Divisions, Towns, &c.—The county is divided into two baronies— the barony of Kendal, which appears to have been anciently a part of Lancashire, and comprehended, eo late as the time of Henry VIII., several places now in Lancashire; and the barony of Westmorland— sometimes called the barony of Appleby, sometimes the bottom of Westmorland—which now comprehends some places formerly included in the barony of Kendal. There ie some diversity in the customs of inheritance iu the two baronies of Kendal and Westmorland : in other respects the division into baronies is little used. The usual division is into four wards :—East ward, north-east ; Kendal ward, south-west; Lonsdale ward, south-east ; West ward, north-west. The town of Kendal is included in Kendal ward. Kendal and Lonsdale wards are in the barony of Kendal; the East and West wards in the barony of Westmorland.
Westmorland has no city; it contains the county-town of APPLEBY, the parliamentary borough of KENDAL, and the market-towns of Amble side, BROUGLI, BURTON-Ix-KENDAL, Kirkby Lonsdale, Kirkby Stephen, Milnthorpe, Orton, Ravenstonedale, and Shap. The places printed in small capitals are noticed under their respective titles; tho others are noticed here :— Amble:irk is a small market-town, 14 miles N.W. from Kendal: popu lation of the chapelry 1592 in 1851. Ambleside lies in a beautiful valley near the upper end of Windermere, and on the left bank of the little river Rothay. The streets are partially paved. The chapel is a plain but commodious and substantial edifice, rebuilt in 1812. There are an Independent chapel; a Free Grammar school ; National, British, and Infant schools; and a savings bank. Ambleside is a place of consi derable resort for visitors to the lakes of Cumberland and Westmor land. The market, which is chiefly for provisions, is on Wednesday ; fairs are held on the Wednesday in Whitaun week; October 13th, the principal one, called the tip (that is, top) fair ; and October 29th for cattle. Slate quarries are in the vicinity. A county court is held in the town.
Kirkby Lonsdale (that is, a church-town in the dale or valley of Lon or Lune) is on the right bank of the Lune, 154 miles N.E. from Lancaster, and 114 miles S.W. from Km's]. The population of tho township in 1851 was 1675. The market-place is in the centre of the town ; the streets are lighted, but not paved. The houses are well built of freestone and roofed with elate. The church is 120 feet long
and 102 feet broad, and is divided into four aisles or portions by three rows of pillars; it has a square tower 68 foot high, with a peal of six bells. The Wesleyan Methodists, independents, and Sandemanians have places of worship. There are a Free Grammar school, National and Infant schools, and a savings bank. At Casterton are a Clergy Daughters' school, a Preparatory Clergy Daughters' school, and a Servants' school Some of the females employ themselves in knitting stockings. The market is on Thursday ; and fairs for cattle are held on Holy Thursday, the third Thursday after October 5th, and December 21st. A county court, a court =et, aud petty sessions are held in the town.
Kirkby Stephen, 11 miles S.E. from Appleby, on tho Ieft bank of the Edon : population of the township 1339 in 1851. The church is a largo ancient building with a square tower. The Wesleyan Method ists and Inclependeute have places of worship. An endowment provides for the support of a Oramussr school, au hospital for twelve aged and infirm men and as many women, and four preparatory schools. There is a modern market-house. In the vicinity are copper and lead-mines, slate quarries and coal-pita. Upon the Eden are corn-, woollen-, and saw-mills. The market is on Monday for cora and provisions ; fairs or great markets for cattle and sheep are held five times in the year.
Milnthorpe, or Millthorpe, population 1534, is situated near the Ieft bank of the [estuary of the Kent, 7 miles S. from Kendal. The prin cipal street runs from cast to west, nearly parallel to the little river Beels, over which is a bridge of one arch. In the town are chapels for Episcopalians and Independents, and a National school. Miln thorpe is a member of the port of Lancaster; small vessels by the help of the tide get up the river to the town. There are a corn-mill and a paper-mill ; some twine and sacking are made. The market is on Friday, and there aro fairs for cattle and sheep on May 11th and October 17th.
Orton (anciently Scar Overton), 14 miles N.N.W. from Kendal : population of the parish 1456. The church is an ancient building with a low embattled tower. There are a Grammar school, and a branch savings bank. The market is held on Friday ; fairs are held four times in the year. The remains of a beacon, and of all old fort or encampment, a large tumulus, and some other antiquities are in the neighbourhood.