Crofton, Cumberland
| Crofton | |
| Cumberland | |
|---|---|
 Archway at the entrance to drive up to the site of Crofton Hall | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NY305505 |
| Location: | 54°50’41"N, 3°4’54"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Carlisle |
| Postcode: | CA5 |
| Dialling code: | 016973 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Cumberland |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Workington |
Crofton is a village which has become in essence an area of Thursby in the west of Cumberland. It is to be found six and a half miles west-southwest of Carlisle.
Crofton was historically one of three small townships in the centre of the Parish of Thursby. It was originally called Croft-town, as the township standing upon the Crofts.[1]
Notable landmarks were Crofton Place, the seat of Sir Wastel Brisco, Bart. It also became a surname to John Crofton. Although Crofton Hall was demolished in approximately 1955-1956, some of the estate buildings remain, and the gateway and pond are notable remnants.
The Crofton Estate was taken over by the Land Settlement Association a government initiative to get poorer people involved in agriculture and horticultural production: the Association's estate was composed of Bank End, East Park, West Park, Shaw Wood and Whinnow Land Settlement Small Holdings. The Land Settlement Association was disbanded in 1974 and some smallholders were left destitute, while others continued to farm the land as private owners. The Association's smallholders were from a variety of backgrounds and places all across the land, even including resettled Polish airmen.
The stables of the Brisco estate house were used as the Association headquarters. The lake has recently been reinstated after decades of neglect.
Pictures
Surviving farm building near site of Crofton Hall
Lake near the site of Crofton hall
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Crofton, Cumberland) |
