WESTMORELAND, a northern county of England, is bounded on the E. by Yorkshire and Durham, on the N. and N.W. by Durham and Cumberland, and on the S.W. by Lancashire, a narrow strip of which separates it from the sea. It is of a very irregular shape, its greatest length being about 40, and its greatest breadth 35 miles. It contains 763 square statute miles, and 488,320 English statute acres.
The county is divided into two baronies, namely, that of Kendal and that of Westmoreland, and into four wards, viz. those of Kendal, and Kirkby Lons dale, in the barony of Kendal, and the East and West Wards, in the barony of Westmoreland. The rental of land in this county is £221,556, added to £7606, the amount of tithe, the annual valLe of a square mile being £299 lower than that of any other county of England.
The general aspect of the county presents a great extent of bleak and barren fells and moors, and groups of lofty, naked and picturesque moun tains. Three-fourths of the county nearly consists of uncultivated land. The mountain valleys, which form the beds of the rivers, are moderately fertile, and yield good crops of oats, and in some instances of wheat and barley. Agricultural improvement has advanced rapidly in this county. The clover and turnip husbandry has made great progress, and through a large portion of the bottom of West moreland, and in the parishes of Heversham, Bur ton, and Kirkby Lonsdale, considerable quantities of wheat are annually raised. Many commons have been enclosed, and immense tracts drained. The cattle of this county are of the breed, and attain a large size. The mountainous districts support large flocks of sheep, which yield a coarse wool, but the breed has been lately much improved by crossing. Great numbers of geese are fed on the moors, and along with hams are ex ported in great quantities.
The principal mountains in Westmoreland are Crossfell, the highest of the chain on its eastern boundary, and 3000 feet above the sea. Helvellyn is 3100 feet high, Bowfell and Rydalehead, each 3090, and the High Street is 2736 feet high. This last mountain derives its name from a broad green road along its summit, where the shepherds have annual horse races on the loth of July.
The principal rivers of the county are the Eden, the Lane, the Kent, the Eamont, the Winster, and the Lowther, none of which are navigable. They
contain abundance of fish, and exhibit much pictu resque scenery. The tide enters the mouth of the Winster, Kent, and Betha in Moricambe bay, but the county rises so rapidly, and the channels of the rivers become so stony, that they do not admit even the use of boats.
The principal lakes of Westmoreland are Win dermere, Grassmere, Rydale-water, Elter-water, Hause-water, Red Tarn and Small water, and Skeggles-water. An account of Win dermere has already been given in our article ENGLAND, Vol. VIII, p. and of Ulles-water in our articles CUIst BERLAND and ENGLAND, VOI. VIII. p. Grassmere is about four miles in cir cuit, with a small green island in its centre. Its margin is hollowed into rude bays with bold rocky eminences. A low promontory projecting into the water contains a whole village with the parish church rising in the midst of it: and hanging en closures, corn-fields and green meadows with their trees, hedges and cattle, fill up the small space from the edge ol'the water. Rydale-water is about a mile long, and contains two picturesque islands covered with wood. Hause-water is about three miles long, and about one-third of a mile broad, and is sur rounded with steep, bold, and craggy rocks. Its trout and char are highly esteemed.
The mineral productions of Westmoreland are lead, copper, coal, limestone, blue slate, marble, gypsum and freestone. The best coal is found in the confines of the county in Stanemore forest. An inferior slaty coal is found in several places, but it is used only for burning lime. Marble has been wrought near Kendal on both sides of the Kent.
The manufactures consists chiefly of silk and worsted waistcoat pieces, knit worsted stockings, flannels, cotton goods, gun-powder and tanned leather. The exports are principally coarse wool len cloths, stockings, slates, tanned hides, gun powder, hoops, charcoal, hams, cattle, sheep, and wool. See KENDAL.
Westmoreland sends two members to parlia ment, and the borough of Appleby other two.
Westmoreland contains one borough, viz. Ap pleby, and seven market towns, Ambleside, B rough, Burton, Kendal, Kirkby Lonsdale, Kirkby Stephen, and Orton.
See the Beauties of England and Wales, and the Articles APPLEDY and KENDAL.