern England (London 1925)

Jefferson, S., The History and Antiquities of Carlisle (Carlisle 1838)

Loftie, Arthur (ed.), The Rural Deanery of Gosforth (Kendal 1889)

Prescott, J.E., The Statutes of the Cathedral Church of Carlisle (Kendal and London 1903)

Routledge, G.B., Carlisle Grammar School Memorial Register 1264-1924 (Carlisle 1924)

Shaw, R. Cunliffe, Post Roman Carlisle and the Kingdoms of the North-West (Preston 1964)

Slee, Mary, Older Carlisle and Round About (Red Cross 1917)

Stuart, H.L., The Story of Carlisle Cathedral (London 1935?)

Watson, G.P.H. and Bradley, G., Carlisle Castle (HMSO 1938)

Widdup, H.L., The Story of Christianity in Cumbria (Kendal 1981)

Wilson, James, Rose Castle (Carlisle 1912)

The following parish registers from before 1600 are available in the Library. The date in brackets indicates the earliest record in the register:

Addingham (1542)

Askham (1566)

Blawith (1547)

Bridekirk (1585; in Latin until 1679)

Brough-under-Stainmore (1559)

Cartmel (1559)

Cliburn (1565)

Crosby Garrett (1569)

Crosby Ravensworth (1568)

Crosthwaite (Keswick) (1562; in Latin until 1566)

Crosthwaite-cum-Lyth (1569)

Dacre (1559)

Dalton-in-Furness (1565)

Great Orton (1568)

Greystoke (1559)

Hawkeshead (1558; partly in Latin until 1704)

Holm Cultram (1580

Kendal (1557)

Lamplugh (1581)

Lowther (1548)

Millom (1591)

Morland (1538)

Newbiggin (1571)

Newton Reigny (1571)

Penrith (1556)

Ravenstonedale (1571)

Shap (1558)

Skelton (1580)

St Bees (1538; in Latin until 1653)

Torver (1599)

Ulverston (1545)

Warcop (1597)

Watermillock (1579)

Whicham (1569)

Other Specific Locations in Cumberland

Anon., A Guide to Naworth and Lanercost (Carlisle 1839)

Ashworth, Arthur, The History of the Abbey of Holm Cultram, Cumberland (Wigton 1883)

Bolton, J., Wordsworth’s Birthplace (… Cockermouth) (Cockermouth 1912)

Bott, G., Keswick: The History of a Lake District Town (Kendal 1994)

Bradbury, J.B., A History of Cockermouth (Phillimore 1981)

Collingwood, W.G., Elizabethan Keswick: Extracts from the Original Account Books 1564-77 of the German Miners in the Archives of Augsburg (Kendal 1912)

Furness, W., History of Penrith (Penrith 1894)

Gilbanks, G.E., Some Records of a Cistercian Abbey: Holm Cultram, Cumberland (London 1899)

Granger, F., and Collingwood, W.G., The Register and Records of Holkm Cultram (Kendal 1929)

Hay, D., Whitehaven: An Illustrated History (Whitehaven 1979)

Leslie, J.W., History of Haltwhistle and Gilsland: Past and Present 1100-1922 (Haltwhistle 1922)

Loftie, A.G., Great Salkeld, its Rectors and History (London 1900)

Loftie, Arthur G., A History of the Parishes of Wetheral and Warwick (Carlisle 1923)

Loftie, Rev. A.G., Calder Abbey: its Ruins and History (Kendal 1888)

Manders, A., The History of the Church of Crosthwaite, Cumberland

Maxwell, Sir Herbert, The Chronicle of Lanercost 1272-1346 (Glasgow 1913)

Parker, C.A., The Gosforth District: Its Antiquites and Places of Interest (Kendal 1904). Covers Egremont, Seascale, Gosforth, Wasdale, Calder Abbey, Muncaster, Eskdale, Waberthwaite, Bootle.

