Acorn Bank, Privileges of tenants of, 67

Ale possets, 202

Allendale, Old school-days at, 250

Alms corn, Payments of, 88

Altar, Horn of the, at Carlisle, 74

Ambleside—curious church tradition, 49

Appleby, Privileges of burgesses of, 69;
Barring out custom at, 254-255;
Curious assize incident at, 7;
Bull-baiting at, 195;
Excommunication at, 102;
Grammar School, 242;
Public whipping at, 126-128;
Stocks at, 125

Appleby Castle, Old corn measures at, 159-160;
Curfew bell at, 238

Applethwaite (Windermere), Curious regulations at, 89

Apprentices and salmon, 178

Apprenticeship custom, An, 233

Archdeacon’s Court, 59-60

Archery, 196-199

Arlecdon, Rector of, chasing a parishioner, 42;
Church font used as water-trough, 50;
Church, Dogs in, 63;
Tradition concerning buried church, 133;
An old school at, 249;
Barring out custom at, 252

Armathwaite, Gibbeting of Whitfield at, 94

Armboth Hall, Skulls at, 147

"Web-stone at, 237

Armour in churches, 13, 34

Assessors of bread and ale, 89

Assize incident, A curious, 7

Atkinson, Execution of Captain, 97


Bampton, Arrangement of families in church, 53;
Punishment of Quakers, 107-109

Barguest, The, 141

Barring out custom at school, 252-255

Barton, Probable fortified church at, 34;
Curious manorial custom at, 80

Beacons, 10-13

Beating the bounds, 227

Bees, Telling the, 138

Beetham Church, Penance at, 111

Bell-gate at Dalston, 238

Bell-horses, 217, 238

Bell legends, 132

Bell, Mayor of Wreay’s old silver, 201

Bells, Carlisle racing, 191

Bishop of Carlisle and cock-fighting, 195

Bishops excommunicated, 100

Bishops, Fighting, 22-28

Blackmail rent, 75

Bode, bodesmen, bodeword, bode-hill, 14

Boggles, 139

Bongate—A reminder of serfdom, 66

Boon services, 76-79

Bootle, Beacon at, 15

Border service, 9-16, 68-70, 229

Bridekirk, Excommunication at, 101

Brigham, Fortified church at, 33

Brough, Probable fortified church at, 34;
Church font in private grounds, 50;
Holly Night at, 205

Brougham, Curious horn at, 73;
Countess’s Pillar at, 223

Bull and boar, Obligation to keep, 87

Bull-baiting, 195

Burgh Barony Cup, Races for, 190

Burgh-by-Sands, Fortified church at, 30

Burrell Green, Luck of, 151

Burton, Curious dispute at, 40

“Burying the old wife” custom, 233


Calgarth skulls, 146

Caldbeck, Manorial customs at, 83

Carleton—A reminder of serfdom, 65

Carlisle, Watch and ward at, 19;
Cathedral, Rioting in, 37;
Cathedral used as a prison, 37;
Charter Horn at, 74;
Pillory and stocks at, 124;
Racing Bells, 191

Cartmell Church, Troops quartered in, 37

Carriage money service, 89

Castleward, Service of, 71

Charms, 136

Charter Horn at Carlisle, 74

Chimney and hearth tax, 182-186

Church curiosities, 38-63;
Stock, 51, 52;
Holding manorial courts in, 58;
Dog-whippers in, 60-63;
Legends, 131-133, 139;
Fined for not going to, 226

Churchwardens’ duties, 51, 52, 107, 108, 226;
Selection of, 245

Churchyards, Keeping swine out of, 60;
Announcing sales in, 158

Churches, Fortified, 28-37;
Armour in, 13, 34;
Division of sexes in, 53;
Seating arrangements in, 51;
Swallowed by the earth, 131-132

