BURTON-in-KENDAL, a parish comprising the
market-town of Burton in Kendal, and the township of
Holme, in LONSDALE ward, and the chapelry of Preston-
Patrick, in KENDAL ward, county of WESTMORLAND, and
the township of Dalton in the hundred of LONSDALE,
south of the sands, county palatine of LANCASTER, and
containing 1642 inhabitants, of which number, 673 are
in the town of Burton, 34 miles (S. W. by S.) from Appleby,
and 251 (N. W. by N.) from London, on the road
to Carlisle through Manchester. The ancient name of this
place,,Barton, a contraction of Borough town, is still retained
by the inhabitants; it takes its adjunct from being
situated in the dale, or valley, of the river Ken, to distinguish
it from Burton in Lancashire. The houses, many
of which.are ancient, are well built, and the general appearance
of the town is prepossessing: the inhabitants
are amply supplied with water. A communication withthe
Mersey, the Dee, the Humber, and the Trent, is afforded
by the Kendal and Lancaster canal; but, notwithstanding
its favourable situation, the town possesses very
little trade: there are some small linen-manufactories at
Holme, but the principal part of the population are employed
in agriculture. The market, established in 1661,
and once noted for corn, is on Tuesday -. the market-,
place is a spacious area, adjoining which are some good
houses and shops, and in the centre is a neat stone cross.
A fair is held on Easter-Monday, for cattle and horses,
which is also a statute fair. The county magistrates
hold a petty session every alternate Tuesday; and a
manorial court is held on Whit-Monday and Martin-,
mas-day, for the renewal of fines, and for the recovery,
of debts under 40s. The living is a discharged vicar-,
age, in the archdeaconry of Richmond, and diocese of
Chester, rated in the king's books at £ 15. 17-, endowed,
with £400 private benefaction, and £400 royal bounty,-
and in the patronage of Mrs. Johnstone. The church,
dedicated to St. James, is a plain ancient structure,,
with a square tower: the pulpit, and the canopy over it,:
are richly carved; and there are two sepulchral chapels
belonging to Dalton and Preston halls: in the churchyard
is a monument to the memory of William Cockin,
author of the " Rural Sabbath," and other literary productions.
There is a place of worship.for Independents.
The grammar school has an income of £50 per annum,
the produce of various benefactions since the year 1657:
the premises, which are neat and commodious, wereerected
by subscription, in 1817: it has recently sustained
a considerable loss from the bankruptcy of an
individual who held a great part of the endowment, and
is likely henceforward to. be conducted on a more limited
plan. Gerard Langbaine, Dr. William Lancaster,-
and Dr, Launcelot Dawes (prebendary of Carlisle, and
forty-eight years vicar of this parish), eminent literary
characters in the reign of Charles I., were natives of
this town.