Middlesceugh

Middlesceugh is a hamlet in the civil parish of Skelton, in the Westmorland and Furness district of Cumbria, England.

Middlesceugh
The drive to Dupton House, Middlesceugh
Middlesceugh Location in Eden, Cumbria Show map of the former Eden District Middlesceugh Location within Cumbria Show map of Cumbria
OS grid reference	NY405407
Civil parish	Skelton
Unitary authority	Westmorland and Furness
Ceremonial county	Cumbria
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CARLISLE
Postcode district	CA4
Dialling code	017684
Police	Cumbria
Fire	Cumbria
Ambulance	North West
UK Parliament	Penrith and Solway
List of places UK England Cumbria 54.758°N 2.924°W / 54.758; -2.924

History

The name is recorded as 'Middil Stouke' in 1419.^[1]

'Middlesceugh and Braithwaite' was historically a township which straddled the ancient parishes of Carlisle St Mary (which had its parish church at Carlisle Cathedral) and Hesket-in-the-Forest.^[2][3] The part of St Mary's parish was detached from the main part of the parish, being over 9 miles (14 km) south of Carlisle; its inhabitants tended to actually use the churches at nearby Ivegill, High Head or Sebergham.^[4] The township took on civil functions under the poor laws from the 17th century onwards, and as such also became a civil parish in 1866, when the legal definition of 'parish' was changed to be the areas used for administering the poor laws.^[5]

The civil parish of Middlesceugh and Braithwaite was abolished in 1934, being absorbed into the neighbouring parish of Skelton.^[6]

Geography

Middlesceugh has a SSSI called Middlesceugh Woods And Pastures,^[7] alongside the Roe Beck. It forms part of the Cumbrian Marsh Fritillary Site, which was involved in the Natura 2000 programme.^[8]