Woodside

Township in Wigton parish, Cumberland ward, Cumberland. Combined with Wigton to form Wigton-cum-Woodside CP 1887, which was then re-divided 1894, the new Woodside CP covering rural areas surrounding town of Wigton. CP enlarged by absorbing Oulton CP 1934.

Acreage:

township contained 1,839 acres [744 ha] before boundary changes: reconfiguration of Wigton and Woodside CPs in 1894 increased Woodside’s extent to 3,703 acres [1,499 ha] before absorption of Oulton CP. Common moorland totalling 3,205 acres [1,297 ha] in Wigton, Woodside and Waverton (bulk of it in Woodside Quarter) enclosed 1817.

Population:

rapid increase from 238 in 1801 to peak of 750 in 1831, before declining to 589 in 1881 (last census year before boundary changes). Population of largely rural post-1894 CP stood at 359 in 1901 and remained little changed in 1931 (last census year before enlargement).

Landownership:

part of Wigton barony and manor. Dockray said by Thomas Denton to have been separate subsidiary manor, held by Dalston family from c.1540 to 1672.

Economy:

predominantly agricultural: said in later 17th century to produce abundant corn and hay.

Places of worship:

Quaker meeting house at Tiffinthwaite from 1674; short-lived.

Schools and other institutions:

National school at Rosewain, converted from barn, established 1872; closed. Quaker school established at Highmoor 1815 by Cumberland Quarterly Meeting; moved 1826 to new premises at Brookfield; closed 1984.