Churning, Superstitions about, 137

Christmas festivals, 202

Clergy, Old-time, 40-46

Clergymen as publicans, 41;
as schoolmasters, 248-252

Cliburn, A probable fortified church at, 34

Clifton, Old school-days at, 251

Clogs, 171

Cloth searchers, 164

“Clothe Dightinge,” 163

Coaching days, The old, 213-216

Coals carried on horse-back, 217

Cockermouth tolls dispute, 83;
Old manorial officers at, 90

Cock-fighting, 192-195, 201, 242

Cockpenny, 242, 243

Corby Castle, Radiant Boy of, 146

Cordwainers, Rules for, 164

Cornage, Service of, 15, 69, 70, 73

Coronation festivities, 205

Corryhole at Great Salkeld Church, 32

Councils, Old Parish, 230-232

Countess’s Pillar at Brougham, 223

County guinea incident near Penrith, 20

Courts in church, Holding, 58

Courts, Old, 58, 90, 181

Crack Nut Sunday, 225

Croglin, Manorial customs at, 82

Crosby Garrett, A probable fortified church at, 33

Crosby-on-Eden, Old school-days at, 249

Crosby Ravensworth Church, Keeping dogs out of, 61

Cross Fell, Legend of, 132

Crosthwaite, Rivalry between Cockermouth and, 157

“Culyet,” 52

Cumin tenure, 85

Cumwhitton, Manorial customs at, 82

Curfew Bell, Ringing the, 238

Customs, Old, 223-239;
Old School, 240-255


Dacre Church, Curious custom at, 55

Dalston Church, Whipping dogs from, 61-62;
Holy well at, 207

“Dalston Black-reeds,” 194

Dearham Church tower used as a beacon, 32

Death stroke superstition, 137

Dissenters, Punishment of, 107-109

Dog-laws at Egremont, Old, 87

Dog-whippers in church, 60-63

Downies and Uppies at Workington, 200

Drengage tenements, 66

Drenges, 66

Dress, Old-time, 171-173

Drigg, Manorial customs at, 82

Drunkards, Punishment of, 119-121


Edenhall, Church tower used as a beacon, 13;
Manorial customs at, 81;
A possible plague stone at, 237

Eden Hall, Luck of, 148

Egremont, Manorial customs at, 77, 87, 90

Epidemics, Old-time, 235-238

Excommunication and penance, 98-119

Executions, Wholesale, for political offences, 97

Expeditious wagons, 216


Fairies, 137

Fairs, Old laws concerning, 155;
Churchyard, 155-158

Farleton Knott beacon, 13

Festivities and sports, Old, 188-208

Fighting Bishops and Fortified Churches, 22-37

Firebote, 75

Fire, Old methods for quenching, 186

“First-foot” superstition, 147

Flimby, Old tenure at, 71

Fonts in private grounds, 50-51

Food-stuffs, Old-time, 174-178

Fools, Old-time, 232

Football, 199-200, 243

Forest Court at Hesket, 69, 73

Forestalling and regrating, Laws against, 165-167, 169

Fortified churches, 28-37

Foster-oats, An old manorial rent, 78

Free-bench, 81

Furth-neets at Orton and Ravenstonedale, 228-229


Gallows Hills, 94, 98

Gambling, Punishment for, 115

Gaol-life, Old-time, 122

Ghosts, 142-143

Giant’s Cave Sunday, 207

Giant’s Thumb at Penrith, 124

Gibbeting of criminals, 94-97

Gilcrux, Old tenure at, 70

Glassonby, Manorial customs at, 80

Glove service, 72

God’s penny custom, 83

“Gospel side” of a church, 54

Gowrie Plot celebration, 203

Great Salkeld, Fortified church at, 31

Greenhue rent, 77

Greystoke, Anchorites at, 46;
Sanctuary stone at, 115;
“Pelican in her piety” at, 58;
Church miserere used as church sign at, 58;
Manorial customs at, 78, 80;
Penance at, 113;
Excommunication at, 101;
Foot stocks at, 124;
Gowrie Plot celebration at, 203;
Gunpowder Plot celebration at, 203

Guilds and old trade societies, 162-4

Gunpowder Plot celebration, 203


Hack-pudding, 227

Halts, 218

“Hanging days,” The, 123

Hanging, drawing, and quartering, 91, 97, 98

Harcla, The execution of Sir Andrew de, 91

Hawk service, The, 69, 70

Hawkshead, Dog-whippers at, 63

Hayton paupers hired to contractors, 234

Hedge-lookers, 89

Helton, Old Council at, 231

Heriots, 79, 85, 100

Hesket Thorn Court, 70, 73

Holme Cultram, Abbey of, also a fortress, 29;
Petition of inhabitants to Cromwell, 29;
Curious dispute at, 39;
Old-time school life at, 244

Holy bell at Ravenstonedale, 114

Holy wells, 206-208

Holly Night at Brough, 205

Homage, Service of, 15, 65

Horn tenures, 73

Hospitals, Old-time, 211, 212

House-boot, 76, 82

House in two parishes, 228


Inglewood Forest, 70, 73, 74, 197, 212

Ireby, Manorial customs at, 77

Irthington, Old school-days at, 249


Jesters, Old-time, 232

Journeys, Some noteworthy old-time, 209-221

Judges, Perils of the King’s, 212


Kaber Rigg Rising, The, 98

Kattstick and Bullvett, 199

Kendal, Scolds’ bridle at, 115;
Punishments at, 115-121;
Watch and ward at, 17-19;
Parson of moiety of church of, 38;
Church incident at, 35-37;
Bowmen, 198;
Barring out custom at, 254

