Our future programme 2019 14 Mar 25th Anniversary Lecture. Lordship and Professor Angus 2019 Manor: the Norman imprint on the Society’s Winchester area of interest 22 May Summer Outing: Visit to Yanwath Hall and Contact Tim 2019 Penrith Museum Stanley-Clamp February 2019 9 May Viking longhouses in Steve Dickinson Contents 2019 Professor Angus 13 Jun AGM plus talk and exhibits A social history of Dr Derek Denman 2019 through key moments in time. From the Chair Winchester: 11 Jul Cumbria’s explosive coast Bill Myers Profesor Angus Winchester: 25 years 25 years as Honorary 2019 as Honorary President of the Society 1 President of the Society 12 Sep The 1st Battalion of the Border Regiment at Stuart Eastwood 2019 the Battle of Arnhem, 1944 Society News Sep/Oct Autumn Outing – to be arranged Congratulations 1 2019 Our Programme 2 14 Nov Roman Roads through the lakes Dr Paul Hindle Contacts 2 2019 Our Summer visit: to Yanwath Hall Talks are at the Yew Tree Hall at 7.30pm unless stated otherwise. Visitors £3. Please do not and Penrith Museum 4 park to the left of the entrance (looking from outside) as the road is narrow. Website improvements 4 Promoting the Society on Facebook 5 Officers and Committee 2018/19 They Lie in Foreign Fields: update 5 President, Professor Angus Winchester Financial examiner, Peter Hubbard

Meeting Reports Charles Lambrick 01900 85710 Lena Stanley-Clamp 01900 336542 Chairman Membership [email protected] November: From Markets to

Supermarkets, 200 years of Dr Derek 01900 829097 Tim Stanley- 01900 336542 shopping in Cumbria 6 Denman derekdenman@bt Clamp January: The postal history Secretary internet.com Outings of Cumbria 7

Christopher 01900 822171 Mike Bacon Richard Easton Articles Thomas Fiona Lambrick Sandra Shaw John Benson’s home: Smithy Fold? 9 Treasurer Hugh Thomson Committee members John Sumpton, convict, from Thackthwaite 10 The silver jubilee year of the Society Diary dates also marked 25 years since Angus The medieval manor and seat of 2 March. Lancaster Uni. Regional Heritage Centre. 46th Annual Archaeology Winchester took on the role of the Balnes, Loweswater 13 Forum. Society’s Honorary President. The 14 March. The 25th Anniversary Lecture, by our President, Professor Angus Minutes of a meeting of the Society’s Congratulations Winchester. Many of his books will be on display. newly established committee held on 7 to Society member Dr. Allan Sharman, The Norman Conquest of in 1092 created the framework for the local of Cockermouth, who been awarded his October 1993 record: ‘Mr George announced that Dr history of our communities. Two new great lordships, the Honour of Cockermouth Ph.D. in history by the University of and the Barony of Egremont, or Copeland, controlled our area. Grants of land Roehampton. The title of Allan’s thesis Angus Winchester has agreed to be created many local manors. This lecture will explore this formative phase in the is: ‘Irish and Scots poverty in the far the Society’s President, and would th history of land tenure, and the relationships of manors, parishes and townships. North of , 1790-1870’. Some of give the first talk on Thursday 20 Allan’s work has been published in our January 1994, entitled “The Rise The next Wanderer will be published on 1 May 2019. Please send items to Journal, nos. 58 & 60. and Fall of the Lakeland Yeoman” ’. Derek Denman, by early April. It is fitting, therefore, that having given Published by the Lorton & Derwent Fells Local History Society, 19 Low Road Close, the Society’s inaugural Talk, page 3 Cockermouth CA13 0GU. 1 2 page 1 …Angus Winchester is giving its book on the landscape history of the 25th anniversary Lecture on 14 March. Cocker valley. The subject matter, as readers will see Angus’s energetic research, from the information set out on page 2, writing, and teaching is accompanied provides the foundations for an by fulfilling other roles including close appreciation and understanding of the engagement with the running of the local history of the area which is the CWAAS, of which he is a past President, focus of the Society’s attention. and membership of various advisory Consequently, I very much encourage panels relating to local and landscape members to attend this event, and help history and to Quaker studies. to celebrate both the quarter- Fortunately for the Society these centenary of the Society and Angus commitments have not prevented him Winchester’s role over the same from taking a close interest in its period, by lingering afterwards when affairs. Notably, he has delivered Talks there’ll be additional refreshments. approximately every other year since For a number of his formative he became Honorary President. He has years Angus lived in Lorton, at the Old also supported several members in Vicarage in Church Lane. His time in undertaking higher education courses, Lorton Vale had a strong influence on and in the earlier years often wrote the direction in which his studies took articles for the Society’s Newsletter him, exemplified by his close interest in and Journal. In addition, Angus has the history and historical geography of encouraged the Society to be involved Society News Yanwath Hall the area. That featured strongly in his in various projects. These have

