Long Marton Parish

  > This parish lies on the east side of the river Eden, between the parishes, of Appleby St. Michael, Dufton, and Kirkby-Thore, and is divided into the three manors and townships of Long Marton, Brampton, and Knock, and in 1841 contained 804 inhabitants. The commons have all been enclosed at different periods, viz., Brampton, 1770; Knock, in 1815; and Long Marton, in 1824.
 

Long Marton is a very respectable village, situated on the north side of the Troutbeck rivulet, three miles N.E. of Appleby, and four S.E. by E. of Temple Sowerby. Most of the houses have been rebuilt during the last thirty years, so that it is now one of the neatest and most genteel village[s] in the county. At its north is Marton House, a handsome stone mansion, the seat of William Hopes, Esq.; and on a pleasant eminence above the Troutbeck, stands Marton Hall, the residence of the rector.
 

The Manor of Marton, or Merton, as it was anciently written, was successively held by the Veteriponts, Wakes, Hollands, Greys, and Scallingers, from whom it passed to the Lowthers, in whose family it still remains, but the estates belong to various proprietors. The church, dedicated to St. James, is a large plain structure, standing in the fields of Brampton, about a quarter of a mile S. of the village of Long Marton. In the windows are the arms of the Cliffords, Greystoke, Dacre, Lancaster, and Wharton. There
was anciently a quoir, or chapel, in the church, dedicated to St. Margaret, in which was interred the body of Sir John de Moreland, who was rector of the parish from 1334 to 1358. In the secluded churchyard, where "the rude forefathers of the (parish) sleep," are many neat monuments, some of which are of considerable antiquity. The benefice is a rectory, of which the Earl of Thanet is patron, and the Rev. Edward Heelis, A.M., incumbent. It is valued in the king's books at £21 15s. 5½d., but it now possesses forty-three acres of glebe, besides 445 acres awarded at the enclosure, in lieu of the tithes of Knock and Marton townships. The tithe of Brampton township has also been recently commuted for a yearly rent charge of £165 1s. 11d. The only dissenting place of worship in Marton is a Wesleyan chapel "erected in 1816, at the cost of £400, on land given by Mrs. Mary Brunskill, who afterwards bequeathed two acres of land, which sold for £160, to assist in paying off the debt then owing for its erection," "The Parish School, near the church, was endowed in 1824 with the interest of £20 left by Mr. Thomas Machel, who also bequeathed £20 for the encouragement of a singing master to teach psalmody at the church." Rateable value of the township, £1959 13s. 1d.
 

BRAMPTON is an extensive manor and township lying between the Eden and Troutbeck, and containing the neighbouring villages of Brampton and Brampton Croft-Ends, distant two miles N. by W. of Appleby. The manor was anciently held by the barons of Greystoke, one of whom granted it in the 15th century to the family of Lancaster, but it is now held by the tenants of the Earl of Thanet, under arbitrary fines, except a few freeholds. Brampton Hall was rebuilt during the time of the Protectorate, by Thomas Burton, Esq., who was afterwards knighted by Charles II. It was subsequently sold to a few of the inhabitants who demolished it many years go. At Croft-Ends is a good inn, on the Alston and Appleby road. The principal land owners of this township are the Earl of Thanet, Rev. Thos. Bellas, and Wm. Spedding, Esq., and its rateable value amounts to £1866 2s. 8d.
 

KNOCK is a small village and township, two miles N.N.E. of Long Marton, terminated on the east by Knock Pike and Dufton Fell. The manor of Appleby extends into part of this township, as part of the demesne of John de Veteripont, but the other part, called Knock Shalcock, was successively held by the families of Boyvill, Rookby, and Clifford. It now belongs to the Earl of Thanet, whose tenants pay fines certain. Rateable value, £1174. 18s.
 

Close House is a hamlet in Knock township, two miles and a quarter N.N.E. of Long Marton.

 

Mannix & Co.,History, Topography and Directory of Westmorland, 1851

 

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19 June 2015

© Steve Bulman