DUFTON PARISH is a large mountainous district 8 miles in length and about 5 in breadth, bounded on the north by Milbourn forest, on the west by Long Marton, on the south by Murton and Warcop fells, and on the east by the county of Durham, from which it is separated by the river Tees, which here forms the stupendous waterfall called Caldron Snout, and the long and broad lake called the Wheel. It is all comprehended in one township, containing three small villages, and a number of scattered houses, with 511 inhabitants. The Earl of Thanet is lord of the manor, which abounds with grouse, and contains some veins of lead ore, in raising and smelting, which the London Lead Company employ a great number of the inhabitants. The smelt mill stands about one mile S. of Dufton, and produces about 144 stone of pig lead every week.

DUFTON is a well-built village, 3 ½ miles N. of Appleby, on the south side of a rivulet which rises on Scordal Head, and flows westward to the Eden. The CHURCH is a plain strong edifice, distant half a mile N. of the village, and dedicated to St. Cuthbert. The living is a rectory, valued in the king’s books at £19 2s. 6d. The Earl of Thanet is the patron, and the Rev. Edward Heelis the rector. In 1827, three large stinted pastures, containing 2500 acres, were enclosed, and about forty acres, given to the rectory in lieu of tithes for that part of the parish. A Methodist Chapel was built here in 1820, at the cost of £130. The FREE-SCHOOL was rebuilt by subscription in 1824. In 1670, Christopher Walker left the interest of £40 for a schoolmaster, to be appointed by the rector, the lord’s bailiff, and the principal inhabitants. The 1692, Michael Todd bequeathed a yearly rent charge of 14l. 10s. to be paid out of his estate at Knowle green, in the parish of Staines, in Middlesex, viz. 4l. to the schoolmaster; 5l. to the poor on Michaelmas-day; 4l. for apprenticing two poor boys yearly; 10s. for a sermon on the Sunday after Michaelmas-day, and 20s. to poor men, who attend to hear the said sermon. Owing to the trustees having neglected to appoint successors, this charity was many years withheld, but was ultimately recovered by a suit in chancery, with an arrear of 123l. which was settled upon the school. The rent charge was removed in 1785, and is now paid out of an estate in this parish, by the Earl of Thanet, who purchased the land of the late Wm. Winder, Esq. Another charity belonging to the poor of Dufton parish, consists of 100l. in 4 per cent. Stock, left in 1799, by Mr. Joseph Robinson, to be distributed on St. Thomas’s day. DUFTON HALL is a large ancient building on the north side of the village. It is now occupied as a sporting seat by Sir William Bryan Cooke, of Wheatley, near Doncaster, and Beilby Thompson, of Escrick Park, Esq. who gamekeeper resides in it.

BIRKDALE is a small village at the east end of the parish, near the confluence of the Tees and Maize Beck, 8 miles ENE. Of Dufton. It is surrounded by bleak and lofty wastes, and approached by bad roads. The gentlemen above mentioned, who farm the game of the manor, have erected a small shooting box here.

KEISLEY, a hamlet 1 ½ mile SE. of Dufton.