From Hellgill to Bridge End: Aspects of Economic and Social Change in the Upper Eden Valley Circa 1840-1895(Studies in Regional and Local History)

The is a comparative study of the effects of local, regional and national change on nine parishes in the Upper Eden Valley in north Westmorland during the Victorian years. It is based on a study of the entire population of the parishes of Appleby, Brough and Kirkby Stephen, and six surrounding parishes over six censuses from 1841 plus Marriage and Burial Registers. The analysis of a database of 65,000 records from these sources has given a rare insight into a series of rural parishes and has allowed the exploration of themes of continuity and change within and between parishes, setting them in context within regional and national changes during the Victorian years. Migration is an important theme and includes in-, intra- and out-migration. Destinations of out-migrants have been identified and analysed. The book explores culture and social life including religion, education and leisure, transport, education, the local economy, agriculture and migration. In each topic introductory sections cover the wider Cumbrian region and, although it is a study of a local area, the whole work is set firmly in this context. Differences and similarities are clear even within such a small geographical area and emphasise the problems that can arise if typicality is assumed from a single parish or community study. Very little work exists about this part of Cumbria and such detailed analysis of a series of parishes in any region is rare and important.

Table of Contents:
List of Figures List of Tables Preface Acknowledgements Chapter 1 Introduction General and theoretical overview The transformation of the national economy Core and periphery relations Modernisation Regions Cumbria: the region Westmorland The Study Area Historical background The towns and villages Sources The census enumerations Other sources Methodology Chapter 2 The Economy of north Westmorland Introduction The Cumbrian economy The local economy The local occupational structure 1. The three towns: Appleby (with Bongate, K. Stephen and Brough) The towns: trade The towns: craft occupations The towns: professional occupations and services The towns: transport and unskilled occupations The towns: conclusion 2. The leadmining villages: Dufton, Hilton and Murton 3. The agricultural villages: Crosby Garrett, Soulby and Warcop 4. Dispersed population townships: Stainmore and Mallerstang Local economy: conclusion Special Topics Independent, retired, paupers and Workhouse inmates Children in occupations Female occupations Females occupations in the local area Female occupations: conclusion Dual or multi-occupations Dual or multi-occupations: conclusion Indicators of change Conclusion Chapter 3 The Agricultural Economy Introduction Landownership Customary Tenure Tithe Awards The Return of Owners of Land & the 1910 Land Tax Valuation books Farms, farmers and farm Workers Farms and farm sizes Men and women on the land Continuity of farm occupancy Land use Conclusion Chapter 4 Transport and Communications Regional Overview Introduction Regional water transport Regional road transport Roads and the Turnpike Trusts Coach and carrier services Regional Railways Railways in the Upper Eden Valley The workers: S. Durham & Lancs Union, Eden Valley & Midland lines Local connections The end of the works Conclusion Chapter 5 The changing community: social and cultural life Introduction Literacy, education and schools Literacy Schools and schooling Religion Church of England The religious census of 1851 & religious affiliations in the area Nonconformity in the Upper Eden Valley Church and chapel life Co-operative and Friendly Societies Freemasonry in the Upper Eden Valley The Temperance Movement Sociability and entertainment Sport Tourism Traditional and other customs Administration and control Conclusion Chapter 6 Migration Introduction The regional picture Regional migration The nine parishes: lifetime migration Family migration paths Birthplaces in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales Lifetime migration for sample occupations. Agriculture The extractive industry Female domestic servants Trade Professional occupations Railway construction workers Conclusion Family migration paths Family migration paths: the local population Family migration paths among the railway builders Migration 1851-1891 by inter-censal linkage Results of linkage Social mobility Out-migration Conclusion Appendix Bibliography

About the Author :
Margaret Shepherd is a historical geographer who has spent many years in the Eden Valley. She was born and educated in Penrith in Cumberland, later in Edinburgh. After teaching in Carlisle she married and moved to Church Brough in the Upper Eden Valley. While bringing up two children she served as both a County Councillor and a District Councillor. She graduated with honours in Music, History and Art History from the Open University in 1980. Since 1985 Margaret Shepherd has been a member of Wolfson College, Cambridge and graduated with 1st Class Honours in Geography in 1987 followed by a Ph.D. in 1992. Subsequently Margaret Shepherd has continued her research into the changes that occurred in the Upper Eden Valley during the Victorian years. She was elected to a Junior Research Fellowship in Wolfson College in 1993 but then became Tutor and Fellow for seven years before resuming the Research Fellowship in 2001.