IREBY, a parish in ALLERDALE ward below Darwent,
county of CUMBERLAND, comprising the town[
ships of High Ireby and Low Ireby, and containing
457 inhabitants, of which nnmber, 164 are in the
town of High Ireby, and 293 in that of Low Ireby, in
which is the decayed market-town of Ireby, 6 miles
(S. by W.) from Wigton. This place is supposed by
Camden to have been the Roman station called Arbeia,
but no vestiges have been discovered to support this
conjecture, nor any other evidence except the similarity
of the ancient and modern names. The town, which is
irregularly built, is situated in a secluded vale, on the
western side of the small river Ellen, which takes its
rise in the neighbouring lake of Ovevwater, and in a
hilly part of the county. The market, which was
formerly on Thursday for provisions, is now but little
attended; fairs are held, February 24th and October
18th. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry
and diocese of Carlisle, endowed with £600 royal
bounty, and £200 parliamentary grant, and in the patronage
of the Dean and Chapter of Carlisle. Here is
a school, founded in consequence of a benefaction by
Matthew Caldbeck, in 1749, endowed with £7 per
annum for eight free scholars, and open to all the
children in the parish on payment of a small stipend.