Hutton in the Forest

Ancient parish in Leath ward, Cumberland. Absorbed into Skelton CP 1934.

Acreage:

2,462 acres [996 ha], divided between two townships: Hutton-in-the-Forest (1,753 acres [709 ha]) and Thomas Close (709 acres [287 ha]). Common land enclosed under Inglewood Forest enclosure award 1819.

Population:

estimated at 285 in 1688; rising from 200 in 1801 to peak of 285 in 1871, then falling to 204 in 1931 (last census year for which separate figure available).

Landownership:

manor of Hutton-in-the-Forest held by Hutton family, hereditary foresters of Plumpton Hay, from 12th century until 1606, when sold by Lancelot Hutton to Sir Richard Fletcher of Cockermouth, whose descendants, Fletcher-Vane family (latterly Barons Inglewood) continue to be main landowners.

Economy:

predominantly agricultural.

Places of worship:

medieval parish church of St James; rebuilt 1714; restored 1867-8. Wesleyan Methodist chapel at Hutton End built 1841; enlarged 1885; closed by 1980.

Schools and other institutions:

Hutton Marr school founded by Thomas Fletcher 1715; moved to Hutton End Wesleyan chapel 1909; closed 1985. School at Thomas Close recorded 1860. Former Methodist chapel at Hutton End now used as village hall.

The Place-name Hutton in the Forest

Placenames -sources of information

Hutton in the Forest - place-name elements and their meanings

Hutton in the Forest - historical place-name forms

Map of Hutton in the Forest (1901)

Township map

The Farming Year

What was March like on a Cumbrian farm in the late 18th century?

"A continual storm of rain & a great flood occasiond by the melting of the snow." 12 March 1762

March 2026

Other Resources

Specific to this Township

Hutton in the Forest on Vision of Britain

Gazetteer of Old Cumbria

    Contents of Gazetteer



    Direct Link to Details for this Township

Images of Hutton in the Forest

Outline of owners

In January 2014 Lord Inglewood, one of the patrons of the Cumbria County History Trust, gave the annual John Cornforth Lecture in London on the history of Hutton-in-the-Forest. With his permission, the text of his lecture, which is a personal account of the history of the house and grounds, is available here.

Countywide Web Sites

this link gives a schedule of many sites, which cover several or many townships; each would need to be opened and searched using the FIND facility to see if any reference is made to this township.

Outcounty Web Sites

this link gives a schedule of many sites, which cover several or many townships; each would need to be opened and searched using the FIND facility to see if any reference is made to this township.