Culgaith | |
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An old Cumbrian farmhouse in Culgaith |
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Culgaith shown within Cumbria | |
Population | 826 (2011) |
OS grid reference | NY6129 |
Civil parish |
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District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | PENRITH |
Postcode district | CA10 |
Dialling code | 01768 |
Police | Cumbria |
Fire | Cumbria |
Ambulance | North West |
EU Parliament | North West England |
UK Parliament | |
Culgaith is a village and civil parish in the Eden District of Cumbria, England. It is located on the River Eden, between Temple Sowerby and Langwathby. Amenities include All Saints Church, and its associated primary school, as well as a pub and garden centre. The village had a railway station, which closed in 1970.
"This name is of British origin. It is formed from an Old Celtic base 'cūl', which has developed into Welsh 'cil', 'corner, retreat,' and British 'caiton', Welsh 'coed', 'wood'. The OE form of the name would have been 'Cȳlcēt'." ('OE' is Old English).
The village was probably named from Henry de Culgaith, Clerk, who received a grant of lands in Carlisle, the local see, in vico Francorum. In circa 1296, his widow Alice de Culgaith quitclaimed the dower held of Holm Abbey which included her late husband's fee farm for rents. There was originally a chapel of Latin Christendom, attached to a mother church at Kirkland.
However, at the time, the Lord of the Manor in Moieties of Land was Sir Michael de Hercla, later Earl of Carlisle. He fought alongside King Edward I in the Scottish wars of independence, and was present at the siege of Caerlaverock Castle in 1300. The Earl fell foul of the King, and was attained and sent to the dungeon at Carlisle. The Manor was alienated to Sir Hugh Monceby, a brave knight.
Lady Knyvett inherited the estates of the Morricebys and Pickerings at Culgaith. Sir Michael's son and heir Sir Andrew de Hercla further angered the new King Edward II, who ordered his execution at Carlisle in 1327, supposedly the year of his own demise. Nonetheless, the wood, Kirklandres, at Culgaith Manor, was conveyed to the monks at York. During the Wars of the Roses, the Manor was transferred to the Priory of Carlisle, with the church and chapel of ease.
A grammar school was founded at the heart of the village opposite the parish church, for the parishes of Culgaith and Blencarn. Lands at Culgaith was used to found the Barton Grammar School. Before his death in 1443 he conveyed the manor to Hugh Salkeld.