Muncaster, Cumberland Family History Guide
Muncaster is an Ancient Parish in the county of Cumberland.
Other places in the parish include: Barnscar, Birkby, and Ravenglass.
Parish church: St. Michael
Parish registers begin: 1583
Nonconformists include: Baptist and Wesleyan Methodist.
Table of Contents
Adjacent Parishes
Parish History
Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales Circa 1870
MUNCASTER, a township, a parish, and a sub-district, in Bootle district, Cumberland. The township lies on the river Esk, 1 ½ mile E of Ravenglass r. station; was anciently called Meol-ceastre; includes the site of a Roman station; and gives the title of Baron to the family of Pennington.
The parish contains also the township of Birkby and the village of Ravenglass; the latter of which has a post-office under Whitehaven. Acres, 5,166; of which 115 are water. Real property, £3,220; of which £30 are in fisheries. Pop., 580. Houses, 106. The property is much subdivided.
The manor belongs to Lord Muncaster. Muncaster Castle is Lord M.’s seat; takes its name from an ancient castle, the original seat of the Penningtons, now reduced to a state of ruin; is a handsome edifice, in the castellated style; contains a glass cup, called the Luck of Muncaster, given by Henry VI. to Sir John Pennington after the battle of Hexham; and stands amid beautiful grounds, with a charming view. Muncaster fell is a range of mountain, extending north-eastward, between the rivers Esk and Mite. Barnscar is a quondam town on Birkby fell, with traces of streets and houses; but so obscure in record as to be a puzzle to antiquaries.
The living is a p. curacy in the diocese of Carlisle. Value, £97. Patron, Lord Muncaster. The church is ancient and tolerable; and contains two piscinas, four brasses, and numerous monumental tablets of the Penningtons. There are an endowed school with £12 a-year, and charities £5.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
A Topographical Dictionary of England 1848
MUNCASTER (St. Michael), a parish, in the union of Bootle, Allerdale ward above Derwent, W. division of Cumberland; comprising the town of Ravenglass and the township of Birkby, and containing 602 inhabitants.
This place, formerly called Meol-Castre, derives its name from a castle, the ancient residence of the Penningtons, situated at Esk-Meol, near the mouth of the river Esk; the principal tower of the castle is retained in the mansion built by the late Lord Muncaster.
The parish comprises 3200 acres, of which 1200 are inclosed; about 1000 acres are arable, and 300 woodland. The living is a perpetual curacy; net income, £97; patron, Lord Muncaster, whose title of Baron, in the peerage of Ireland, is derived from this place.
Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis 1848
Parish Records
FamilySearch
Census returns for Muncaster, 1841-1891
Parish registers for Muncaster, 1583-1913
Bishop’s transcripts for Muncaster, 1676-1874
Computer printout of Muncaster, Cumberland, England
Directories
Kelly’s Directory of the Leather Trades 1880
RAVENGLASS
Boot & Shoe Makers
Helin Richard
Stable George
Wilson John
Administration
- County: Cumberland
- Civil Registration District: Bootle
- Probate Court: Court of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Western Deaneries – Copeland
- Diocese: Carlisle
- Rural Deanery: Copeland
- Poor Law Union: Bootle
- Hundred: Allerdale above Derwent Ward
- Province: York