Kirkoswald, Cumbria

Infobox UK place
country= England
region= North West England
official_name= Kirkoswald
os_grid_reference= NY355541
latitude= 54.765183
longitude= -2.693673
shire_county= Cumbria
shire_district= Eden
civil_parish= Kirkoswald and Renwick
post_town= PENRITH
postcode_area= CA
postcode_district= CA10
dial_code= 01768The village and former market town of Kirkoswald lies in the Lower Eden Valley of Cumbria or Cumberland, situated about nine miles from Penrith. The village is usually referred to locally as "KO".The village's name means "Church of St Oswald" and the parish church is dedicated to Saint Oswald, King of Northumbria. The church lies on the southern edge of the village overlooking the River Eden close to the bridge which connects Kirkoswald to Lazonby. St Oswald's Church is unique in having a 19th century bell tower on top of the hill 200 yards from the church itself. Parts of the church date from the 12th century, the chancel being added in 1523, when the "College" was founded by Thomas Dacre, 2nd Baron Dacre and his wife. [ [http://www.visitcumbria.com/pen/chp26.htm Kirkoswald - St Oswald's Church Church ] ] A sacred spring lies under the nave of the church, and a well is found on the west wall. [http://www.thecumbriadirectory.com/Town_or_Village/Kirkoswald/Kirkoswald.php Kirkoswald Cumbria ] ]

One of Kirkoswald's most splendid buildings is the "College", its name recalling the days when St Oswald's Church was a collegiate church. Originally built in 1450 as a Pele Tower it became home to the Fetherstonhaugh family, after dissolution in 1547, who previously lived at Kirkoswald Castle, now ruined.

The village consists mainly of one main street rising up a steep hill passing through a market place on which the village's two pubs ("The Crown Inn", and the "Fetherston Arms") are situated. A third pub, The Black Bull, overlooked the square but this closed in the 1980s or 1990s.Fact|date=February 2007

The village also has one shop which houses a Post office, a Methodist church and a well-attended primary school. Until quite recently there were further shops including a butcher's, and a branch of the Midland Bank.

Given market charter in the 13th century, the village held a market before it was resited at Lazonby and Kirkoswald railway station [ [http://www.visitcumbria.com/pen/kirkos.htm Kirkoswald ] ] after the creation of the Settle to Carlisle Railway Line in 1876. [ [http://www.visitcumbria.com/carlset/index.htm The Settle-Carlisle Railway ] ]

For local government purposes Kirkoswald is within the civil parish of Kirkoswald and Renwick which is part of the Eden District of Cumbria.

References