The Parish Registers Of Askham Westmorland 1566-1812

The Parish Registers of Askham, 1566-1812

Step back in time to the rugged beauty of ancient Westmorland, where the fells stand as silent witnesses and the waters of Ullswater hold untold stories. For the first time, meticulously transcribed and indexed, the complete parish registers of Askham are now available.

Nestled in the shadow of the mighty Penrith Beacon and on the edge of the vast Lowther estate, the village of Askham has been a close-knit community for centuries. Its people were farmers, shepherds, stone masons, and blacksmiths—the very backbone of the Lake District. Their lives, loves, and losses were faithfully recorded in the parish chest, the ink from their scribe's quill now a direct link to your own ancestral past.

Within these pages, you will discover:

Baptisms (1566-1812): Find the names of children brought to the font of St. Peter's Church, from the late Elizabethan era through to the Georgian period. Uncover the names of proud parents and godparents, opening new branches of your family tree.

Marriages (1566-1812): Witness the unions that forged the very fabric of the community. Discover the maiden names of your ancestors, joining two family histories in a single, sacred entry.

Burials (1566-1812): Trace the final journey of your forebears. These poignant entries close the circle on a life, often noting age, occupation, or the tragic circumstances of a life cut short in this often-harsh landscape.
Beyond the Names: The Spirit of Askham

This is more than just a list of names and dates. It is a key to a world steeped in tradition, folklore, and legend. As you trace your lineage, walk in the footsteps of ancestors who knew these stories as fact:

The Phantom Hound of Lowther Wood: Locals whispered of a great, spectral black hound with eyes of burning coals that patrolled the ancient woods separating Askham from the Lowther estate. Some said it was the spirit of a gamekeeper wronged by a nobleman in the 17th century, forever doomed to hunt the grounds. Others claimed it was a protector, appearing only to warn of impending doom to those of the Askham bloodline. Does an entry in these registers mark a family encounter with this otherworldly beast?

The Sleeping Giant of Askham Fell: Look to the eastern skyline from the village green, and you may see the profile of a slumbering giant. Legend says this is a giant from the time of the Druids, defeated in a great battle and laid to rest by the land itself. It is said that on the night of the winter solstice, if one stands on the fell at midnight, a low, rumbling snore can be heard from deep within the earth. Your ancestors who farmed this land would have known this tale, and perhaps even believed their prosperity depended on keeping the giant’s peaceful slumber.

The Whispering Stones of the Churchyard: The old lychgate and ancient gravestones in St. Peter's churchyard are said to do more than mark the dead. On a quiet, misty morning, villagers believed you could hear the stones whispering the names of those buried beneath them—not just their names, but fragments of their life stories, their joys, and their deepest regrets. As you find an ancestor's burial record, know that their story may still linger on the very stones of this hallowed ground.

Why This Volume is Indispensable for Your Research
Complete & Authoritative: This volume presents the earliest surviving registers through to 1812, covering over 245 years of unbroken history.

Expertly Transcribed: Faded ink, archaic spellings, and Latin entries have been carefully deciphered by experts, saving you countless hours of painstaking work.

Fully Indexed: An comprehensive index of names allows you to quickly and easily locate every mention of your ancestors, making your research efficient and productive.

A Bridge to History: Connect your personal family story to the wider sweep of English history, from the Spanish Armada to the English Civil War and the Jacobite Risings, all of which would have sent ripples through this small but resilient community.

Don't let your Westmorland heritage remain a mystery. Add this essential volume to your collection and let the names of the past speak to you across the centuries. Begin your journey of discovery today!