BA dissertation and in his PhD thesis. included the Cumbria Manorial Records will be limited to around thirty and it Those studies in turn led to a Project, which led to the formation in Our Summer Visit to may be advisable to reserve a place. succession of academic publications 2005 of a manorial records group Yanwath Hall and Penrith Please contact Tim Stanley-Clamp on relevant to the Society’s area of within the Society to support his work Museum 01900 336542 or [email protected] interest, the first of which ‘Landscape on that subject, and the Victoria by Tim Stanley-Clamp and Society in Medieval Cumbria’ was County History of Cumbria which led to Website Improvements published in 1987 when he was a work done by a number of members in On Wednesday 22 May we are by Derek Denman Lecturer in Historical Geography at the 2012 in contributing to the Jubilee fortunate to have the opportunity to University of Liverpool. It was followed Digests of the civil parishes in the visit Yanwath Hall at Eamont Bridge. Our website, www.derwentfells.com, in the year after he became the Society’s area. And it was Angus who Not open to the public, it has many has had a makeover to make it more Society’s Honorary President with the was the inspiration behind the points of interest to recommend it to friendly when viewing on a mobile, and th publication of his edition of ‘The Diary Society’s 20 anniversary exhibition of the keen local historian. It dates back generally to update the pages and of Isaac Fletcher of Underwood’, an 20 objects of local historical interest. to the 14th century and is extremely content throughout. important figure in history local to All members will I am sure feel well preserved. Among its attractions is It will be a repository of our Cockermouth and its surrounding area proud to have such a distinguished a strong connection with William publications and of local historical th in the second half of the 18 century. local and landscape historian taking a Wordsworth – Thomas Wilkinson, his information, while our young Facebook By 1994, when that book was close interest in the Society and its friend and co-agitator against the page engages more dynamically with published, Angus had been appointed affairs since its foundation. I salute enclosures of common land, was born our members and the community. to a teaching post in local and regional Angus Winchester and his there. It is now owned by the Altham The website will grow its history at Lancaster University where achievements, and on behalf of all family who have opened their doors to Publications, Features, and Sources his academic career flourished over the members of the Society thank him us for what should be a fascinating pages. These have recently been following 25 years. In 2012 his most warmly for his willingness to fulfil tour. After lunch we shall visit the restructured, and more information eminence in his chosen academic field the role of Honorary President over the newly refurbished museum at Penrith has been added. For example, our six was recognised by his appointment past quarter century. I sincerely hope with its extensive collections of local Township Maps, showing all there as Professor of Local and he will be willing to continue in the role artefacts and fine art. inhabitants, landowners, farms and Landscape History, becoming Emeritus for many years to come. Details of travel and costs will be fields from around 1840, are available Professor on his retirement. He is Charles Lambrick, published nearer to the time. Numbers to view and as downloads. currently in the course of completing a Chairman 3 4

Promoting the Society on and an overview of historic Lake libraries, Cockermouth and Keswick https://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news Facebook District Architecture. libraries, Keswick Museum, Cumbria /17219813.blindbothel-beacon-lit-as- You can view our page on Museum of Military Life, other local part-of-battles-over-tribute/ by Lena Stanley-Clamp https://www.facebook.com/Lortonloca history organisations and a small Additional Press Reporting

