Topics > Civil Parishes in Cumbria > Above Derwent Civil Parish

Above Derwent Civil Parish


Parish boundaries may have changed - for the latest map see the Parish Council or Cumberland Council.

About the Parish

Main Settlements:

Beck Wythop, Braithwaite, Little Town, Portinscale, StairThornthwaite

Population:

1,074  (2021 Census)

1,198  (2011 Census)

1,207  (2001 Census)

Area: 55.0 km2
Parish Council: Above Derwent Parish Council
Unitary Authority: Cumberland Council
Ceremonial County: Cumbria

Historical

Ancient Townships

Braithwaite

Coledale (Portinscale)

Newlands

Thornthwaite (Rogersett)

Townships became civil parishes in their own right in 1866 (see below).

Ancient Parish:

Crosthwaite Parish  (St. Kentigern)

Ancient parishes refer to the parishes before the split between ecclesiastical (church) and civil parishes in the 19th century. They had a parish church and often were composed of multiple townships and chapelries. In many cases, townships and parishes were originally based on the territory of manors from the feudal system during medieval times. Civil parishes were created following the Poor Law Amendment Act 1866, in which Church of England parishes, extra-parochial areas, townships and chapelries, became "civil parishes" which could set their own poor rate (tax). Then the reforms of Local Government Act 1894 established elected civil parish councils (or parish meetings for parishes with less than 300 residents) and created urban and rural districts. Boundaries of parishes and civil parishes may have changed over time.

Ancient District:

Allerdale above Derwent (ward)

Poor Law Union:

Cockermouth Poor Law Union, formed in 1838.

Cockermouth Union Workhouse was located by Sullart Street in Cockermouth, opening in 1841. This replaced smaller existing workhouses in Cockermouth, Maryport and Workington.

Under the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 parishes were grouped into Unions, each of which had to build a workhouse if they did not already have one. It ended the old system of locally provided poor relief which had come under strain as numbers out of work grew, following increasing mechanisation of agriculture and the economic downturn after the Napoleonic Wars, along with changing social attitudes. The workhouse provided those unable to support themselves financially with accommodation and work. Inmates were generally segregated into men, women, boys and girls. 

The workhouse system was abolished by the Local Government Act 1929, but many workhouses lived on as ‘Public Assistance Institutions’ until the National Assistance Act 1948.

County:

Cumberland, until 1974, then:

Cumbria, which was created on the 1st of April 1974, following the Local Government Act 1972. The new county absorbed Cumberland and Westmorland, and added some parts of Lancashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Cumbria County Council was abolished in 2023 and replaced by 2 new Unitary authorities. Cumbria remains a ceremonial county; retaining ceremonial boundary and the roles and responsibilities of the Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff of Cumbria - based on 'The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022'.

District Councils:

Cockermouth Rural District (1894 - 1974)

Allerdale Borough (1974 - 2023)  Created by the Local Government Act 1972. Allerdale absorbed the former municipal borough of Workington; the urban districts of Maryport, Cockermouth and Keswick; and the rural districts of Cockermouth and Wigton.

Allerdale and the 5 other district councils of Cumbria, along with the county council, were abolished as part of local government reorganisation in 2023; and replaced by two unitary authorities on 1st April 2023.

Unitary Authority:

Cumberland Council was created on the 1st April 2023. The 'new' Cumberland unitary authority area includes most of the historic county, with the exception of Penrith and it's surrounding area, which is part the 'new' Westmorland and Furness unitary authority.

See also:  Historic Buildings and Monuments in Above Derwent Civil Parish. Note: listed buildings are generally the responsibility of the county council / unitary authority, rather than the parish council.

Civil Parishes in Cumbria Newlands Valley, Cumbria Braithwaite Little Town (Above Derwent) Coledale Thornthwaite Crosthwaite Parish, 1848 Portinscale Stair Beck Wythop Above Derwent War Memorial Historic Buildings and Monuments in Above Derwent Civil Parish
from https://abovederwentparishcou…
Above Derwent Parish Council
- "Above Derwent Parish Council serves the communities of Braithwaite, Thornthwaite, Portinscale, Beck Wythop and the Newlands valley. There are 11 seats on the Council....."

Added by
Simon Cotterill
Braithwaite
  Co-Curate Page
Braithwaite
- Overview About Braithwaite Map Street View BRAITHWAITE, a township, in the parish of Crosthwaite, Allerdale ward above Derwent, W. division of Cumberland, 2¾ miles (W. by N.) from Keswick; containing …
Thornthwaite
  Co-Curate Page
Thornthwaite
- Overview Map Street View Thornthwaite is a village in the Allerdale district of Cumbria, located about 4 miles north-west of Keswick and half a mile south of Bassenthwaite (lake).The village …
from https://www.cumbriacountyhist…
Above Derwent
- "Township in Crosthwaite parish, Allerdale above Derwent ward, Cumberland. Above Derwent was a division of the parish for poor law purposes, embracing medieval townships of Braithwaite, Coledale (or Portinscale), Thornthwaite …

Added by
Simon Cotterill
from https://www.visionofbritain.o…
Above Derwent Tn/CP

Added by
Simon Cotterill
Coledale
  Co-Curate Page
Coledale
- COLEDALE, with Portingscale, a township, in the parish of Crosthwaite, union of Cockermouth, Allerdale ward above Derwent, W. division of Cumberland, 3 miles (W.) from Keswick; containing 262 inhabitants. Extract …
Portinscale
  Co-Curate Page
Portinscale
- Overview About Portinscale Map Street View   Portinscale is a village in Cumbria, England, close to the western shore of Derwentwater in the Lake District National Park 1.5 miles (2.4 km) …
Newlands Valley, Cumbria
  Co-Curate Page
Newlands Valley, Cumbria
- Overview About Newlands Valley Map Street View   The Newlands Valley is in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England. It is regarded as one of the most picturesque …
Little Town (Above Derwent)
  Co-Curate Page
Little Town (Above Derwent)
- Overview About Little Town Map Street View   Little Town is a hamlet in the civil parish of Above Derwent, in the Allerdale district of Cumbria, England. It is in …
Stair
  Co-Curate Page
Stair
- Stair is a hamlet in Cumbria
Beck Wythop
  Co-Curate Page
Beck Wythop
- Overview Map Street View  

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