Something a bit different for this Sketch. Last year, I was asked by the staff at the Kendal Branch of the Cumbria Archives if I would write an article for their newsletter to explain how I use the archives for my research into local history. This was published in their Winter 25 – 26 edition.…
Introduction Old Manor and Old Manor Farm are now two private residences. As will be seen in this Sketch, for centuries, they were a single residence. In the distant past it was the Manor House, although as shown later, few, if any, Lords of the Manor used it as their primary residence. A drawing of…
Introduction My research and findings for Norwood Farm, now known as Norwood Farm Cottages, has been quite complex. The earliest mention I have found of ‘Norwood Farm’ is in the 1851 census. However, as shown below, there is unmistakable evidence on old maps that buildings existed on the current site of Norwood Farm long before…
Introduction One of the most ancient documented industrial buildings in Casterton is a watermill. There is ample evidence of Casterton’s mill in old documents, local field names, archive newspapers, maps, and books. This Sketch draws together this evidence to produce an almost continuous timeline of the mill from the 13th to 19th centuries. Through a…
Introduction Following on from my Sketch about Casterton’s Lime Kilns a few months ago (see a-sketch-of-castertons-lime-kilns), this Sketch looks at the history of our solitary Malt Kiln. When I started writing this Sketch I was expecting it be quite straightforward. However, the field in which the Malt Kiln was located and the farmer’s estate in…
The farmer who owns the private field that the Stone Circle stands in is not keen to have visitors into the field. Please respect this and do not walk on the private land. Introduction As well as Casterton having a Roman road running through it, it also has a construction significantly older. Depending on which…
Introduction Dotted around the parish of Casterton were sixteen lime kilns, eighteen if you count a twin kiln as two, some of which are still standing. Using old maps, field names that reference a kiln, archive newspaper listings of farm sales or tenancy agreements, documents in the Kendal Archives such as leases wills or estate…
Introduction Gale Garth, also historically known as Casterton Fell Tenement, is one of the oldest farms in Casterton, predating Bull Pot by several hundred years but due to their proximity to each other, sharing its more recent history. Along with nearby Bullpot Farm, Smithy House, and the derelict Hillard Scale Farm, they are the most…
Introduction This Sketch continues the history of Casterton’s Village Hall. As noted in my first Sketch about the Hall which examined the history of the Hall from 1910 to 1969, in November 2023, I was handed a battered small suitcase which was filled with documents relating to the history of the Casterton Village Hall. It…
Introduction Our ‘local’ under four different names, has been serving the village and villagers for centuries. During these years it has been at the heart of the village community, serving as a meeting point to greet old friends and offering a venue for families to celebrate milestones such as weddings, funerals and christenings, significant birthdays…