lhistorysociety . number of other local groups. A press release, written by Tim The Society’s Facebook page allows us Posting – The booklet has been posted Stanley-Clamp, was sent to a number to disseminate our lectures and in pdf form on the Society’s website at of local news outlets and of course publications to audiences far and wide. They Lie in Foreign Fields: http://derwentfells.com/pdfs/foreignfi there was a promotion on our own Among the interest groups we reach an update elds.pdf Facebook page, which reached several out to are Old West Cumbria, Old by Sandra Shaw Additional information received – thousand people, at home and abroad. Cockermouth, Cumbria Past & Present, the society has received two additional This can be found at Bygone Cumberland and Lake District Members of the Society will have photographs of men covered in the https://www.facebook.com/pg/Lortonl & Cumbria Life. To our surprise the received a copy of this WW1 booklet; namely John Needham and ocalhistorysociety audiences we reach include people in commemorative booklet along with Emanuel Norman. These are included The Times & Star carried a very Australia, France, Ireland, the their November 2018 edition of the in the pdf version online, on the nice report of an interview with Walter, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Wanderer. This brief will update relevant pages (23 and 24) of the including a photo of Walter holding the Spain and the US. The most popular members on other actions and events. booklet, and are credited. booklet, sitting on the churchyard wall posts are seen by up to 4,000 viewers. Distribution – in addition to being Events – The Society was represented at Lorton. In addition to publicizing our own sent to existing members, free copies in two local events commemorating the The Keswick Reminder, activities, we also post about other were offered to new members joining centenary of the Armistice. Whitehaven News and News and Star subjects of Cumbrian interest. In the the society during the remainder of Firstly, Walter Head addressed a also included reports. past few months the subjects have 2018 and the first meeting of this new meeting on Saturday afternoon 10 included Cumbria’s 20th century year. This measure has resulted in an November at the Yew Tree Hall, Lorton; gardens designed by the eminent additional six members joining. Copies Meeting Reports part of an Arts Festival held over the landscape architect Thomas Mawson, were also sent to the following centenary weekend. This included two categories of recipients - the authors, films and an exhibition of memorabilia Markets to Supermarkets Plan of Wood Hall garden near families of servicemen (where known), and poetry. There is an extensive Cockermouth by Thomas H Mawson the two local schools (Paddle and 200 years of shopping (1861-1933), at Kendal Archive Centre. photographic report on the Melbreak Lorton), local press, local churches, report by Fiona Lambrick Communities website, available via a civil parishes, Cumbria local studies link on their home page, or at The Talk on 8th November was given by https://melbreakcommunities.files.wo Dr Michael Winstanley, an L&DFLHS rdpress.com/2018/11/yth-wwi.pdf honorary member and prominent Secondly, Sandra Shaw historian with particular knowledge of addressed a candlelit, commemorative regional history in the north west of ceremony at a packed Mosser Fell England. As we have come to expect Church on the evening of 11 from previous occasions when he has November. This event was part of addressed the Society, it was a lively ‘Battle’s Over – a Nation’s Tribute’, and entertaining Talk well illustrated by which had aimed to involve 1,300 numerous images. different places, each holding their own Dr Winstanley began by commemoration, culminating in identifying the market established in playing the Last Post, followed at Cockermouth in 1221 as the origin of 7.00pm by the lighting of a beacon. the means of buying and selling food Sandra’s talk about the eight men of and goods in the area. Markets were Blindbothel Parish, who gave their subsequently established in Wigton lives, was followed by local teenager and other towns such as Penrith and Sam Moore reading Laurence Binyon’s Kirby Lonsdale. In many instances, the poem, For the Fallen. The Times and location of markets, typically taking Star reported this, including film place once and often twice a week, was footage of the event, which can be seen near the church and therefore the on their website by going to 5 6 centre of the town. Hence the Cockermouth, the ‘co-op’ store was designation of such an area in many one of the branches of the Maryport co- towns as the market place. ‘Shops’ operative society. And although ‘chain were in the future. stores’ began to be established in the As populations of towns and earlier 19th century, few of them set up surrounding countryside grew markets branches in Cockermouth. became more crowded and lacked Dr Winstanley rounded off the space to expand. Dr Winstanley drew Talk, delivered with his customary light attention to the existence in the earlier touch but packed with much learning, days of many markets of an area with a canter through more recent designated the shambles – where shopping history, touching on the rise animals were brought in by farmers to and fall of department stores in larger be slaughtered and prepared by towns, the growth of out of town butchers for selling as meat. However, shopping centres, and concluding with because of increasingly cramped a reference to internet shopping. conditions and the insanitary nature of the shambles, during the 18th century The Postal History of these areas were moved away from the Cumbria market, as in Keswick, to a separate report by Tim Stanley-Clamp location nearby.

