Hartley, Westmorland

From Wikishire
Jump to: navigation, search
Hartley
Westmorland
Hartley Castle.jpg
Hartley Castle
Location
Grid reference: NY785085
Location: 54°28’17"N, 2°19’60"W
Data
Population: 138  (2011)
Post town: Kirkby Stephen
Postcode: CA17
Dialling code: 01298
Local Government
Council: Westmorland & Furness
Parliamentary
constituency:
Penrith and The Border

Hartley is a village in Westmorland, about half a mile east of Kirkby Stephen, the two being separated by the River Eden.

The area has many old lead and copper mines that are now abandoned as well as having a large quantity of iron haematite, ironstone and ore. At the highest peak in Hartley stand nine obelisks referred to as "Nine Standards". Nobody knows the true purpose of the "Nine Standards" although a local legend has it that they were used to create a sense of a forthcoming army to scare the enemy forces. Another explanation is that they were placed as geographical aid to help mark the border between the two neighbouring counties, Westmorland and Yorkshire.[1]

Hartley Castle at the southern edge of the village, was originally built as a "tower house circa 1353 and extended circa 1600"[2] and then re- developed in the 18th century.

History

In the 1870s, Hartley was described as:

Hartley, a township in Kirkby-Stephen parish, Westmoreland; 1 mile SE of Kirkby-Stephen. Acres, 3, 350. Real property, with Winton, £4, 159. Pop., 215. Houses, 45. Hartley Castle stood on an eminence; belonged to successively the Veteriponts, the Hartleys, the Nevilles, and the Musgraves; and was demolished in the early part of the 18th century. The township is mountainous; includes Hartley fell; and contains coal, lead, and copper[3]

The lands of Hartley and the castle have changed hands over the ages. Sir Andrew de Harcala was given residence at Hartley Castle in the 13th century as he served Edward II and then was later pronounced Earl of Carlisle. However, when Robert the Bruce invaded the north of England, Sir Andrew de Harcala was executed on an accusation of treason. The new owner of the Hartley Castle fortified the house later that century.

Sir Andrew de Harcala's estate included other lands too, including the King's Watermill now known as Hartley Low Mill. As well as losing residence at Hartley Castle, the King's Watermill was forfeit on Sir Andrew's execution. The Kings Watermill was then later sold to the Musgraves family. The Mill was repaired in 1754 by Sir Philip Musgrave and given a "new cog wheel and 'trunls', for £1.14".[4] In 1914, the Musgraves family sold Hartley Low mill to a James Cleasby and from then, the owners and tenants of Low Mill have changed throughout the 20th century.

Outside links

Commons-logo.svg
("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Hartley, Westmorland)

References

  1. "Hartley Genealogy & History". Directory of Westmorland. http://forebears.io/england/westmorland/kirkby-stephen/hartley. Retrieved 21 March 2015. 
  2. "Hartley Castle". http://www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info/English%20sites/499.html. Retrieved 21 March 2015. 
  3. Wilson, John Marius: Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (A. Fullerton & Co., 1870)
  4. In The Beginning of Low Mill Kirkby Stephen