Middlesceugh & Braithwaite

Township, mostly consisting of a detached portion of Carlisle St Mary’s parish, Leath ward, Cumberland. Absorbed into Skelton CP 1934.

Acreage:

2,092 acres [847 ha], of which Middlesceugh and High Braithwaite (1,757 acres [711 ha]) formed detached portion of St Mary’s parish, Carlisle, while Low Braithwaite lay in Hesket parish. Common land (338 acres [137 ha]) enclosed 1819.

Population:

in range 175-200 in first half of 19th century (peak 221 in 1821), then downward drift to 143 in 1931 (last census year for which separate figure available).

Landownership:

manor of Middlesceugh purchased from Allonby family by Sir Richard Fletcher (d. 1637) and descended thereafter with Hutton-in-the Forest (q.v.).

Economy:

predominantly agricultural; quarry at Middlesceugh in mid-19th century.

Places of worship:

none. Inhabitants said to baptise, marry and bury at Sebergham in 17th century, but attended Ivegill chapel and buried their dead at Hesket-in-the-Forest in 19th.

Schools and other institutions:

none.