Bootle Miscellanea - 2

BOOTLE a description & history of the parish

By Dr.C.A. Parker of Gosforth, antiquarian

A LARGE parish, extending from the river Esk to the river Annas and running up to the summit of the Black Combe range, cutting off Waberthwaite and Corney from the sea.

The main road from Muncaster bridge (over the Esk) runs direct to Broad Oak, passing on the right Graymains, once the residence of the Askews. The next turn on the right leads by Rougholme to Waberthwaite Church; a little further on, at Dyke, a road to Barnscar and Devock water turns off to the left. At Broad Oak, formerly a public house, the road enters Waberthwaite and runs up a steep hill. Turn to the right half way up; the other road goes to Corney Church. Crossing Waberthwaite to the school the road turns sharply to the left, entering Corney, across which it runs to Swallowhurst Hall, a picturesque building. Here it enters Bootle parish and runs direct to Seaton and the village, beyond which it is called the" High Street."

Another road starting from Ravenglass runs along the Esk shore and crosses the ford below the railway bridge at Eskmeals. Here a bridge has been "going to be built" for over a hundred years. This road, which is available at low water only, and is always impassable to cyclists, runs directly to Tarn and Bootle. Just beyond Tarn are Selker and Selker Bay, in which last an old tradition given by Hutchinson says "about a mile from the shore in calm weather" could be seen the remains of several vessels or galleys, popularly supposed to be Roman.

The village is fairly central and. is said to he the smallest market town in England. The market (now extinct) was granted to John de Hudleston in 1346, and a fair of four days at the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Sept. 14). The market cross had four shields at the base of the shaft, one of which bore the arms of the Hudlestons. The present restored cross was placed on the old site at the Jubilee of 1897.

The name Bootle used to be derived from the Anglo-Saxon boll, a dwelling house, or from the beacon which once blazed on Black Combe. But this now is unsatisfactory to philologers, and Professor Sedgefleid prefers to interpret the medieval "Bottehale" as the haih, meadow or nook, of Bota. But the Domesday form is Bodele.

Here once stood the manor house of the Copeland family, an ancient and important family who owned lands in Bootle, Irton and Gosforth parishes. The male line became extinct in the reign of Richard the second, the heiresses marrying Hudleston, Pennington, and Senhouse, but younger branches carried the name on to the present day in the district, one of the family being prioress of Seaton. They bore arms; or, two bars gules, a canton of the second, over all a bend sable.

Many stone implements are said to have been found in the parish; in particular a stone hammer, 7 inches long, found in 1813. Cairns exist on Bootle common and in the adjoining parish of Whitbeck at Hall Foss, Kirkstones, and Annaside were circles of different kinds, now destroyed. The Annaside circle, which was not far from Kiskin, was composed of 12 stones and was 20 yards in diameter. On the north-west side were the ruins of a building through which an old road led. No trace of it is to be found now; it has been "improved" out of existence.

BOOTLE CHURCH.

Bootle Church, dedicated to St. Michael, is only 96 feet above sea level. It is reputed to be very ancient. The thickness of the walls of the oldest part, the chancel, 3 feet 4 inches, points to a Norman date and it is possible they were standing in the days of the first Lords of Millom. The chancel arch is very slightly pointed. The church had been "lately repaired" in 1794, and was then a plain oblong structure, consisting of nave and chancel, with square-headed windows, and a porch and turret for two bells at the west end. In 1829, it is described as "a very ancient edifice, though owing to frequent repairs, the interior has a modern appearance, and is neatly stalled." In 1837, north and south transepts were added, and the square-headed windows replaced by lancets with dripstones: the whole church was re-pewed, and apparently the pulpit and reading desk were then removed from the centre aisle. Soon after 1850, the west end with porch and turret was taken down, and a tower commenced, and carried up as far as the belfry. In digging the foundations for this six skeletons of tall stature were found, lying north and south.

