Supplementary Records: Helsington

HELSINGTON.

1542 17 January. I William Shepherd of Helsington in the parish of Kirkby in Kendall, chapman, . . . . . . will and declare that Edward Dockerey, William Dodding and other their cofeoffees and their heirs and assigns, continue, and stand in all such lands, tenements and services which they be now lawfully possessed and seised of, by force of my deed of gift for the use and intent of the maintenance of the Divine Service of God in the Choir of St. Anthony, within the parish church of Kendal, founded and made by me and one William Harrison, to pray daily for our souls, our wife and our children's souls, our friends and all christian souls that God's pleasure is to be prayed for, for ever. . . . . .Item I will that the priest that shall supply the said services shall be a man of honest conversation and a choir man to the intent he may at all times set forward the service of God in the said church and that he absent not himself above the space of twenty days without license and a reasonable cause and in that time to find one other in his absence to execute his office in every behalf. Item I will that the incumbent of the same . . . . . shall diligently see to and keep without waste the ornaments of the same choir. Item I will that my said feoffees their heirs and assigns, have order oversight and governance of all other things in any wise belonging to the said services and they to do therein as they shall think best for the maintenance of the same services; and if any surplus above the yearly stipend of 5 marks be, it to remain and go to my said feoffees for their pains to be taken in that behalf. Item it is my will and mind that if the said services in the said choir at any time hereafter shall not be suffered to continue and perpetually to endure, by any statute, act, decree or injunction or otherwise, whatsoever it be, by the laws of this realm of England, then the one half of all the said lands, tenements, rents, etc., descend remain and come to the right heirs of me the said William Shepherd for ever . . . . . . that the other half remain to the heirs of the said William Harrison for ever . . . . . . I give and bequeath to Sir Adam Shepherd, priest, and my brother's son, a little silver pot with a cover. Item I give and bequeath to my parish church for the reparation of the same 13s. 4d. so that I may have the two best crosses and the canopy free at the day of my burial. Per me Adamum Shepherd, rectorem. Surtees Society, vol. 26, p. 31.

1712 17 May. Order that the lands called Lakerigg, parcel of the demesne of Sizergh, shall henceforth pay taxes and perform offices within Helsington and not within Natland. K. Order Book, 1696– 1724.

1713 17 April. Upon the petition of Walter Strickland, esqr., shewing that there being a way on the east side of the wall in Brigsteer park which is very prejudicial to the deer therein and that a way on the west side of the said wall will be more convenient for passengers, and the said Mr. Strickland being desirous to make the said wall substantial for the preservation of his deer in the said park; the Court consents and so orders the diversion. Ibid.

1726 Helsington chapel built by subscription and endowed by John Jackson of Holeslack. Consecrated by Bp. Peplowe in 1745. Local Chron., XXIV.

1733 18 January. Ordered that the road from Kirkland to Sizergh Fell be repaired and widened according to Statute. Rough Minute Book, 1733–37.

1738 14 April. At this Sessions was filed a mandate from George II to the Sheriff of Westmorland to diligently enquire by jury whether or not it be to any damage, if we grant to Thos. Strickland, esq., licence that he may enclose a common highway in Sizergh Lane beginning at the south end of a certain close called Long Leighs containing in length 357 yards and in breadth 6 yards, to hold and enjoy this way so enclosed to him Tho. Strickland, and his heirs for ever, so as instead of this way Tho. Strickland do in his own land set out and make another highway as convenient and commodious etc. And that you return this Inquisition without delay into our Chancery etc. Witness ourself at Westminster the 12 January, 11 Geo. 11. This inquisition was taken at Sizergh 6 February, 1737/8, before Sackville, Earl of Thanet, sheriff of the county, and the jurors say that it is not to the damage of the King or any other if such licence be granted to Tho. Strickland, esq., and that the way to be enclosed contains in length 352 yards and in breadth 4½ yards. K. Indictment Book, 1725–37.

