Dufton, Westmorland Family History Guide

Dufton is an Ancient Parish in the county of Westmorland.

Other places in the parish include: Keisley and Birkdale.

Alternative names:

Parish church: St. Cuthbert

Parish registers begin:

Parish registers: 1571
Bishop’s Transcripts: 1665

Nonconformists include: Primitive Methodist and Wesleyan Methodist.

Table of Contents

Adjacent Parishes

Parish History

The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870

DUFTON, a township and a parish in East Ward district, Westmoreland. The township lies on an affluent of the river Eden, near Watling Street, and near the Eden Valley railway, 3½ miles NNE of Appleby town and r. station; includes the hamlet of Birkdale; and has a post office under Penrith.

The parish contains also the township of Keisley. Acres, 18, 129. Real property, £3, 646. Pop., 495. Houses, 101. The property is subdivided.

The manor belonged formerly to the Milwards and others; and belongs now to Sir R. Tufton, Bart. An ancient mansion, to the north of the village, was converted many years ago into a sporting seat. Much of the land is moor and mountain, soaring into lofty peaks, and bearing the name of Dufton fells. Lead ore is mined and smelted.

The living is a rectory in the diocese of Carlisle. Value, £172. Patron, Sir R. Tufton, Bart. The church is good; and there are a Wesleyan chapel, a Primitive Methodist chapel, and charities £28.

Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].

A Topographical Dictionary of England 1848

DUFTON (St. Cuthbert), a parish, in East ward and union, county of Westmorland, 4 miles (N. E.) from Appleby; containing, with the township of Keisley, 466 inhabitants, of whom 441 are in Dufton township.

It comprises 19,250 acres, of which about 2057, long since inclosed, consist of meadow, pasture, and arable land; 2118 acres are common pasture recently inclosed, under act of parliament; 15,000 acres are moor, and about 75 wood.

The living is a discharged rectory, valued in the king’s books at £19. 2. 6.; net income, £172; patron, the Earl of Thanet. The church was rebuilt in 1784, at the expense of the parishioners and the Rev. William Kilner, the rector, and is a plain structure, situated about half a mile north of the village.

There is a place of worship for Wesleyans.

The free school was founded in 1623, by Christopher Walker, rector, and was further endowed with a bequest by Michael Todd in 1692.

Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis 1848