Local studies at Penrith Library

Research service

We will answer enquiries relating to stock availability. We will also provide a look up service for our newspapers and parish registers on microfilm provided full details of date, event, name are provided. No more than 30 minutes will be spent on any one search request and only one request per any six month period will be accepted.

Resources we do not offer:

• births, deaths and marriages
• city and town directories
• electoral registers and polls books
• electoral registers
• poll books
• published transcripts of archival material

Telephone directories

We only have the current telephone directory available.

Census returns

The years:

• 1841
• 1851
• 1861
• 1871
• 1881
• 1891
• 1901
• All for Eden area only

Later census returns for 1911 and 1921 are available through Library subscriptions to Ancestry and Find My Past.

Online resources

Ancestry, Find My Past and British Newspaper Archive are all available to search from computer within our libraries.

Find out more about our online resources

County and regional directories

• Jollie's Guide - Cumberland 1811
• Parson & White Directory of Cumberland and Westmorland 1829
• Mannix & Whellan directory of Cumberland 1847
• Mannex & Co directory of Westmorland with Lonsdale and Amounderness in Lancs 1851
• Harrison Directory of Cumberland 1861
• Bulmer History Topography and Directory of West Cumberland 1883
• Bulmer History Topography and Directory of East Cumberland 1884
• Kelly's Directory of Cumberland 1897 
Bulmer History + Directory of Cumberland 1901
• Bulmer History + Directory of Westmorland 1906
• Kelly's Directory of Cumberland 1906, 1910
• Kelly's Directory of Cumberland and Westmorland 1914, 1921, 1925, 1929, 1934, 1938
• County Publicity Limited Cumberland Directory 1954
• Blair Publications Ltd County of Cumberland Register. 1971

International Genealogical Index (IGI)

Fiche 1988 includes the whole of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

Unpublished indexes

Census:

• 1841 - Appleby -surname index (compiled by E and V Goode)
• 1851 - Appleby -surname index (compiled by E and V Goode)
• 1851 - Kirkby, Stephen -surname index (compiled by E and V Goode)
• 1861 - Appleby -surname index (compiled by E and V Goode) 

• 1861 - Kirkby, Stephen -surname index (compiled by E and V Goode)
• 1871 - Appleby -surname index (compiled by E and V Goode) 

• 1871 - Kirkby, Stephen -surname index (compiled by E and V Goode) 

• 1881 - Appleby -surname index (compiled by E and V Goode) 

• 1881 - Kirkby, Stephen -surname index (compiled by E and V Goode) 

• 1881 - East Cumberland -surname index & transcript (Thwaites) 

• 1891 - West Cumberland -surname index & transcript (Thwaites) 

• 1891 - Eden District -surname index & transcript (Thwaites) 

• 1891 - Appleby -surname index (compiled by E and V Goode) 

• 1891 - Kirkby, Stephen -surname index (compiled by E and V Goode)

Parish registers

Transcripts held in Penrith Library.

Volume contains baptisms, marriages and burials:

• Askham, 1566 to 1812
• Bolton, 1647 to 1812, 1647 to 1983 name index only
• Brough, 1556 to 1706, 1706 to 1812 

• Brougham, 1645 to1812 plus name index by Thwaites
• Cliburn, 1565 to 1812
• Crosby Ravensworth, 1568 to 1812
• Crosthwaithe volume 1: 1562 to 1600
• Crosthwaithe volume 2: 1600 to 1670
• Crosthwaithe cum Lyth 1569 to 1812
• Dacre, 1559 to 1716
• Garrigill, 1699 to 1730
• Great Orton, 1568 to1812
• Greystoke, 1559 to 1757
• Kirkoswald, 1577 to 1812 

• Lowther, 1540 to 1812 

• Middleton in Lonsdale, 1670 to 1812
• Milburn, 1679 to 1812 

• Morland part 1: 1538 to 1742
• Newton Reigny, 1571 to 1812
• Penrith volume 1: 1556 to 1604
• Penrith volume 2: 1605 to 1660
• Penrith volume 3: 1661 to 1713
• Penrith volume 4: 1714 to 1769
• Penrith volume 5: 1770 to 1812
• Skelton, 1580 to 1812
• Warcop, 1597 to 1744
• Watermillock, 1579 to 1812
• Whicham, 1569 to 1812
• Wigton part 1: 1604 to 1727

Volumes that only contain certain information:

• Barton, 1666 to 1812 and 1666 to 1830 (burials)
• Kendal, 1558 to 1587 (baptisms)
• Crosthwaithe volume 3: 1670 to1812 (baptisms and marriages)
• Crosthwaithe volume 4: 1670 to 1812 (burials) 

• Kendal part 2: 1558 to 1587 (marriage and burials), 1591 to 1595 (baptisms)
• Kendal part 3: 1596 to 1599 (baptisms), 1591 to 1599 (marriage and burials), 1607 to 1631
(baptisms)
• Kendal part 4: 1606 to 31 (marriage and burials)
• Wigton part 2: 1728 to 1797 (baptisms), 1728 to 1781 (marriage), 1728 to 1779 (burials) 
and name indexes for part 1 and 2

Parish registers on microfilm

This may not include all the registers for each location.

St Andrew’s Parish Church Christchurch.

Parish registers for other areas:

• Ainstable
• Appleby St
• Lawrence Appleby
• St Michaels
• Askham
• Bampton
• Bewcastle
• Bolton
• Brampton
• Brougham
• Castle Carrock
• Castle Sowerby
• Cliburn
• Croglin
• Crosby on Eden
• Culgaith
• Cumwhitton
• Dent Congregational Church
• Great Salkeld
• Greystoke
• Hayton
• Kendal Zion Chapel (Congregational)
• Kendal Inghamite Chapel
• Kendal St John’s Presbyterian Church
• Killington
• Kirkby Stephen
• Kirkland
• Kirkoswald
• Langwathby
• Lazonby
• Little Asby Congregational Church
• Lowther
• Low Wray
• Martindale
• Melmerby
• Old Hutton
• Ousby
• Plumpton Wall
• Renwick
• Shap with Swindale
• Skirwith
• Tebay
• Threlkeld
• Watermillock
• Westmorland group of Baptist churches
• Wigton
• Windermere St John

Periodicals (excluding newspapers)

Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society.

Maps

We have:

• a small collection of Ordnance Survey maps relating to Penrith area only
• Goad Plans - are incorporate detailed street maps including individual buildings and their uses