Bridekirk, Cumberland

Description
Bridekirk, a township and a parish in Cumberland. The township lies near the river Derwent and the Cockermouth railway, 2 miles NNW of Cockermouth, which is the post town. Acreage, 1044; population of the township, 107 ; of the ecclesiastical parish, 886. The parish contains also the townsliips of Papcastle, Little Broughton, Great Brough-ton, Ribton, Dovenby, and Tallentire. The manor belonged to Gisburn Abbey, and was given at the dissolution to the Tolsons. Bridekirk House is the seat of the " Greek" Thompson family. Freestone and limestone are quarried. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Carlisle; net value, £184 withe residence. The parish church was a small ancient building with a Norman doorway, and contained a curious carved square font, about 2 feet high, supposed to have been Roman. A new church was erected in 1870. Sir Joseph Williamson, secretary of state to Charles II., and Thomas Tickell the poet were natives.