Prescott, J.E., The Register of the Priory of Wetherhal (London and Kendal 1897)

Sowerby, R.R., Historical Castle Sowerby and Mid-Cumberland (Kendal 1954)

Steele, E., St. Bees: Story of a Cumberland Village (Carlisle 1961)

Walker, J., The History of Penrith (Penrith 1858)

Watson, R.J.S., Cumberland’s Clifton (Whitehaven 1971)

Wilson, J., The Register of the Priory of St. Bees (Kendal 1915)

Pamphlets on the following are in the ‘Local Places’ boxes:

Bromfield

Gosforth

Keswick

Lanercost Priory

Maryport

Naworth Castle

Wetheral Priory

Other Specific Locations in Westmorland

Anon., A Gossipy Guide to Kirkby Lonsdale (blackburn 1890), and An Illustrated Guide to Sedbergh, Garsdale and Dent (Leeds 1894) [bound together]

Anon., A Celebration of 800 Years of Market Kendal 1189-1989 (Kendal 1989)

Anon., A Short History of Lowther and the Lowther Family (? c.1930)

Anon., Local Chronology (Kendal 1865), pp.v-vii

Armitt, M.L., Rydal (Kendal 1916)

Armitt, M.L., The Church of Grasmere: A History (Kendal 1912)

Bingham, R., Kendal: A Social History (Milnthorpe 1995), especially ch.1

Braithwaite, Rev. J.W., Guide to Kirkby Stephen, Appleby, Brough, Warcop, Ravenstonedale, Mallerstang, etc., (Kirkby Stephen 1884)

Brydson, A.P., Sidelights on Mediaeval Windermere (Kendal 1911)

Brydson, A.P., Some Records of Two Lakeland Townships (Blawith and Nibthwaite) (London c.1910)

Clough, R., A Short History of Underbarrow (Kendal 1969)

Cowper, H.S., Hawkshead … Its History, Archaeology, Industries, Folklore, Dialect, etc. (London 1899)

Cowper, H.S., Hawkshead and its Neighbourhood: A Visitor’s Guide (Kendal 1910?)

Curwen, J.F., Historical Description of Levens Hall (Kendal 1898)

Curwen, John F., The Ancient Parish of Heversham with Milnthorpe … (Kendal 1930)

Curwen, J.F., The Later Records relating to N. Westmorland or the Barony of Appleby (Kendal 1932)

Davies-Shiel, M., Wool is My Bread, or The Early Woollen Industry of Kendal c.975-1575 (Kendal 1975)

Eeles, F.C., The Parish Church of St Kentigern, Crosthwaite (Carlisle 1953)

Ellwood, Rev. T., The Church and Benefice of Torver (Ulverston 1888)

Farrer, W., Records relating to the Barony of Kendale, 3 vols. (Kendal 1923)

Grasmere Womens’ Institute, Grasmere: A Short History (Kendal 1979)

Hinchcliffe, E., Appleby Grammar School (Appleby 1974)

Hornyold-Strickland, H., Sizergh Castle (National Trust 1979)

Hudleston, N.F., St. Andrew’s Church, Greystoke (? 1963)

Jones, C.P., A Short History of the Manor and Parish of Witherslack to 1850 (Kendal 1971)

Langham, J.G., Parish Church of St James, Burton-in-Kendal (Carnforth 1972)

McConnel, E.W.J., The Story of Staveley School 1538-1927 (? 1927)

Nicholls, Rev. W., The History and Traditions of Mallerstang Forest and Pendragon Castle (Manchester 1883)

Nicholson, C., The Annals of Kendal (London 1861)

Nicholson, J.W., History of Crosby Garrett (Kirkby Stephen 1914)

Nurse, E.J., History of Windermere Parish Church (Bowness-on-Windermere 1908)

Pearson, A., Annals of Kirkby Lonsdale … (Kendal 1930), especially chs.1-3

Satchell, J., Kendal on Tenterhooks (Kendal 1984)

Satchell, J., The Kendal Weaver (Kendal 1986)

Scott, J., A Lakeland Valley Through Time: A History of Staveley, Kentmere and Ings (Kendal 1995)

Smith, H.C., The Panelled Rooms IV: The Inlaid Rooms from Sizergh Castle [1564] (HMSO 1915)

Sowerby, R.R., Historical Kirkby Stephen and North-West Westmorland (Kendal 1950)