In 1882, the tower was completed, and in 1888, the roof of the chancel and vestry was raised, and arches were made into the chancel and nave for an organ chamber.
Near the door stands an interesting font, somewhat celebrated owing to the obscurity of its inscription. "It bears some resemblance to that at Bourn in Lincolnshire, which is of PerpendicuIar date" (Canon Wilson). It is 3 feet high, of red sandstone, octagonal in shape and has a string course round the stem. On each of the eight faces are two shields, bearing letters sculptured in relief, which resemble black letter. In the first two shields are the letters R.B.; in the third a bugle-horn and the letters I and H; in the fourth two letters which have baffled antiquaries. They have "evidently been tampered with; the chisel has been used to take away more than paint" (Canon Wilson) The remaining shields are filled up thus,

IN NO MI NE PA TRI  ETFI LII ETSF IRFIS SAC TIA;

with marks of contraction over the last two As.

The inscription extended and translated reads, " In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." The letters R.B. and I.H. are thought to refer to Richard Brown, who was rector of Bootle in 1535, and John Hudleston, then Lord of Millom, for the Lords of Millom certainly bore a bugle horn as their badge.

There is also a small font or basin of black marble, which was perhaps introduced in Puritan times, when there was a rage for throwing out fonts and using basins.
On an oak board fixed to the south wall of the chancel, is a brass figure of a knight with an inscription below, These have at some time been fixed in a stone slab covering the grave of Sir Hugh Askew of Seaton :--

"Here Iyeth Sr Hughe Askew knyght late of the Seller to Kynge Edward the VI which Sr Hugh was maid knyght at Moskelbrough felde in ye yere of or Lord 1547 and dyed ye second day of Marche In the yere of oure Lord God 1562"

This honour was conferred at the battle of Pinkie, fought September 10th.1547, by the Protector Somerset during his fruitless attempt to force Mary Queen of Scots to marry Edward VI. He defeated the Regent Arran but was soon after compelled to return to England.

Sir Hugh is in full armour with large shoulder and knee pieces, broad-toed sabbatons, skirt of mail, and lamboys consisting of several plates buckled to the cuirass to protect the thighs.* The arms are sword and dagger, while round the neck is something resembling a ruff. The beard is pointed, the hair cut short, and the head bare. The object looking like a hat is a helmet lying sideways, on which the head rests. (See further on Sir Hugh.)
The nave of Bootle church is evidently very old, the masonry being very rough and mostly of cobbles. Near the tower traces of north and south doors, opposite each other, can be seen on the outside, the south door having apparently had a semi-circular head, indications of twelfth century work.

In the vestry are three hatchments recording Richard Hutton (died I704) and Daniel Steele (died 1764), rectors, and John Wennington (died 1764), curate. The first hatchment bears the arms of Hutton of Hutton and Whelpdale of Skirsgill. Also two pitch-pipes, one of mahogany and brass, nearly 3 feet long, the largest in the district; the other 19 inches long of dark red wood, probably made by Weeks of Bootle, of wood from a wreck in 1839 (The Rev. W. S. Sykes).

The tower contains three bells, the first inscribed, " Joseph Herbert, Wm. Smith, 1729. W. Packer, feceit.' The second, "1790. S. R. Wigan." The third, hung in 1882, is by Warner of London. The chalice is inscribed, " Deo et ecclesiae de Bootle hocce Poculum Dono dedit Daniel Steele, Rector ibidern Anno Dom. 1762." London make 1716-17.

The paten," In usum ecclesiae de Bootle, Jacobus Satterthwaite, A.M., Rector, dedit. A.D. 1810." London make 1716-17.

The flagon, "Presented by Richard Hobson, M.D., to the parish church of Bootle, in Cumberland, 1838." London make 1742-3.    There is a modern plate and an old pewter flagon.

The church was given to York earlier than 1140, the abbey presenting up to 1527. After the dissolution it passed to the Penningtons and from them to various families, ultimately coming into the hands of Lord Lonsdale.

Some curious names in the parish are, Selker, Hycemoor, Cordomos, Kiskin, Charity Chair.

SEATON PRIORY.

