The DISTRICT of COPELAND in the County of CUMBERLAND

This site is dedicated to the history, people and places to be found within the ancient district of Copeland, otherwise known as Allerdale above Derwent, in the county of Cumberland.

Today, Copeland can be described as the land occupied by the 50 parishes lying in the South West portion of the modern County of Cumbria (post 1974). Before that year it was in the ancient county of Cumberland. This part of Cumberland must not be confused with the modern administrative district of the same name.

Prior to 1974 both Cumberland and Westmorland were separate counties in their own right but in that year they were combined together to make a larger administrative region named Cumbria. The county town of Cumberland was Carlisle and the County town of Westmorland was Kendal.

Ancient Copeland or Coupland can be described as that area of land lying between the River Derwent in the north, the River Duddon in the south, the Irish sea to the west and the central lakeland fells to the east. This is the same area of Cumberland that is also known as Allerdale above Derwent.

What is it?

Copeland comprised an area of approximately 600 square miles and in 1801 it only had a population of 30,500 whilst by 1851 it had increased to 42,000 people. The district includes the towns of Cockermouth, Workington, Whitehaven, Egremont and Millom, along with Wastwater, Ennerdale, Loweswater, Crummock water & Buttermere lakes as well as the highest mountains found in England.

Where is it?

There is still debate about the origins of the district known as Copeland (Caupland). It came into significance with the formation of the Baronry of Copeland later to become the Baronry of Egremont, within the county of Cumberland. It was probably known as the Deanery of Copeland, in the Archdeaconry of Richmond under St.Marys of York, before the Barony came into existence.

Collingwood was of the opinion that the meaning of the name ” Copeland” was ‘the bought land’ and this suggested very strongly that it alluded to the purchase of this area from William the Conqueror, by Gospatric of the Earldom of Northumberland, which had been controlled by one Tostig prior to the conquest. At this time William I had little or no interest in the border areas as they were considered too poor to be of any consequence. Meaning that they could not pay any significant tax into the Kings exchequer.Others say that Caupland was a far more ancient name taken from the ruling de Copeland family, who controlled the area prior to the conquest, and who had their seat at a site close to the ancient road running north/south along the west coast, between Bootle and Whitbeck.

 The Record Office covering the Copeland district is situated in Whitehaven         Telephone: 01946-506420

Nev.Ramsden, November 2008