Thompson, Mary M., Mallerstang: A Westmorland Dale (Appleby 1965)

Thompson, T.W., Hawkshead Church, Chapelry and Parish (Ambleside 1956)

Pamphlets on the following are in the ‘Local Places’ boxes:

Appleby Castle

Brough Castle

Brougham Castle

Grasmere

Hawkshead

Hawkshead Endowed School Statutes

Heversham

Kendal

Kentmere

Kirkby Stephen Church

Landale

Levens Hall

Lowther

Rydal

Sizergh Castle

Troutbeck

Windermere

Cartmel and Furness

Anon., A Handbook to the Abbey of St Mary of Furness in Lancashire (Ulverston 1845)

Anon., Cartmel Priory Church (Ulverston 1887)

Atkinson, Rev. J.C., The Coucher Book of Furness Abbey (3 vols., Manchester, Chetham Society 1886-8)

Barber, H., Furness and Cartmel Notes (Ulverston and London 1894)

Bardsley, C.W., Chronicles of the Town and Church of Ulverston (Ulverston 1885)

Dickinson, J.C., Furness Abbey, Lancashire (HMSO 1965)

Dickinson, J.C., The Land of Cartmel: A History (Kendal 1980)

Dykes, L.G.F. and Hardwick, T., The Priory Church of St Mary Cartmel (Grange 1961)

Evans, F., Furness and Furness Abbey (Ulverston 1842)

Fell, A., A Furness Manor:Pennington and its Church (Ulverston 1929), ch.1

Fell, Alfred, A Furness Military Chronicle (Ulveston 1937), especially chs. 1-2

Garbutt, J. and Leeson, H., The Books of Furness and Cartmel (Ulverston 1993)

Hardman, J., Cartmel Priory Gatehouse (Kendal, NT 1946)

Hope, W.H. St John, The Abbey of St Mary in Furness (Kendal 1902)

Jopling, C.M., Sketch of Furness and Cartmel (London and Ulverston 1843)

Jopling, Charles M., Sketch of Furness and Cartmel London and Ulverston 1843). Furness Abbey pp.105-144; History of Furness and Cartmel pp.225 ff.

Leach, Alice, A History of Furness Abbey (Ulverston 1987)

Morris, J.P., A Handy Guide to the Ruins of Furness Abbey (Ulverston 1920?)

Payn, James, Furness Abbey and its Neighbourhood (London 1900?)

Philp, Dr., Guide to Conishead Priory and the Surrounding District (Edinburgh 1880)

Stockdale, J., Annals of Cartmel (Ulverston and London 1872)

Taylor, S. and Rammage, D., The Ancient Library in Cartmel Priory Church (Durham 1959)

Taylor, S., Cartmel People and Priory (Kendal 1955)

West, Thomas, The Antiquities of Furness, or An Account of the Royal Abbey of St Mary … (London 1774, republished M.J. Moon 1977)

White, William, Furness Folk and Fact (Kendal 1930), ch.1

Pamphlets on the following are in the ‘Local Places’ Boxes:

Aldingham

Askham

Cartmel Priory

St. Anthony’s Chapel, Carmel Fell

Other Locations

Anon., A Gossipy Guide to Kirkby Lonsdale (Blackburn 1890), and An Illustrated Guide to Sedbergh, Garsdale and Dent (Leeds 1894) [bound together]

Anon., Leighton Hall, Carnforth (English Life 1982)

Caine, W.R.H., Isle of Man (London 1909)

Chippindall, W.H., History of the Township of Gressingham (Kendal 1919), especially ch.2

Clarke, H.L., A History of Sedbergh School 1525-1925 (Sedbergh 1925)

Farrer, W., Lancashire Pipe Rolls and Early Charters (Liverpool 1902)

Hodges, C.C., Hexham and its Abbey (London 1919)

Morgan, P. (ed.), Domesday Book: 26 Cheshire (Chichester 1978)

Pape, T., The Charters of the City of Lancaster (Lancaster 1952)

Thompson, W., Sedbergh, Garsdale and Dent (Leeds 1910)

Victorian History of the Counties of England: A History of Lancashire (edited W. Farrer and J. Brownhill (1906-8)

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