Kentmere, Reminders of Border service at, 229

Keswick, Bull-baiting at, 195;
endowed school, 245

Kirkby Lonsdale, Church inscription at, 47;
Bridge legend, 133;
Sale of church font, 51

Kirkby Stephen, Curious tithe custom at, 56;
A probable fortified church at, 34;
Burial of Sir Andrew de Harcla at, 94;
Fair, Proclamation at, 160;
School ordinances, 240

Kirkby Thore, Penance at, 112

Kirkland, Unusual tenure at, 85

Kirkoswald, Curious church tower at, 47;
Bull-baiting at, 195;
Old manorial measures at, 160

Knitters, Famous, 228

Knur and spell, 199


Lancaster, Execution and gibbeting of Thomas, 95

Lanercost Abbey, Tragic origin of, 111

Langdale, Curate of, as alehouse keeper, 41

Langwathby Church, Armour in, 13, 34

Lawyers, Restrictions upon, 167

Leather searchers, 89

Legend of St. Bega, 131;
Kirksanton, 131;
Fisherty Brow, 132;
Arlecdon, 133;
Kirkby Lonsdale Bridge, 133;
Concerning wolves, 135;
Warthol Hall, 135;
Calgarth skulls, 146;
Armboth Hall, 147;
Machell family, 142;
Radiant Boy of Corby, 146

Legends and Superstitions, Some, 131-147

Leper windows, 45-46;
Hospitals, 46

Lepers in Cumberland and Westmorland, 45-46

Levens, Luck of, 153

Levens Radish Feast, 208

Life in the old gaols, 122

Little Salkeld, Desecration of church at, 58

Long Marton, An infant rector of, 39

Lucks, 148-154


Manorial laws, 64-90

Market bells, 167

Markets and fairs customs, 155-168

Maskers, 202

Meat selling at church doors, 156;
On Sundays, 165;
Bequest, A, 177

Milling laws, Old, 76, 82, 83

Mill lookers, 89

Millom, Manorial jurisdiction at, 64;
Penance at, 112

Minstrel galleries, Old, 181

Miracle workers, Supposed, 138

Mock Mayors, 200

Moor lookers, 89

Moota, Beacon at, 14

Morland, Manorial custom at, 75, 82

Mortuary rights of the Church, 100

Multuring, 83, 84

Muncaster, Luck of, 149

Musgrave Church font in private grounds, 50


Needfire superstition, 143-146

Newbiggin (Dacre), Curious custom at, 79

Newton Arlosh, Fortified church at, 30

Night watch, 245

Nunnery, Privileges of prioress and nuns of, 67

Nutgeld service, 71

Nut Monday, 225

Nutting days, School, 255


Old-time Home Life, 169-187

Old-time school life, 240-255

“Orders of the Watch,” 11

Ormside, A probable fortified church at, 33

Orton, Probable fortified church at, 33;
Sworn men at, 230;
Stocks, 125


Pack-horses, 209, 210, 217, 219, 220, 221, 238

Parsonby, Manorial customs at, 77

Paupers hired to contractors, 234

Peat silver, 78

Peculiar contrivances, 171

Penance, Excommunication and, 98-119

Penrith Beacon, 12, 13

Penrith Church font in private grounds, 50;
Plague-stones at, 235-237;
Excommunication at, 103;
Stocks and pillory at, 124;
Races, 192-194;
Badge of poverty at, 235

Penrith Fell, Ludicrous incident on, 27;
Burial of excommunicates on, 104

Penthouses at Orton, 229

Peppercorn rents, 87

Pie Poudre Court at Kirkby Stephen, 161

Pillar, Countess’s, 223

Pillions, Riding on, 217, 220

Pillory and stocks, 124, 125

Plague-stones, Old, 235-238

Plumpton, Manorial custom at, 82

Plowbote, 75

Poor people let out to contractors, 234

Porridge, A tribute to the value of, 169

Posset cups, 202

Pot fairs, 156

Poverty, The badge of, 235

Proclamations at fairs, 160-162

Punishments, Old-time, 91-129


Quakers, Punishment of, 107-109


Racing, Curiosities in horse, 190-193

Radiant Boy of Corby Castle, 146

Radish Feast at Levens, 208

Rapier dancers, 202

Ravenglass, Proclamation of fair at, 161

Ravenstonedale, Holding a Court in church at, 58;
Sanctuary bell at, 114;
Penance at, 110;
Stocks at, 125

