WESTMORELAND
Is an inland county, being bounded on the north and north-west by Cumberland, on the east by Durham and Yorkshire, and on the south and south-west by Lancashire: it is about forty miles in length from north- east to south-west, and varies in breadth from sixteen miles to nearly forty; its circumference is 145 miles, containing 722 square miles, and 462,080 acres. ‘Westmoreland’ received its NAME from its situation to the west, and the principal part of it being formerly moorish barren land. It is one of those counties which, in the time of the Romans, was inhabited by that tribe of the ancient Britons, called the Brigantes. By the Romans it was incorporated with the province of Maxima Cæsariensis; and under the Saxons it formed part of the kingdom of Northumberland. Traces of two Roman roads are still visible, one from Carlisle to Appleby, and the other from Picts wall, in Cumberland, by Kendal, to Lancaster.
SOIL and CLIMATE, PRODUCE and MANUFACTURES.– This county is divided into two unequal portions, called the baronies of Westmoreland and Kendal; the former although abounding with hills and general unequality of surface, is comparitively an open country : the latter is extremely mountainous, containing numerous bleak and barren hills, usually called the fells. Not half a century ago, scarcely one fourth part of the whole county was undercultivation ; the greater portion still remains free from the labours of the husbandman and agriculturist ; and the parts productive are chiefly applied to the growth of oats ; the proportion of wheat and barley being very small. Some of the mountains yield good pasture for sheep, and are stored with grouse, which cause an influx of sportsmen in the shooting season : on the hills graze herds of black cattle, and on the moors great numbers of geese are bred. The valleys in which the rivers run are tolerably fertile ; and it is in such districts that dairying is pursued to advantage, and a great deal of fine butter is made for the London markets. The western mountains contain mines of copper, and in some places have been discovered veins of gold, but not sufficient to answer the expense of working. Slate and limestone quarries, in this county, are productive, and near to Kendal a beautiful variegated marble is found, which is susceptible of a very high polish, and is worked into chimney-pieces, ornaments, &c. The hams of Westmoreland, as a delicacy, are in high estimation, and are cured in many of the towns. This county participates with Yorkshire in the manufacture of woollen goods, principally of the coarser kinds. The climate may be taken as healthy ; the air is pure, and varies in its keenness according to the situation–on the hills it is sharp and piercing, but in the vallies it is mild, genial, and serene.
RIVERS, LAKES AND CANAL.–This county is well watered by rivers, the principal of which are the EDEN (the most considerable),the EIMOT, the LODER, the KEN or Kan, and the LEN, Lon or Lune.– Besides these there are several other small rivers, which are chiefly tributary to those already named. The LAKES are WINANDER-MERE and ULLESWATER ; the former is the largest in England, and is situated partly in Cumberland. The LANCASTER CANAL is the only one by which this county is immediately benefited; its course is nearly due north, beginning at West Houghton ; and its total length near seventy-six miles, exclusive of collateral cuts, communicating with other canals in its course.
WESTMORELAND lies in the province of York and diocese of Carlisle, is included in the northern circuit, and divided into four wards, viz. EAST, WEST, KENDAL and LONSDALE; which, collectively, contain one borough and county town (Appleby) seven other market towns, and thirty-two parishes. The whole county sends four members to parliament, viz. two for Appleby and two for the shire: the representatives returned for the shire, at the election in 1826, were Viscount Lowther, and the Hon. H.C. Lowther.
POPULATION–According to the census of 1821, there were houses inhabited in the county, 9,243; uninhabited, 301; and houses building, 113. The number of families then resident in the county was 10,438; comprising 25,513 males and 25,846 females; total 51,359; and by a calculation made by order of government, which included persons in the army and navy, for which was added after the ratio of about one to thirty prior to the year 1811, and one to fifty for that year and the census of 1821, to the returns made from the several districts; the population of the county, in round numbers, in the year 1700, was 28,600–in 1750, 36,300–in1801, 43,000–in 1811, 47,500–and in 1821, 52,400. The increased population in the fifty years, from the year 1700 was 7,700–from 1750 to 1801, the increase was 6,700–from 1801 to 1811, the increase was, 4,500–and from 1811 to 1821, the increased number of persons was 4,900; the grand total increase in the population of the county, from the year 1700 to the census of 1821, being about 23,800 persons.