The Lordship of Millom, comprising "all between rivers Esk and Duddon," was the most important subdivision of the Barony of Egremont, and was given by William Meschin to Godard de Boyvill. Godard" Dapifer "or" the Steward "gave the churches of Bootle and Whicham to the abbey of St. Mary's York. His son, Arthur de Boyvill, or de Millum, was a crusader, and had in his turn a son Henry, who gave to his daughter Goynhild or Gunhuld on her marriage with Henry Fitz William, the lands of Leakley, (now called Seaton), with scales or sheds for cattle and common of pasture; specially excepting the lands which he had aheady given "to the holy nuns serving God and St. Mary in Leakley." The priory thus seems to have been in existence at the close of the twelfth century. It was founded for Benedictine nuns, and is said later, in spite of the testimony of Henry de Boyvill's deed, to be dedicated to St. Leonard. In 1227 the church of Irton was appropriated to the priory, probably by one of the early Irtons; the value of this in 1538 was £5 12s. 8d., per year.

Goynhild, being left a widow, gave the lands in Leakley she had received from her father, to the abbey of Hoim Cultram. The priory became so poor that in 1357, Henry duke of Lancaster. afterwards Henry IV., finding it could not maintain the prioress and nuns, granted to it the hospital of St. Leonard in Lancaster. Possibly this is why the priory is thought to have been dedicated to St. Leonard,

On October 18th, 1459, Thomas York, abbot of Holm Cultram, leased to Elizabeth Croft, prioress of Seaton, all the lands belonging to Holm Cultram, between the rivers Esk and Duddon, for twelve years, at the yearly rent of 20s. These lands were doubtless those given by Goynhild.
In the survey of 1534 the income of the priory is given as £12 12s. 0d., the site of the building with land annexed being set at 30s. only. Johanna Seton was then prioress.

The Monastic Comperta, the probable date of which was 1538, gives the income as 20 marks (£13 6s. 8d.), and states that the priory was over £6 in debt. Johanna Copeland was prioress that year. One nun is mentioned, Susanna Ribtori, probably a member of the family of Ribton of Ribton near Cockermouth, who bore arms or, three crescents azure.

A trace of a fourth prioress is found at Hyton, about two miles south of the priory. In a sham window of a farm house, there is the upper part of a large sepulchral slab bearing a pastoral staff, in relief, and an incised inscription, in Lombardic lettering:-

+HIC JACET
DENTONA
from which we infer the lady was of the Denton family.

In 1542, after the dissolution, the priory was granted to Sir Hugh Askew, knight, to hold of the King in cap ite, for £96 11s. 4d. and by service of one twentieth part of one knight's fee and the yearly rent of 9s. 2d.  Sandford says he was "yeoman of the seller unto Queen Catherin in Henry the Eights Time, and borne in this Contry. And when that Queen was deforced from her husband: This yeoman was destitute: And he a plied himself for help to Lo: Chamberlain or some place or other in the Kings service. The Lord Steward knew him well, because he had helpt to a cup wine the best, but told him he had no place for him but a charcole carrier. Well quoth this Monsir Askew help me with one foot, and let me gett in the other as I can. And upon a great holiday the king looking out at some sports Askew got a cortier a frinde of his to stand before the King; and Askew gott on his vellet cassock and his gold chine, and baskett of chercols on his back, and marched in the Kings sight with it. 0 saith the King now I like yonder fellow well, that disdains not to doe his dirty office in his Dainty clothes: what is he: Says his frinde That stood by on purpose, It is Mr. Askew, that was yeoman oth celler to the Late Queens Matie and now glad of this poore place to keep him in yr Maties service, which he will not forsake for all the world. The King says: I had the best wine when he was ith celler: he is a gallant wine Taster: let him have his place againe and afterwards knighted him; and he sold his place, and married the daughter of Sir John Hudleston; and settled this Seaton upon her."

Sir Hugh was knighted at the battle of Pinkie fought 1547. Denton says he "was raised to great honour and preferment, by his service to King Henry VIII., in his house ordinary, and in the field, at the siege of Bullen (Boulogne, 1544) and wars of France." He died March 2nd, 1562, and was buried in Bootle Church where there is a brass to his memory. His widow married William Pennington of Muncaster, at which castle her portrait still remains, dated 1571. Later the Penningtons sold Seaton to the Wakefields of Kendal.

