LOWTHER, a parish in WEST ward, county of WESTMORLAND, 4 miles (S.) from Penrith, containing 599 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Carlisle, rated in the king's books at £25. 7. 3., and in the patronage of the Earl of Lonsdale. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, was almost wholly rebuilt in 1686, and the tower underwent considerable repairs and alterations in 1824. The parish is bounded on the west by the river Lowther. It formerly contained a village of the same name, which was demolished in 1682, by Sir John Lowther, who soon afterwards built another, called New-Town, in which carpet and linen manufactories were established, but did not succeed. Richard Lowther, in 1638, gave £, 100 in support of a schoolmaster, and subsequently, Allgood, Esq., left a rent-charge of £10, for a similar purpose; these, with other donations, produce an income of about £19 a year, for teaching poor children, who pay also a small quarterage. In 1738, two schools for girls were founded by the Rev. Richard Holme, and endowed with £ 100, which was laid out in land now rented by the Earl of Lonsdale, his lordship paying £ 10. 10. per annum to each school.