MILNTHORPE, a market-town and township,
joint with Heversham, in the parish of HEVERSHAM,
KENDAL ward, county of WESTMORLAND, 32 miles
(S. W. by S.) from Appleby, and 256 (N. W. by N.) from
London, containing, with the township of Heversham,
1401 inhabitants. This town is situated on the northern
banlc of the river Belo, near the mouth of the Kent,
and consists chiefly of one long street; the houses are
in general of neat appearance, and some of them are
handsome. Flax and paper mills, with the spinning of
twine, the manufacture of sheeting, bed-ticks, sacking,
sails, &c., and some carding and spinning of wool,
furnish employment to the working class; there is also
some tanning, and in the vicinity are quarries of marble
and limestone, This is the only sea-port in the county,
being a member of the port of Lancaster, and is accessible
by none but very small vessels. The market is on
Friday, but not for corn; and fairs are held on May
12th and October 17th, for cattle, sheep, and horses;
the former is of ancient institution, and is proclaimed
by the steward of the lord of the manor and a procession
of gentlemen: during its continuance tolls are collected.
Courts leet and baron are held annually, and
petty sessions every alternate Wednesday. The parochial
church is at Heversham, one mile north of the
town. There is a place of worship for Independents,
built in 1820. A National school was established in
1819, and is supported by voluntary contributions,
George Wilson, Esq. contributing about one-third of
the expense: one hundred children, exclusively of Sunday
scholars, are educated. A workhouse, for the use
of sixteen incorporated townships, was erected at a
short distance north-east of the town, in 1813, at an
expense of £4,990; the premises occupy two acres of
ground; the paupers are employed in weaving; and
a meeting of visitors and guardians is held monthly.
Detached from the house, on an eminence, is a fever
ward in connexion with it.