Hutchinson tells the following story of this place. "Here a banditti of smugglers took up their residence, and continued their illicit trade for several years, till they were over-awed and broken by the coming of the military. They then applied themselves to agriculture and their farm flourished in a singular manner, superior to that of their neighbours, attributed to their better skill and knowledge brought from other parts."

Seaton Hall farm is exempt from tithe, having formerly been abbey land. About half a mile from it the stream expands into what is called "The Nun's Pool." Little remains of the priory. The hilly background is one mass of trees. Before the still stately ruin is a soft green-sward; to the left runs the stream, while to the right is the old house with quaint old fashioned windows, chimneys, and gables all wreathed in ivy. The interior is extremely interesting. Two wide fireplaces with spacious ingle-nooks and rapidly narrowing chimneys, big enough to hang many a fitch of bacon in, are still intact. They are not later than the sixteenth century and may well have been part of the convent. Just as attractive in their way are the spacious window seats, each with
its own peculiar charm and view; while the oak staircase and finely paneled passages completely harmonise with the peaceful old-world air which pervades the whole place. Only the east end of the church and part of the convent are left standing, and about their broken walls nature's kindly hands have trained a leafy network. The east wall contains three lancet windows of equal height; over them are pointed hood-mouldlings, between which are a recessed cinquefoil and a trefoil.

One can quite understand that Seaton Priory may well have seemed, to the nuns of old, a fitting refuge from the storm and stress of the world's battlefield. Even practical twentieth century folk could rest here awhile, and in this quiet retreat ponder life's problems, look back and forward, and gain a clearer view of men and things than is possible in the busy round of daily life. But few of the restless spirits of to-day could stay here to their life's end like those devoted women.

It is not for us to spend our lives in cloistered calm; rather let us rest like the stream for a season, then like it speed on to see greater things - maybe, do them. Yet, it has been good for us to be here; and in this quiet retreat, where many a nun's life has closed, I bid my readers farewell.

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The Whitehaven News gives the following tale of an encounter in this district.

THE BATTLE OF ANNASIDE.

On Saturday, August 18th, 1838, early in the morning, a most sanguinary conflict took place at Annaside, near Bootle, Cumberland, between the inhabitants of that hitherto peaceful village and the crews of three vessels, assisted by a number of persons from Ravenglass, under the command of a leader named Wilson, who is an innkeeper there. It appears that a practice had grown up for vessels to load cobbles from the sea shore, and in consequence of this removal the tide was making inroads on the land, the parish having been put to considerable expense, so it was resolved that a stop should be put to it.

Despite all protests, however, Wilson continued to load vessels for Runcorn and Liverpool, with the cobbles, so as peaceful means failed, the inhabitants determined to try force. Having removed all the stones from Stub Place, Wilson. on Friday, began to load three vessels from the beach, when the villagers drove them to their vessels. Next morning Wilson brought up a strong reinforcement of both sexes, himself aimed with a huge pump handle, and his followers with spars and blud. geons. On seeing this, there was an assembly from Whitbeck and Bootle to assist Annaside, in all some thirty-six men, each carrying a good sprig of oak. A most desperate fight ensued, the women pouring in volleys of stones, in addition to the noise they made. In the thick of the fight Wilson signalised himself by a desperate attempt to give a finisher to Mr. Parker with his formidable weapon, but this circumstance attracted notice, and his sconce was made to crack again by the repeated blows infficted upon it by the oaken weapons of his antagonists. With the fall of Wilson, the battle was over, and the villagers victorious. There were many conttiMons, but happily none slain. Men were to be seen at the close of the combat lying in all directions with broken heads and bruised bodies; one man had his leg fractured, and numbers on both sides were so severely injured that they had to be conveyed home, and are yet confined to their beds - some of them, it is asserted, are in a dangerous state.

The yeomen finally effected their purpose, and drove the enemy to their ships. The language of the women was said to be frightful: When the tide served, the vessels went to Ravenglass, and so ended the 'Battle of Annaside.'
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Nev.Ramsden 2013