Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for BURGH-BY-SANDS

BURGH-BY-SANDS, a township, a parish, and a subdistrict in Carlisle district, Cumberland. The township lies on the Roman wall and on the Carlisle and Silloth railway, 2 miles S of the influx of the Eden to the Solway Frith, and 5¼ NW by W of Carlisle; and has a station, of the name of Burgh, on the railway, and a post office, of the name of Burgh-by-Sands, under Carlisle. The Roman station Axelodunum is believed by many antiquaries to have been here; some traces either of that station or of the Roman wall can still be seen; and a number of Roman urns, altars, and inscribed stones have been found. A castle also was erected here soon after the Conquest; captured, in 1174, by William the Lion of Scotland; and committed, in 1253, to the keeping of Stephen Longespec; but has disappeared. Real property, £2,851. Pop., 460. Houses, 106. The parish contains also the townships of Longburgh, Bonstead-Hill, and Moor-House. Acres, 7,839; of which 2,478 are water. Real property, £7,048. Pop., 986. Houses, 215. The property is much subdivided. The manor belonged anciently to the De Morvilles; was given to the Abbey of Holme-Cultram; passed to the Multores, the Dacres, and the Howards; and belongs now to the Earl of Lonsdale. The tract upon the Solway has, in recent times, been encroached on by the sea; and is protected by embankments. The parish was the scene, in old times, especially in 1216 and 1520, of many encounters between the English and the Scots; and a spot in it, about a mile N of the village, was the death place of Edward I. An obelisk, commemorative of this event, was built on the spot, in 1685, by the Duke of Norfolk; fell down in 1795; and was rebuilt, in 1805. by the Earl of Lonsdale. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Carlisle. Value, £120.* Patron, the Lord Chancellor. The church has a Norman door and a castellated tower; was constructed as much for military defence as for public worship; and is still in good condition. Charities, £10.-The subdistrict contains four parishes. Acres, 11,249. Pop., 1,493. Houses, 317.


(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "a township, a parish, and a subdistrict"   (ADL Feature Type: "countries, 4th order divisions")
Administrative units: Burgh By Sands CP/AP       Carlisle RegD/PLU       Cumberland AncC
Place: Burgh By Sands

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