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MUNCASTER, a township, a parish, and a sub-district, in Bootle district, Cumberland. The township lies on the river Esk, 1½ mile E of Ravenglass r. station; was anciently called Meolceastre; includes the site of a Roman station; and gives the title of Baron to the family of Pennington. The parish contains also the township of Birkby and the village of Ravenglass; the latter of which has a post-office under Whitehaven. Acres, 5, 166; of which 115 are water. Real property, £3, 220; of which £30 are in fisheries. Pop., 580. Houses, 1 06. The property is much subdivided. The manor belongs to Lord Muncaster. Muncaster Castle is Lord M.'s seat; takes its name from an ancient castle, the original seat of the Penningtons, now reduced to a state of ruin; is a handsome edifice, in the castellated style; contains a glass cup, called the Luck of Muncaster, given by Henry VI. to Sir John Pennington after the battle of Hexham; and stands amid beautiful grounds, with a charming view. Muncaster fell is a range of mountain, extending north-eastward, between the rivers Esk and Mite. Barnscar is a quondam town on Birkby fell, with traces of streets and houses; but so obscure in record as to be a puzzle to antiquaries. The living is a p. curacy in the diocese of Carlisle. Value, £97. Patron, Lord Muncaster. The church is ancient and tolerable; and contains two piscinas, four brasses, and numerous monumental tablets of the Penningtons. There are an endowed school with £12 a year, and charities £5.The sub-district contains also three other parishes, and parts of two others. Acres, 37, 684. Pop., 2, 282. Houses, 413.
(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))
Linked entities: | |
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Feature Description: | "a township, a parish, and a sub-district" (ADL Feature Type: "countries, 4th order divisions") |
Administrative units: | Muncaster AP/CP Muncaster SubD Bootle RegD/PLU Cumberland AncC |
Place names: | MEOLCEASTRE | MUNCASTER |
Place: | Muncaster |
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