Civil parishes in Cumbria

thumb|right|A map of [[Cumbria, showing the districts: (1) Cumberland; (2) Westmorland and Furness.]]

thumb|right|A map of Cumbria, showing the pre-2023 districts: (1) [[Barrow-in-Furness (borough)|Barrow-in-Furness; (2) South Lakeland; (3) Copeland; (4) Allerdale; (5) Eden; and (6) Carlisle.]]

A civil parish in England is the lowest unit of local government. There are 284 civil parishes in the ceremonial county of Cumbria, with most of the county being parished. At the 2001 census, there were 359,692 people living in those 284 parishes, accounting for 73.8 per cent of the county's population.

The extent of modern civil parishes are largely geographically based on historic Church of England parish boundaries, which were ecclesiastical divisions that had acquired civil administration powers managed by the Vestry committee.

History

The Highways Act 1555 made parishes responsible for the upkeep of roads. Every adult inhabitant of the parish was obliged to work four days a year on the roads, providing their own tools, carts and horses; the work was overseen by an unpaid local appointee, the Surveyor of Highways.

The poor were looked after by the monasteries, until their dissolution. In 1572, magistrates were given power to 'survey the poor' and impose taxes for their relief. This system was made more formal by the Poor Law Act 1601, which made parishes responsible for administering the Poor Law; overseers were appointed to charge a rate to support the poor of the parish. The 19th century saw an increase in the responsibility of parishes, although the Poor Law powers were transferred to Poor Law Unions. The Public Health Act 1872 grouped parishes into Rural Sanitary Districts, based on the Poor Law Unions; these subsequently formed the basis for Rural Districts.

Parishes were run by vestries, meeting annually to appoint officials, and were generally identical to ecclesiastical parishes, although some townships in large parishes administered the Poor Law themselves; under the Divided Parishes and Poor Law Amendment Act 1882, all extra-parochial areas and townships that levied a separate rate became independent civil parishes.

Civil parishes in their modern sense date from the Local Government Act 1894, which abolished vestries; established elected parish councils in all rural parishes with more than 300 electors; grouped rural parishes into Rural Districts; and aligned parish boundaries with county and borough boundaries.

The Local Government Act 1972 retained civil parishes in rural areas, and many former Urban Districts and Municipal Boroughs that were being abolished, were replaced by new successor parishes; urban areas that were considered too large to be single parishes became unparished areas.

The current position

Recent governments have encouraged the formation of town and parish councils in unparished areas, and the Local Government and Rating Act 1997 gave local residents the right to demand the creation of a new civil parish.

A parish council can become a town council unilaterally, simply by resolution;

List of civil parishes and unparished areas

{| class="wikitable sortable"

! class="unsortable" | Image

! Name

! Status

! Population

! District

! Former District (1974-2023)

! Former local authority (pre 1974)

! class="unsortable" | Refs

| 100px || Above Derwent || Civil parish || align="right"|1,207 || Cumberland || Allerdale || Cockermouth Rural District ||

| 100px || Aikton || Civil parish || align="right"|480 || Cumberland || Allerdale || Wigton Rural District ||

| 100px || St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn || Civil parish || align="right"|407 || Cumberland || Allerdale || Cockermouth Rural District ||

| 100px || Askam and Ireleth || Civil parish || align="right"|3,632 || Westmorland and Furness || Barrow-in-Furness || Dalton in Furness Urban District ||

| 100px || Dalton Town with Newton || Town || align="right"|8,394 || Westmorland and Furness || Barrow-in-Furness || Dalton in Furness Urban District ||

| 100px || Askerton || Civil parish || align="right"|162 || Cumberland || Carlisle || Border Rural District ||

| 100px || Castle Carrock || Civil parish || align="right"|309 || Cumberland || Carlisle || Border Rural District || || Civil parish || align="right"|447 || Cumberland || Carlisle || Border Rural District ||

| 100px || Beckermet || Civil parish || align="right"|2,310 || Cumberland || Copeland || Ennerdale Rural District ||

| 100px || Bootle || Civil parish || align="right"|745 || Cumberland || Copeland || Millom Rural District ||

| 100px || Ainstable || Civil parish || align="right"|532 || Westmorland and Furness || Eden || Penrith Rural District ||