In the 19th century open markets Mike Mapleton, who is the Chairman of in larger towns, particularly those with Lorton Post Office in Smithy Fold, Roads were fast and reliable with the Cumbrian Postal Society, brought rapidly increasing populations, were mid-C20th armed guards and an impressive horn extensive knowledge and an engaging superseded by covered market halls (demonstrated very capably by the wit in the talk he gave to our Society in built for the purpose. Dr Winstanley that it began in a small way for the very speaker) for warning the public of its January. It was very warmly received said that in the case of Cockermouth wealthy in the medieval period and was approach. But getting the mail from the by his audience, which was rewarded Lord Egremont arranged for a market reformed soon after the end of the Civil principal centres into the country was with a meticulously researched story of th hall to be built in place of the old moot War. By the end of the 17 century dark work, usually carried out by very our postal past. hall, and the building remained in there was a service for the whole young boys walking with a mule along He began with an account of the existence until its demolition in 2009. country, though it did not surprise to deserted country roads. Robberies, doings of Loweswater’s Drunk Joe. His It did not, however, displace the open hear that the far North West was last in many of them extremely violent, were deliveries took him from Cockermouth market which continued to operate. the queue. We had to wait until the frequent, in spite of the fact that to Buttermere with a pony and trap, Simultaneously with these Great North Route was branched stealing the King’s Mail was punishable and some aspects of his work ought to arrangements, as people’s relative across the Pennines in the 1680’s; by hanging. have brought him into dispute with his prosperity gradually increased, shops Penrith and Cockermouth were chosen In 1840, thanks to the genius of employers rather sooner than it did. were established in towns, and also in as the main Post Offices. Rowland Hill, the postal service was The clue lies in his nickname. villages. By the early 20th century The costs to both senders and transformed with the introduction of a Eventually he was brought to book and Cockermouth had 33 grocers, 20 recipients were astonishing. A letter flat rate for all letters, wherever it was dismissed, whereupon the people of tailors, 19 boot/shoe makers, 9 sent in the from London to Carlisle cost sent from within the British Isles and Lorton Vale raised a petition and got butchers, 6 ironmongers, and 5 1s 2d, an enormous sum. There were whatever its destination. The Penny him reinstated. greengrocers. In High Lorton a no deliveries to homes at this time; Black and its even more valuable No such controversy surrounded grocer’s shop was established by John people had to go into town to collect sibling the Twopenny Blue had arrived the work, in the first half of the 20th Moffat, and another one was set up in their mail and then pay a charge for it. and with them the world’s first properly century, of the fondly remembered Low Lorton. Very often a village shop Not surprisingly, a good proportion of universal national postal service. And Moffat family whose matriarch, Ann, would be combined with a sub-post letters were refused, especially where so local post offices – in Lorton lived until she was 100 years old, office. the intended recipient knew that he Loweswater, Buttermere – sprang up having run the post office in Lorton and Referring to the significant was about to be charged for receiving to manage the huge increase in posted ‘more or less everything else’ according development of the co-operative an invoice. items encouraged by Hill’s reforms. For to the speaker. movement in west Cumberland from By the end of the 18th century, 180 years we have enjoyed a service Turning to the history of the the mid 19th century onwards, Dr things had moved on considerably. The which is recognizably that which began nation’s postal services, we learned Winstanley made the point that in coaches travelling the five main Post with the great reform of the 1840s. 7 8

Articles 1891 (described as “husbandman”), and the census lists six of his children including our John then aged eight. John Benson’s Home: The census records do not help us Smithy Fold? much with locating the Horse Shoe by Mark Elliott group where John lived, although it is clear from them that it was distinct Walter Head's remarkable project from the inn and smithy complex celebrating the centenary of the World where we now live. But papers kindly War Armistice included a full account of supplied by Derek Denman now throw what is known of John Benson, the only a good deal more light. The old block casualty of WWI who is commemorated identified in John Bolton’s lecture of by a Commonwealth War Graves 1891 (on the LDFLHS website) as Commission headstone in Lorton having been Martha Payle's house 80 churchyard. I have been asked to add years earlier was described by Bolton to the record this supplementary note in his own time as Mary Benson's house on the Benson family's association with – this is the two-storey building shown our own small quarter of High Lorton in in the contemporary photo on page 10, Smithy Fold, and possibly with our own which was pulled down to make Scott’s new front garden. garage, itself later replaced by the Our first acquaintance