Cliburn - History

CLIBURN village, the only assemblage of houses in the parish, is situated 6 miles SE of Penrith, on the Leeth rivulet, which rises near Shap, and flows in a circuitous route to the Eden, receiving at Cliburn Mill the brook called Lyvennet, which rises near Orton Moor. The Bridge here, and that at the mill, a little below, were washed down in the great flood in 1822, but have been re-built with red free-stone, which abounds in the neighbourhood. The parish, which is only of small extent, contains 205 inhabitants, and is bounded on the east by the Eden, on the south by the Leeth beck, on the west by Melkingthorp, and on the north by Brougham parish, which completely surrounds the farm of 365 acres, called Winderwath, though it is a member of Cliburn, and does, or did lately, belong to the Wyvil family. A market was held here at the place called Gilshauglin, in 1598, when the plague raged at Appleby, which is distant 7 miles SE. The manor was anciently in two divisions, called Cliburn Talebois and Cliburn-Hervey, - names derived from its owners; but after passing through several families it was mortgaged to Sir John Lowther, surnamed The Rich, and now belongs to his descendant, the Earl of Lonsdale. The Church dedicated to St. Cuthbert, is a small ancient edifice, with two bells. Though it was appropriated to St. Mary’s Abbey, in York, it still continues a rectory, and has from an early period been in the patronage of the succeeding Bishops of Carlisle. The Rev. John Poole is the present rector. The benefice is valued in the king’s books at £9 1s. 5½ d., and was afterwards certified at £40 10s. In 1807, the common land was enclosed, and 189 acres of it allotted to the rectory, as a commutation for the tithes of the parish, and ten and a half acres, now worth £21 a year, for the endowment of a school, which was built by subscription in 1809. The rector has also thirty acres of ancient glebe: the yearly proceeds of several benefactions, amounting to £3 6s. 6d. are given to the poor on St. Thomas’ day.