Rebel’s Cap at Kendal, 35

Rector, An infant, 39

Refuge bell at Ravenstonedale, 114

Renwick tithe exemption, Curious, 88

Riding the stang at Ambleside, 128

Road, On the, 209-222

“Robin the Devil’s” escapade, 35-37

Rod, Surrendering by the, 247

Rose tenure, 70, 72

Rowan tree superstition, 137

Running Gressom, 85

Rush-bearing custom, 224

Rushes and bents for churches, 59-61

Rushes, Curious belief about, 170

Rushlights, Old-time, 170


Sacrilege, Punishment at Appleby for, 113

Sales in churchyards, Announcing, 158

Salmon, Abundance and cheapness of, 177;
as apprentices’ food, 178

Sanctuary at Ravenstonedale, 114;
Nunnery, 115;
Greystoke, 115

Scale Houses, Peculiar tithe exemption at, 88

Scholars’ badge of poverty at Penrith, 235

School customs, Old, 240-255

Schools in churches, 248-251

Schoolmasters, Old-time, 240-255

Scolds’ bridles, 115

Seawake, Service of, 15, 71

Sebergham, A protest in rhyme at, 48;
School in a mud hut at, 248

Sexton, A female, 45

Shearing days, 203

Sheriffesses of Westmorland, 2-4

Sheriffs’ law suits with Appleby burgesses, 6

Sheriffwick, An Unparalleled, 1-8

Shrovetide festival at Wreay, 201

Silver-penny fines, 79

Skirsgill well custom, An old, 206

Skirwith, Manorial customs at, 76

Snow on Midsummer’s Day, Legend of, 131

Soar-hawk tenure, 69

Sparket Mill, Peculiar obligation at, 86

Sports and Festivities, Old, 188-208

Spur service, 71, 72

Stang, Riding the, at Ambleside, 128

St. Bega, Legend of, 131

Steading stone at Thirlmere, 121

Stirrup tenure, 68

Stocks, 124, 125

Stockings, Curious method of treating, 171

Sunday markets, 156-158

Sunday observance, 225-226

Superstitions and Legends, 131-147

Surrendering by the rod, 247

Swine in churchyards, 60;
Ringers, 89


Tailors, Rules for, 164

Tea, Curious methods of dealing with, 178

Telling the bees, 138

Tenures, Curiosities of, 64-90, 247

Thirlmere, Steading stone at, 121

Threlkeld, Manorial customs at, 76

Timber-lode, 75

Tithe exemption, Curious, 88

Toll-free, Rights of tenants and burgesses to go, 67

Tolls, An old dispute about, 83

“Tom Candlestick,” 170

Toothache, Charm for, 136

Torpenhow, Old Council at, 230-244

Town and village watch and ward, 16-21

Trading Laws and Customs, Old 155-168

Traditions, 131-147

Troutbeck dole custom at Dacre, 55

Troutbeck (Windermere), Manorial jurisdiction at, 64

Tummel wheel’d carts, 218


Uppies and Downies at Workington, 200


Village schoolmasters, Old-time, 244-253


Waberthwaite Church, Dog-whippers at, 63

Warthol, Watching station at, 14

"Hall, Legend concerning, 135

Warwick, Old school-days at, 249

Watch and Ward, 9-21

Watch, Orders of the, 11

Watermillock, Manorial custom at, 81;
Head Jurie, 51, 231

Webstone at Armboth, The, 238

Well festivals, 206-208

Wetheral, Manorial customs at, 78

Whipping of criminals, Public, 124-128

Whitbeck, Old customs at, 227

Whitehaven, Society of Archers, 198;
Watch and ward at, 19;
Public whipping at, 125

Whittlegate, The old custom of, 43, 44, 251

Wigton, Curious epitaph at, 157;
Selling meat at parish church, 156

Wine, Curiosities concerning church, 54-55

Witch, Drowning of a supposed, 91;
Mary Baynes, the Orton, 139;
Lizzy Batty, the Brampton, 141

Witness man, Service of, 15

Woful Bank, Legend concerning, 135

Women as judges, 2

Workington Easter football play, 200

Wotobank, Legend concerning, 135

Wreay, Mock mayoral festivities at, 201

Wreck of the sea privilege at Millom, 84

Wrestling, 188-190