with the extension of the wooden bungalow High Lorton street, soon after 1891, clemency which has been extended to Bensons derives from researches into which in its turn was pulled down by us showing the old block at the entrance him. The judge pronounced the the census records by my godmother in 2015 to construct a garden. Mary to Smithy Fold sentence with an awfulness and Barbara MacLean when we moved into Thompson, aged 20, is identified as solemnity which affected the whole Smithy Fold in 1996. At the time of the one of the residents of that house in was probably born there; and that court’. (Earlier, a more detailed article in 1841 census the principal residents 1841 on the Lorton Township map of though Isaac had most of his family the same paper dated April 9th,1788 were the Lennox family who ran the which many of us have copies; she after moving to Rogerscale, he and his stated he was 76 years old at the time Blacksmith's Arms (later the Horse lived with her mother Bella Thompson, family moved back into Smithy Fold at of his trial!). Shoe Inn) and the smithy, and the who was the village baker – the bakery least by 1891 when John was eight This suggests he may well have Robinsons who owned the carpenter's which was replaced by Lorton Park years old. They could at that time have been the same John Sumpton who was shop at the northern end of the Fold; mansion about 1827, the bakery been in the old block, which was charged with counterfeiting of the King’s no mention of the Bensons then. But becoming the kitchen. Mary married certainly still standing and which, coin at Kelton Mill near Ennerdale in by 1881 an older John Benson appears John Benson in July 1841, and they assuming that it was John Benson's May/June 1742. A Thomas Crosthwaite as head of one of the five households were the grandparents of the home as appears to have been the gave evidence against John Sumpton forming the group described as the unfortunate John through his father case, was described in the 1881 census and the miller Joseph Simpson on 8 Horse Shoe, next to the Lennoxes. His Isaac. as in the Horse Shoe; or almost August 1743. John denied all charges son Isaac is head of the household by Putting this together, anywhere else in Smithy Fold other against him at a hearing three days and on the basis of further than the inn itself. later. Joseph Simpson went on to study of the church and become a wealthy mill owner in that census records, we may John Sumpton, convict, area as evidenced in the Brockbank & conclude that our John from Thackthwaite. Helder archive, DBH24/23/17, Benson’s grandparents by Mel Turner deposited at Whitehaven. John and Mary lived in the John was a farmer living with his old block which stood in wife Rachel at Latterhead, in John Sumpton was sentenced to death what is now our front at Carlisle assizes on 25 July 1788, for Thackthwaite, from at least 1746, when garden, at least up to the a second offence of sheep stealing. The his son John was baptised at 1880s; that their son Isaac Cumberland Pacquet of 30 July 1788 Loweswater. There were five more reported that this offender ‘is 68 years children by 1762, including my ancestor, Smithy Fold on the OS of age and a notorious offender, having, Jonathan, in 1757. He was apprenticed survey of 1898, annotated it is said, twice abused the Royal as a tailor, possibly to John Bell at Latterhead, and later worked from 9 10

Low Park, Loweswater, in 1792. complaints were made to Alexander Depositions were taken from the Unfortunately, I have not yet been Hoskins J.P. by three local farmers, involved parties and John Sumpton was able to trace the births of either John or Isaac Johnson at Littlethwaite, Isaac questioned on 30 April and 1 May. He Rachel, nor their marriage. John may Sibson at Brow, and Wilson Towers at claimed that he had bought and paid for possibly have been related to the family Mire Gill. They all stated that sheep had the sheep from two horse-dealers in of William Sumpton, who acquired a been stolen from their land about three Cockermouth, Isaac Cuthbertson and large freehold farm at Cornhow, in months earlier and that they had John Green. He also claimed that Green Brackenthwaite, in the early eighteenth subsequently been discovered on the had offered him ten guineas if he would Century. Alternatively, there was a land of John White of Castle Vernon. shoot a local attorney, Mr. Thomas family of Sumptons living at Lamplugh John White confirmed that he had been Benson. Cuthbertson and Green were around this time including a John, son sold the sheep by John Sumpton. questioned separately on 1 May and of Henry baptised 23 May 1714. When questioned the following denied that they had any recent On 3 November 1768 John day, Sumpton made no defence and was dealings with Sumpton.They denied that Sumpton purchased from Thomas remanded in Carlisle gaol. His trial was they had seen him since his release Burnyeat ‘a little close above the held 13 August 1784, when he was from goal in 1785. highway called the Hemp Garth, and a found guilty and sentenced to death. John Sumpton was found guilty at Garden adjoining with all the houses Afterwards he was pardoned on his trial on 25 July and was again thereto belonging’. 