WHICHAM, a parish in ALLERDALE ward above
Darweiit, county of CUMBERLAND, 10 miles (S. S. E.)
from Ravenglass, containing 301 inhabitants. The
living is a discharged rectory, in the archdeaconry of
Richmond, and diocese of Chester, rated in the king's'
books at £8. 15., and in the patronage of the'Earl of
Lonsdale. The Church is dedicated to St. Mary. An
annuity of £16, supposed to have been granted by
Queen Elizabeth from the Crown revenues of the county,
and payable out of the Exchequer, is applied towards
the support of a grammar school for the parishes of
Whicham and Millom. The school-house was erected at
Churchgate, pursuant to a decree of Chancery, in 1688,
when trustees were appointed, with power to fix the
amount of quarterages to be paid by the scholars, in
augmentation of the master's income: from fifty to sixty
are educated upon this foundation.