| 100px || Alston Moor || Civil parish || align="right"|2,156 || Westmorland and Furness || Eden || Alston with Garrigill Rural District || || Civil parish || align="right"|232 || Westmorland and Furness || Eden || North Westmorland Rural District || || Westmorland and Furness || Eden || North Westmorland Rural District || || Civil parish || align="right"| || Westmorland and Furness || Eden || Penrith Rural District ||

| 100px || Ravenstonedale || Civil parish || align="right"|570 || Westmorland and Furness || Eden || North Westmorland Rural District ||

| 100px || Angerton || Civil parish || align="right"|14 || Westmorland and Furness || South Lakeland || North Lonsdale Rural District || || Civil parish || align="right"|824 || Westmorland and Furness || South Lakeland || North Lonsdale Rural District ||

| 100px || Skelsmergh and Scalthwaiterigg || Civil parish || align="right"|374 || Westmorland and Furness || South Lakeland || South Westmorland Rural District ||

| 100px || Skelwith || Civil parish || align="right"|185 || Westmorland and Furness || South Lakeland || North Lonsdale Rural District || || Town || align="right"|8,245 || Westmorland and Furness || South Lakeland || Windermere Urban District ||

Ancient parishes and townships and their relationships to modern civil and ecclesiastical organisation

Cumberland

none|thumb|325x325px|Wards of Cumberland

Allerdale Above Derwent ward

{| class="wikitable"

!Ancient parish

!Medieval townships

!Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on

!Churches

|Arlecdon

Arlecdon
Frizington
Whillimoor

Arlecdon [renamed Arlecdon & Frizington 1934] (1866-)

Arlecdon St Michael (ancient-)
Frizington St Paul (1867-)

|Beckermet St Bridget

Beckermet St Bridget

Beckermet St Bridget (1866-2011)
Beckermet (2011-)

Beckermet St Bridget (ancient-)
Calder Bridge St Bridget (1842-)

|Beckermet St John

Beckermet St John

Beckermet St John (1866-2011)
Beckermet (2011-)

Beckermet St John the Baptist (ancient-)
Thornhill Mission Church (1932-)

|Brigham

Blindbothel
Brackenthwaite
Brigham
Buttermere
Cockermouth
Eaglesfield
Embleton
Greysouthen
Lorton
Mosser
Setmurthy
Whinfell
Wythop

Blindbothel (1866-)
Brackenthwaite (1866-1934)
Brigham (1866-)
Buttermere (1866-)
Cockermouth (1866-)
Dean (1934-) (Eaglesfield area)
Eaglesfield (1866-1934)
Embleton (1866-)
Greysouthen (1866-)
Lorton (1866-)
Mosser (1866-1934)
Setmurthy (1866-)
Whinfell (1866-1934)
Wythop (1866-)

Brigham St Bridget (ancient-)
Brackenthwaite St Mary Magdalene (medieval-C16th)
Buttermere St James (medieval-)
Cockermouth All Saints (medieval-)
Cockermouth St Helen (medieval)
Cockermouth St Leonard (medieval)
Cockermouth Christ Church (1865-)
Eaglesfield St Philip (1891-)
Embleton St Cuthbert (medieval-)
Lorton St Cuthbert (medieval-)
Mosser St Michael (medieval-)
Setmurthy St Barnabas (medieval-)
Wythop Old Chapel (C16th-19th)
Wythop St Margaret (1865-)

|Bootle

Bootle

Bootle (1866-)

Bootle St Michael (ancient-)

|Cleator

Cleator

Cleator [renamed Cleator Moor 1934] (1866-)

Cleator St Leonard (ancient-)
Cleator Moor St John the Evangelist (1872-2017)
Wath Brow Mission Church (1881-2010)

|Corney

Corney

Corney (1866-1934)
Waberthwaite (1934-)

Corney St John the Baptist (ancient-)

|Crosthwaite (part)

Borrowdale
Braithwaite
Coledale or Portinscale
Newlands or Rogersett
Thornthwaite

Above Derwent (1866-)
Borrowdale (1866-)

Borrowdale St Andrew (C16th-)
Braithwaite St Herbert (1900-)
Grange Holy Trinity (1861-)
Newlands Church (1571-)
Thornthwaite St Mary (medieval-)

|Dean

Branthwaite
Dean
Ullock, Pardshaw & Deanscales

Dean (1866-)