1 He was admitted condition of his being ‘continued in gaol sentenced to death. However, an appeal at the manor court as a customary for the space of one year’. After release for clemency was lodged on 31 July ‘due tenant, at an annual rent of 1s and paying in 1785 he took up residence for a time to some favourable circumstances a fine of 2s. John clearly had a in Cockermouth, and later at Warwick, a appearing on his trial’. This was mortgage from John Fisher of Cold Keld, parish east of Carlisle where he may accepted on 5 September and his because the customary tenancy was have worked for a time as a butcher. sentence was commuted to immediately transferred to Fisher, as The Thackthwaite and Latterhead area In 1788 he was once again stealing transportation for life. in 1770 – Donald and Hodskinson map security. John Sumpton was now a small sheep. In January and February of that On 17 November 1789 the property owner in Thackthwaite, but transferred, with the tenancy, back to year Thomas Burnyeat of Swinside, in Cumberland Pacquet reported that the would still need farm for another, John Fisher. Rachel was to repay by 14 Lorton, had seven sheep taken from keeper of Carlisle gaol had received an unknown, landowner. May 1776, but she did not repay until Whinlatter Fells and four other sheep order to convey ‘John Sumpton, a On 15 December 1773, John 1779. To repay the mortgage it was from Swinside Fells. Robert Gilbank, of person of near 70 years of age’ to Fisher surrendered the customary necessary for Rachel to sell most of the Scales in Lorton, had seven sheep taken London for transportation. He was tenancy for the admittance of John property, leaving herself with the in January from Swinside Common, and boarded onto the Surprize, part of the Sumpton, but on the same day John houses. On 8 October 1779 she released a further three in February. John infamous Second Fleet, and she sailed Sumpton surrendered the tenancy to to John Iredale, a yeoman farmer of Pearson of Low Lorton, on behalf of his from Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, on 17 his wife, Rachel. This was the last entry Thackthwaite, ‘the Hemp Garth, and a father Henry Pearson, complained that January 1790, along with the Neptune for John Sumpton, and most unusual. It Garth or Garden a back of the Barn, and he had six sheep taken from Swinside and Scarborough, bound for Port suggests that John was no longer also the Barn and Stables’, at a Common. Jackson, New South Wales. Information involved with the property. On 26 customary rent of 6d, half of the Following the thefts, an regarding that dreadful voyage, and November 1774 Rachel Sumpton original. advertisement was placed in the details of the appalling conditions and released the customary tenancy to John Rachel died in November 1782 and Cumberland Pacquet on 26 March and treatment of the transported men, can Green of Corn How. Rachel had taken a was buried in Loweswater. Her again on 3 April 1788, offering a five- be found in a letter from a William Hill, mortgage of £20 from Green, which was guinea reward for information. Various Second Captain of the transport, to remaining property in Thackthwaite 2 to be repaid with interest by 14 May passed to the eldest son, John, and was specific markings on the sheep were Jonathan Wathen, a friend in London. 1775. John Green was a farmer at Corn described as ‘two messuages [houses] described. Of the 900 convicts shackled How and could sign his name, while and a parcel of land behind the same’. John Graham of Wetheral then onboard that ship, over 370 died en- Rachel Sumpton made her mark, as had John sold in 1784 to James Muncaster. came forward and claimed he had been route, including John Sumpton, of her husband in 1768. The next record of John Sumpton, sold the sheep by Sumpton in two lots Thackthwaite. The mortgage of £20 was later snr, is dated 15 June 1784, when in January and February that year.

1 D/WM11/124&125, Loweswater Court 2 http://archival.sl.nsw.gov.au/Details/ Books archive/110312939 11 12

Notes:- Loweswater, how it was used, and for and if they held property directly from heiress, to become the lord of 1) I should be very interested to how long it was used. This article will the king, their remarriage needed the Gillesland. After 1218, Thomas Multon hear from anyone who has enjoyed this address those issues, illustrating the King’s licence. Widows and heiresses set about securing the Lucy article and, in particular, if anyone has importance of medieval Loweswater. were a route to advancement. inheritance, and then maximising that some information or possible clues as to The baronies of Skipton, inheritance. As guardian and step- the origins of John and Rachel Sumpton. Thomas de Multon’s route to and Egremont (which included the father of young Amabel and Alice Lucy, John birth probably c.1720 and Cumberland insignificant hamlet of Loweswater), he had them both married to two of his marriage to Rachel [?], c.1745. Thomas de Multon, lord of Moulton, plus the Five Towns and Derwentfells, sons by his first marriage, Lambert and 2) Thank you to Derek Denman near Spalding in Lincolnshire, was born had all been joined in 1138 through the Alan. Amabal and Alice would be for his assistance with the Loweswater after 1150, and died as Sir Thomas marriage of Alice Rumley and William between eleven and eighteen and manorial records. Moulton in 1240. Genealogical websites FitzDuncan. They produced one son, would marry as and when instructed. suggest that he was not of Norman the Boy of Egremont who died without The inheritance of Amabel and The medieval manor and descent, his ancestor being Haco de issue, and three daughters. The Alice was potentially more than just the seat of Balnes, Loweswater Moulton, born around 1050 in Witham, estates were eventually divided among barony of Egremont, and in 1223 Essex.7 In 1190 Thomas married Sarah those three daughters – one barony Thomas had William de Fortibus, Earl by Derek Denman de Flete, of Fleet near Holbeach in each. The offcomer-Norman, Reginald of Albemarle (Aumarle in Normandy),