1749 6 October. Petition of Christopher Garnet, surveyor of the highways of the township of Helsington, in behalf of the inhabitants of the said township setting forth that the highway from Sizergh Fell-gate to Stone Cross barn, otherwise Dodding Barn, is not of sufficient breadth and praying the assistance of this Court to enlarge the same; ordered that the Clerk of the Peace do issue a Venire (fn. 1) for a jury to appear at the next General Quarter Sessions to assess the damages to be occasioned to the owners of lands and others interested in ground adjoining to the said highway, and likewise a precept to summon the said owners and others interested to show cause why the said highway should not be enlarged. K Order Book, 1738–50.

1751 3 August. Upon the application of Tho. Cowperthwaite, one of the Surveyors of highways in Helsington, that the highways belonging to the said township are so far out of repair that they cannot be repaired as they ought to be by the common 6 days teams and labour; it is ordered that an assessment of 6d. in the pound be made upon all the inhabitants, owners and occupiers of lands of the said township etc. K. Order Book, 1750–60.

1752 14 July. Upon the petition of the jurors impanelled to assess the damages of several persons whose lands were to be taken into the highroad within the township of Helsington, seeing that they had several meetings and great trouble and having given into the court their verdict; it is ordered that the surveyors of the highways do pay unto each of the said jurors the sum of 5s. for the trouble and expense that they have been at therein. K. Order Book, 1750–60.

1762 4 October. Presentment that there is a certain common and ancient highway leading from the market town of Hawkshead and Broughton to the market town of K. Lonsdale, and that a certain part of the same King's highway beginning at the Turnpike Road leading down Sizergh Lane and ending at Force Bridge, containing in length 500 yards and in breadth 8 feet, was and yet is very ruinous etc., and that the inhabitants of the township of Helsington ought to repair and amend the same. (K. Indictment Book, 1760–70). Certified in good and sufficient repair on 15 April, 1765. Ibid.

1773 4 October. Presentment that there was and yet is a common and ancient highway leading from the township of Crook to the town of Milthrop and that a certain part thereof beginning at the south end of the new road in the township of Helsington and ending at the Mill beck otherwise Brigsteer Beck containing in length 500 yards and in breadth 5 yards is very ruinous etc., and that the township of Helsington ought to repair it, etc. (K. Indictment Book, 1770–80). Certified in good and sufficient repair on 10 January, 1774. Ibid.

1788 6 August. A subscription is entered into for opening a colliery at the Hawes, south of Kendal. The promoters have already begun to bore and meet with a very promising appearance of coal. If the attempt prove successful it will be a very great advantage to the town of Kendal and to a very large neighbourhood, where the present expense of firing is said to be equal to the rents of the houses. The field in which the trial is being made belongs to Staveley Chapel, but the manor is the property of Lady Suffolk. Extract from the Cumberland Pacquet of this date.

1823 14 July. Conviction of Stephen Wilson of Milnthorpe, carter, for in the township of Helsington being then and there the driver of a waggon drawn by four horses he did ride upon such carriage in the turnpike road not having some other person on foot or horseback to guide the same. K. Indict. Book, 1817–24.

1832 6 January. William Hutton, Perpetual Curate of Helsington, took the oaths of allegiance, supremacy and abjuration, made the Declaration required by the Statute 9 Geo. IV and subscribed the same. (K. Indict. Book, 1824–34.) This declaration was not to injure or weaken the Protestant Church as it is by law established in England, but taken in lieu of the Test of receiving the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper according to the rites and usage of the Church of England.

1857 9 April. Application by Walter Charles Strickland of Sizergh Castle for licence to erect mills for the making of Gunpowder and magazines for the safe keeping of the powder in certain closes called respectively Kid Holme and Low Park, which said closes adjoin the river Kent on the west side, and no part of which mills, magazines or offices is to be less distant then 800 yards from Sedgwick House, the present residence of John Wakefield, esq., or more than 200 yards from the bank of the river Kent. K. Order Book, 1839–76.