Dean St Oswald (ancient-)

|Distington

Distington

Distington (1866-)

Distington Holy Spirit (ancient-)

|Drigg and Carleton

Drigg & Carleton

Drigg & Carleton (1866-)

Drigg St Peter (ancient-)

|Egremont

Egremont

Egremont (1866-)

Egremont SS Mary & Michael (medieval-)
Bigrigg St John the Evangelist (1877-)

|Gosforth

Boonwood & Seascale
Gosforth
High Bolton
Low Bolton

Gosforth (1866-)
Seascale (1897-)

Gosforth St Mary (ancient-)
Seascale St Cuthbert (1881-)

|Haile

Haile
Wilton

Haile (1866-)

Haile Parish Church (ancient-)

|Harrington

Harrington

Harrington (1866-1974)
Lowca (1974-)
(part of) Workington (1974-) (majority)

Harrington St Mary (ancient-)

|Irton

Irton
Santon with Melthwaite

Irton with Santon (1866-)

Irton St Paul (ancient-)

|Lamplugh

Kelton
Lamplugh
Murton
Winder

Lamplugh (1866-)

Lamplugh St Michael (ancient-)
Kirkland Mission Church (1886-)

|Millom

Birker and Austhwaite
Chapel Sucken
Millom Above
Millom Below
Thwaites
Ulpha

Birker & Austhwaite (1866-1934)
Eskdale (1934-) (Birker & Austhwaite area)
Millom (1866-)
Millom Rural (renamed Millom Without 1934) (1894-)
Ulpha (1866-)

Millom Holy Trinity (ancient-)
Haverigg St Luke (1891-)
Kirksanton Christ Church (1891-1950)
Millom St George (1877-)
Thwaites St Anne (1715-)
Ulpha St John the Baptist (C16th-)

|Moresby

Moresby
Parton

Moresby (1866-)
Parton (1866-)

Moresby St Bridget (ancient-)
Moresby Parks Mission Church (1902-2007)

|Muncaster

Birkby
Muncaster

Muncaster (1866-)

Muncaster St Michael (ancient-)

|Ponsonby

Ponsonby

Ponsonby (1866-)

Ponsonby Parish Church (medieval-)

|St Bees

Eskdale
Ennerdale
Hensingham
Kinniside
Loweswater
Lowside Quarter
Nether Wasdale
Preston Quarter
Rottington
Sandwith
St Bees
Wasdale Head
Weddicar
Whitehaven

Ennerdale & Kinniside (1866-)
Eskdale & Wasdale (1866-1934)
Eskdale (1934-)
Hensingham (1866-1934)
Loweswater (1866-)
Lowside Quarter (1866-)
Nether Wasdale [renamed Wasdale 2000] (1866-)
Preston Quarter (1866-1896)
Rottington (1866-1974)
Sandwith (1866-1934)
St Bees (1866-)
Weddicar (1866-)
Whitehaven (1866-)

St Bees SS Mary & Bega (ancient-)
Ennerdale Bridge St Mary (medieval-)
Eskdale St Catherine (medieval-)
Eskdale St Bega (1890-)
Hensingham St John the Evangelist (1791-)
Kells St Peter (1908-)
Loweswater St Bartholomew (medieval-)
Mirehouse St Andrew (1955-)
Nether Wasdale St Michael (C16th-)
Wasdale Head St Olaf (C16th-)
Whitehaven St Nicholas (medieval-)
Whitehaven Holy Trinity (1714-1949)
Whitehaven St James (1752-)
Whitehaven Christ Church (1847-1977)

|Waberthwaite

Waberthwaite

Waberthwaite (1866-)

Waberthwaite St John the Baptist (ancient-)

|Whicham

Whicham

Whicham (1866-)

Whicham St Mary (medieval-)

|Whitbeck

Whitbeck

Whitbeck (1866-1934)
Whicham (1934-)

Whitbeck St Mary (medieval-)

|Workington

Great Clifton
Little Clifton
Stainburn
Winscales
Workington

Great Clifton (1866-)
Little Clifton (1866-)
Stainburn (1866-1934)
Winscales (1866-)
Workington (1866-)
Workington Rural (1894-1934)