Lincolnshire. They had three sons, de Lucy, married the second daughter, summoned to answer to the King. The We know that Alan de Multon created a Lambert, Alan (who created the park), Amabel, acquiring the barony of Earl had taken possession of property park in Loweswater, after his wife Thomas, a cleric; and a daughter, Egremont, including Egremont Castle reverting from Alice inherited Loweswater in 1230.1 Also, Juliana. as a seat and the hamlet of Romely/FitzDuncan, who had died in that his son, Thomas de Lucy, taking Thomas was sheriff of Loweswater. Their son, Richard, 1312/13 with no heirs. Thomas claimed his mother’s name, ‘seated himself Lincolnshire 1205-8, and as a knight, inherited in 1200. that a half share of it should have come there’. and extended the park.2 In 1286 he served King John in Normandy, in Richard de Lucy, Baron of to the Lucy family, through the Thomas resolved the consequent Wales, and in Poitou up to 1214. Egremont, married Ada de Morville and grandmother of Amabel and Alice.10 dispute with the Priory of St Bees, after Joining the rebels in 1215 led to they had no son but two daughters, This was successful. The inheritance of which the monks had an enclosed imprisonment, but he was re-instated Amabel and Alice, in about 1205 and his wards/stepdaughters/daughters- pasture, or Sheepgate, based on the in 1217 by Henry III. In 1218 he 1207. In 1213 Richard Lucy died, in-law now included most property in ‘Kirkeheved’.3 He must have been became an itinerant justice for the five leaving the Barony of Egremont with a Derwentfells, between the Cocker and instrumental in the licensing, in 1281, northern counties, which would involve young widow and two child-heiresses. the Derwent, and much more. The of the Priory to raise Loweswater him in the litigation of the West King John gave the wardship of the Earls of Albemarle retained chapel to parochial status – though it Cumberland lordships. He was sheriff daughters to Thomas de Multon, who Cockermouth, including the castle took them over one hundred years to of Cumberland 1233-36.8 had lost his wife, Sarah, and was a which had now been built, though the do it.4 We also know that the seat and widower with unmarried sons. Thomas de Multons coveted it. manor of Thomas de Lucy was called Acquiring the property of the Lucy married Ada de Morville without the Balnes: as Angus Winchester states, family – the triple marriages licence of the King, for which her lands Settling the de Multon dynasty ‘The name Balnes … derives from the One strength of the de Multons was in Cumberland were seized. On 13 In 1230, after the death of their location of the manor house on their ability to produce male heirs, August 1218, the year in which Thomas mother, Ada, the inheritance of the Bowness, the headland beside while the holders of West Cumberland became an itinerant justice covering Lucy family was divided between the Crummock Water at NY151 202’.5 It baronies tended to produce females. In Cumberland, Henry III ordered the two sisters, Amabel and Alice. Amabel was probably situated on that hill at the absence of a male heir, estates lands and barony of Egremont and Lambert de Multon would have the Peel, though nothing remains except were divided equally among the restored.9 The barony was now held by Barony of Egremont, while Alan and the remnants of the moat, see page daughters, or often held by widows. Thomas de Multon’s wife. Alice de Multon would have the 16.6 What has not been discussed is Widows were expected to re-marry, The future inheritance of the remaining property, including why Thomas de Lucy placed his seat in Barony of Egremont lay with his two Derwentfells. However, the whole of young wards/step-daughters. Thomas Egremont exceeded Amabel’s half 1 James Wilson (Ed), The Register of the 5 Angus Winchester, Landscape and Society had a further son with Ada, another share, and for balance a new manor Priory of St. Bees, 1915, no.104 note 4 in Medieval Cumbria, 1987, pp.84&97 Thomas, but that son could not inherit was carved out of the Barony of 2 6 Angus Winchester, Ed, John Denton’s Mary Fair, ‘Loweswater Pele and Parks’, and was eventually married to a Vaux Egremont and was given to Alice. This ‘History of Cumberland’, p.54 TCWAAS 1935 3 Wilson, Register St. Bees, no.106 7 https://www.geni.com 4 Wilson, Register St. Bees, no.389 note 2 8 Sourced indirectly from ODNB ‘Moulton, Sir Thomas of (d.1240)’, 9 Cal. Docs. Scotland, no.699 10 Cal. Docs. Scotland, no.864 13 14 new manor had defined boundaries, 1212.12 In 1247 disputes had to be be and, with that change of name to Lucy, concerning Thomas de Ireby, and his which included the hamlets of resolved by dividing the waste of also the lords of Cockermouth son, Thomas, who held Embleton as Loweswater, Mockerkin, Sosgill and the Derwentfells in two, north and south, The seat called Balnes in use. freehold manor, with a moated manor service of Thackthwaite. This was held based on a boundary starting at Lorton The name Balnes is given for the manor house and park. Thomas de Lucy, at of the King, as tenant in chief. 