BRIGHAM, a parish in ALLERDALE ward above
Derwent, county of CUMBERLAND, comprising the borough
and market-town of Cockermouth, the chapelries
of Buttermere, Embleton, Mosser, and Setmurthey, and
the townships of Blindbothel,Brigham, Eaglesfield,Graysouthen,
and Whinfell, and containing 6037 inhabitants,
of which number, 390 are in the township of Brigham,
2 miles (W.) from Cockermouth. The living is a discharged
vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Richmond,
and diocese of Chester, rated in the Icing's books at
420.16. 0., and in the patronage of the Earl of Lonsdale.
The church, dedicated to St. Bridget, is an ancient
structure, with an elegant decorated window in the south
aisle, a curious circular one in the same style, and a
monumental arch, richly canopied: it stands on the
southern bank of the Derwent, about half a mile from
the village, which is situated on an eminence command-,
ing. a richly diversified prospect, and contains some
respectable dwelling-houses. Bassenthwaite, Buttermere,
Crummock, and Loweswater lakes, and the rivers
Denvent and Marou, form the boundaries of the parish,
which is also intersected by the river Cocker: it
contains .quarries of limestone, freestone, and blue slate,
and a mine of coal. The surface is hilly, but the
eminences are now chiefly under cultivation, the waste
lands having been enclosed. Brigham is within the
honour of Cockermouth, and the copyhold tenants
attend at the court of dimissions held there at Christmas,
and at the court leet held at Easter and Michaelmas,
belonging to the Earl of Egremont, as lord paramount.
On the enclosure of the common, a small
parcel of land was allotted toward endowing the
school.