Workington St Michael (ancient-)
Clifton St Luke (medieval-)
Workington St Mary (1889-)
Workington St John the Evangelist (1823-)

| colspan="2" |Cloffocks (extra-parochial)

Cloffocks (1866-1934)
Workington (1934-)

| colspan="2" |Low Keekle (extra-parochial)

Low Keekle (1866-1881)
Hensingham (1881-1934)
Weddicar (1934-)

Keekle Mission Church (1875-2013)

| colspan="2" |Salter & Eskett (extra-parochial)

Salter & Eskett (1866-1934)
Lamplugh (1934-)

!Ancient parish

!Medieval townships

!Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on

!Churches

Allerdale Below Derwent ward

{| class="wikitable"

!Ancient parish

!Medieval townships

(part of) Arthuret (1866-)

Easton Parish Church (medieval)

|Farlam

East Farlam
West Farlam

Farlam (1866-)

Farlam St Thomas a Becket (medieval-)
Tindale Mission Church (?-)

|Hayton

Fenton & Faugh
Hayton
Little Corby
Talkin

Hayton (1866-)

Hayton St Mary Magdalene (ancient-)
Talkin Chapel (1842-)

|Irthington

Irthington
Laversdale
Newby
Newtown

Irthington (1866-)

Irthington St Kentigern (ancient-)

|Kirkandrews on Esk

Kirkandrews Middle
Kirkandrews Moat
Kirkandrews Nether
Nicholforest

Kirkandrews (1934-)
Kirkandrews Middle (1866-1934)
Kirkandrews Moat (1866-1934)
Kirkandrews Nether (1866-1934)
Nicholforest (1866-)

Kirkandrews-on-Esk St Andrew (medieval-C16th, 1637-)
Nicholforest St Nicholas (C17th-)

|Kirkcambeck [till late C14]

(part of) Lanercost (1866-)

Kirkcambeck St Kentigern (medieval-C20th)

|Kirklinton

Blackford
Hethersgill
Kirklinton Middle Quarter
Westlinton

Hethersgill (1866-)
Kirklinton Middle (1866-)
Westlinton (1866-)

Kirklinton St Cuthbert (ancient-)
Hethersgill St Mary (1876-)
Blackford St John the Baptist (1871-)

|Lanercost

Askerton
Banks
Burtholme
Kingwater
Waterhead

Askerton (1866-)
Burtholme (1866-)
Kingwater (1866-)
Waterhead (1866-)

Lanercost St Mary Magdalene (ancient-)
Gilsland St Mary Magdalene (1852-)
Lees Hill Mission Church

|Nether Denton

Nether Denton

Nether Denton (1866-)

Nether Denton St Cuthbert (ancient-)

|Scaleby

East Scaleby
West Scaleby

Scaleby (1866-)

Scaleby All Saints (medieval-)

|Stanwix

Cargo
Etterby
Houghton
Linstock
Rickerby
Stainton
Stanwix
Tarraby

Stanwix (renamed Stanwix Rural 1966) (1866-)

Stanwix St Michael (ancient-)
Belah St Mark (1951-)
Houghton St John the Evangelist (1839-)
Linstock St Peter (medieval)

|Stapleton

Bellbank
Solport
Stapleton
Trough

Bellbank (1866-1934)
Solport (1866-)
Stapleton (1866-)
Trough (1866-1934)

Stapleton St Mary (medieval-)

|Upper Denton

Upper Denton

Upper Denton (1866-)

Upper Denton Parish Church (medieval-1970s)

|Walton

High Walton
Low Walton

Walton (1866-)

Walton St Mary (medieval-)

| colspan="2" |Carlatton (extra-parochial)

Carlatton (1866-)

| colspan="2" |Geltsdale (extra-parochial)

Castle Carrock (2003-)
Geltsdale (1866-2003)

| colspan="2" |Kingmoor (extra-parochial)

Kingmoor (1866-)

Kingmoor St Peter (1930-)

| colspan="2" |Midgeholme (extra-parochial)

Midgeholme (1883-)

!Ancient parish

!Medieval townships

!Civil parishes covering this area from 1866 on

!Churches

Leath ward

{| class="wikitable"

!Ancient parish

!Medieval townships