Ainstable

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Ainstable
Cumberland
Ainstable - geograph.org.uk - 212975.jpg
Ainstable
Location
Grid reference: NY530462
Location: 54°48’32"N, 2°43’53"W
Data
Population: 570  (2011)
Post town: Carlisle
Postcode: CA4
Dialling code: 01768
Local Government
Council: Westmorland & Furness
Parliamentary
constituency:
Penrith and The Border

Ainstable is a small village in Cumberland.

The parish stretches from the banks of the River Eden to the summits of the North Pennines, where it borders Northumberland, and includes the villages of Croglin and Newbiggin as well as the hamlets of Dale, Walmersyke, Ruckcroft and Longdales and part of the village of Armathwaite.

Ainstable was the site of a Benedictine convent (the manor of "Nunnery"). This is said to date from the reign of William Rufus.[1] However, Pevsner says that "the earliest reference is 1200. The nuns were so harassed by the Scots that in 1480 they had to reinvent their own charter, spuriously dating their foundation to 1089 and William Rufus."[2] After the closure of the monasteries, the convent building became a private home, held for many years by the Aglionby family, and is now a guesthouse.[3]

Eden Valley Woollen Mill is located in Ainstable itself.

The former village pub, the New Crown Inn, has closed and been sold for redevelopment.[4]

Name

Armstrong analysed the name 'Ainstable' and determined it to be from Old Norse, writing: "This name, as first noted by Lindkvist (41-2), is a compound of ON 'einstapi', 'bracken' and 'hlíđ' 'slope'." [5]

Outside links

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References

  1. Houses of Benedictine nuns: The nunnery of ArmathwaiteA History of the County of Cumberland - Volume : {{{2}}} (Victoria County History)
  2. Nikolaus Pevsner: The Buildings of England: Cumberland and Westmorland, 1967 Penguin Books
  3. The Nunnery - Ainstable - British Listed Buildings
  4. "Properties that would be perfect renovation projects". Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/renovatinganddiy/9851037/Properties-that-would-be-perfect-renovation-projects.html. 
  5. Armstrong, A. M.; Mawer, A.; Stenton, F. M.; Dickens, B. (1950–52). The place-names of Cumberland. English Place-Name Society, vol.xx. Part 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 168.