CROSTHWAITE, a parish, in ALLERDALE ward below Derwent,
county of CUMBERLAND, comprising the chapelries
of Borrowdale, Newlands, and Thornthwaite, and the
townships of Braithwaite and Coledale, or Portingscale,
in ALLERDALE ward above Derwent, and the chapelry
of St. John Castlerigg with Wythburn, the town of
Keswick, and the township of Under Skiddaw,
half a mile (N. by W.) from Keswick, and containing
4087 inhabitants. The living is a vicarage, in the
archdeaconry and diocese of Carlisle, rated in the king's
books at £50. 8.1If., endowed with £300 private benefaction,
and £ 800 royal bounty, and in the patronage
of the .Bishop of Carlisle. The church, dedicated to St.
Kentigern, an ancient fabric, was roofed with slate in
1812, having been previously covered with lead. Adjoining
the churchyard is a free grammar school, founded
and endowed prior to 1571: the income is about £ 100
per annum, of which £65 is paid to the master, and
£30 to the usher, for teaching one hundred and twenty
children; the remainder is applied for repairing the
school-house, which was built at the expense of the
inhabitants. Near the source of the Derwent are two
saline springs, in great repute among the inhabitants.
This parish produces copper and lead ores, with plumbago,
or black lead, and abounds with numerous interesting
objects, for a description of which see KESWICK.