11 High Mill and running up Whitbeck.13 of Loweswater in 1305, in the Balnes, was their superior lord. Why was Loweswater chosen? This division, with Alan taking the Inquisition Post Mortem (IPM) of The last document marked as One reason would be its proximity to northern half, made difficulties for the Thomas Lucy, the son of Alan, and in ‘Balneys’, in 1212/3, saw Thomas de Alan’s lands in Derwentfells, through expansion of Lorton and Buttermere, the IPM for Thomas’s son Thomas in Ireby release the Island of which it was geographically connected as described by Angus Winchester. 14 1308.17 The ‘manor of Balnes’ appears ‘Sleningholme’, which would be in the to Cockermouth, rather than to in the Close Rolls for 1309.18 half of Crummock then belonging to Egremont. A manor from the Barony of Re-booting the Lucy dynasty For contemporary evidence of the Balnes manor, and may align with the Egremont, based on Loweswater, Alan de Multon’s son, Thomas, was seat, or manor house, there are, in the current island called Holme.20 would be contiguous with Derwentfells, probably born before 1230. He took his Lucy Cartulary, just four would have an affinity with both mother’s family name of Lucy, a documents which were ‘given Egremont and Cockermouth, and Norman name. As a young man he had at Balnes’, in the times of would retain the connection with St local interests, because before 1256 he Thomas de Lucy and Anthony Bees. Lambert now had the seat at purchased the frrehold of Thackthwaite de Lucy.19 The Lucy Cartulary Egremont Castle, but Alan had no seat. from Agnes Dundraw, and gave it to his is a list of documents, sister, Margaret, in 1268, though it c.1400, with brief abstracts, The lordship of Alan de Multon later reverted.15 relevant to the inheritance of During the time that Alan de Multon After the death of Alan, by 1270, the Earls of Northumberland. and/or Alice held Loweswater, from his widow held the estate until 1288 as I appreciate the advice of 1230 to 1288, the name Balnes does the Lucy heiress, though Thomas acted Angus Winchester on using not appear in any known surviving in her name, extending the park by this source. Three documents record, though the fact of Alan’s 1286. Thomas married Isabel de of Thomas de Lucy were creation of the park at Loweswater Bolteby, and their sons, Thomas and given at ‘Balneys’ in 1297 does survive. Alan’s use of Loweswater Anthony, were born between 1280 and and 1298, which provides as a base for hunting is clear, which 1283. There is evidence that Thomas strong evidence of a manor might have needed a hunting lodge, de Lucy created his seat in house. The fourth was given but there is no evidence of a seat, or of Loweswater, as claimed by John by Anthony de Lucy in his being resident. Alan’s estate was far Denton.16 If Balnes was a manor house, 1312/3 and was witnessed by more extensive than Loweswater and it would be reasonable to claim these knights and landowners. LIDAR image of Balnes21 Derwentfells, including Caldbeck for offspring as natives of Loweswater. The In total there are, so far, seven example. Alan held superior lordship first son, Thomas, lived to inherit in contemporary documents which It may be that the seat at Balnes over his freehold mesne-lords in 1305, aged 24, but died without issue identify Balnes as a seat or manor, had little further use. In 1322 the army Lorton, Embleton, and Thackthwaite. before 1308, when his younger dating from 1297 to 1313. During this of Robert the Bruce sacked Embleton There was a competition, as brother, Anthony de Lucy, inherited, time the name applied both to the seat and killed Thomas de Ireby. We do not already described in 1223, between the aged 25. It was he who became Lord by Crummock and the manor carved know what they did to Balnes. In 1323, Multons and the Earls of Albemarle, Lucy and eventually gained the prize of out from the Barony of Egremont, that in those troubled times, when Anthony who owned Cockermouth and who the honour of Cockermouth, in 1323. is the hamlets of Loweswater, de Lucy gained Cockermouth Castle, he developed the castle and town. One He could then complete the move of his Thackthwaite, Mockerkin and Sosgill, no longer needed a seat or park at problem was that both parties shared seat from Balnes in Loweswater to served by the chapel at Loweswater. Loweswater. Was that the end of the most of the waste in Derwentfells, Cockermouth Castle. Through most of The documents given at Balneys manor house at Balnes, after just between the Cocker and the Derwent the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, cover local matters, particularly twenty to forty years of use? but excluding Borrowdale, which had the de Multons were lords of Egremont, been granted to Furness Abbey in 17 IPM Ed I, file 119, no.322; IPM Ed II, file 20 Lucy Cartulary, no.93. Cal. Doc. Scotland 10, no.146 no.1106, includes ‘the moiety of the lake of 11 Cal. Docs. Scotland, no.1106 14 Angus Winchester, Landscape & Society, 18 Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward II Vol.1, Crumbokwater’ in the manor – probably lost 12 Cal. Docs. Scotland, no.554 pp.138-49 1307-13, March 1309. to Derwentfells in the C16th, as were 13 Lucy Cartulary, no.119 15 Lucy Cartulary, nos. 62&66 19 Lucy Cartulary, nos. 63, 64, 65, & 93. Mockerkin and Sosgill. 16 Angus Winchester, John Denton, p.54 First three wrongly noted Ed.III, for Ed I. 21 https://www.lidarfinder.com 15 16