GILCRUX. This Is Another Small Parish, Being About Two Miles in Length, and Three Quarters in Breadth, and Containing About 2,000 Acres, Assessed at £3,95110S
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
• '728 COCKERMOUTH PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION. Pape James, joiner, Risehow cottage Wilkinson William, carter, etc., Brook street Parker Maria., confectioner, Brook street Pollock Jas., auctioneer, valuer, & house agent Sherwin Isaao A., station master, L. & N. W. Farmers. Storey William, Lodge cottage Boadle Robert, West End farm Stott Rev. Stephen, The Vicarage Holstead John, Beck side Thornborrow 'l'homas, constableJ Brown's place Longcake John, Risehow farm Tiffin Richard, beer retailer, Miner's Arms Messenger J ames, Flimby hall Tinnion Harry, builder, etc., Allonby house Moore James (hind), Gill Head Twentyman John, vict., Wheat Sheaf Inn Thompson John, W oodside Twentyman Mrs. Margt., vict., Princess Royal Thompson J oseph, Rye Hill Va.rty William, Chapel street Wedgwood Philip, Grange farm W a.llace H., posting establishmnt., etc., Brook st Williamson Benjamin, Woodside GILCRUX. This is another small parish, being about two miles in length, and three quarters in breadth, and containing about 2,000 acres, assessed at £3,95110s. Population 573. The gross rental is about £4,718. It lies on -the south side of the river Ellen, between Dearham and Torpenhow, and is comprehended in one manor and township. The first recorded possessor of Gilcrux is Waltheof, lord of Allerdale, who granted it to Lyulph, from whom it passed by the marriage of an heiress to the Bonnekill family. One of the Bonnekills gave it to the Abbot and Convent of Calder, reserving, however, the right of presentation to the bishop of the diocese. After the dissolution of the monastery, it was granted by Philip and Mary to Alexander Armstrong, and his male heirs, under the condition of providing five horses, well caparisoned, whenever summoned, within the county of Cumber land. It appears to have subsequently reverted to the Crown, for Elizabeth, in the 17th year of her reign, conveyed to John Soukey and Percival Gunson, all the messuages, lands, tenements, water mill, rent, reversions, and services, with appurtenances in Gilcrux aforesaid, to be held as of the manor of East Greenwich. The manor came subsequently into the possession of the Dykes family, and is now owned by the Exors. of L. F. B. Dykes, Esq.; the other principal landowners are William H. Hall, Esq., Mrs. SI:Qith, John Conaway, vVilliam Ogilvie, Mrs. Fearon, Rev. J. C. Pigott (glebe), Matthew Smith, John Green, John Wilson, J oseph Hall, etc. The following custom is observed in the manor: On the death of. the lord or change of tenant, a 20d. customary fine is paid. The parish is comprised within the ward and petty sessional division of Derwent ; the deanery of Maryport ; the union and rural district of Cockermouth; the county court district of Cockermouth and Workington; and the county council electoral division of Dearham. Severa.l seams• or bands of coal lie beneath the surface, but two only are sufficiently thick to admit of working; these are called the '' Yard Band '' and the '' Metal Band,'' of an average thickness of 2 feet 10 inches. At the colliery, called the Ellen Pit, worked by the Bullgill Colliery Co., Ltd., employment is found for about 250 hands; output about 200 tons per day. Gilcruz or Gilcruix village is about 5t miles E. of 1faryport, and 6 north of Cockermouth, and has evidently been so named from the presence of one of the numerous crosses erected by the first Christian missionaries when preaching the gospel in these parts. The district around is remarkable for the number and excellence of its springs, and in the village almost every house has its own spring, whose united waters form a considerable stream. In a field to the east of the village are two springs about forty or fifty yards apart, the one of fresh and the other of salt water, the latter having medicinal properties. The inhabitants have bestowed on the salt spring the name of " Tommy Tack," in allusion to the taste of the liquid. The origin of these numerous springs is usually ascribed to the geological formation of the district. The great dyke which crosses the county passes by the low side of the village, and prevents the further passage of the water, which is thus forced to rise to the surface. .