Waitby

Waitby

Waitby
Waitby
 Waitby shown within Cumbria
Population 60 (2001)
OS grid referenceNY7508
Civil parishWaitby
DistrictEden
Shire countyCumbria
RegionNorth West
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town KIRKBY STEPHEN
Postcode district CA17
Dialling code 01768
Police Cumbria
Fire Cumbria
Ambulance North West
EU Parliament North West England
UK ParliamentPenrith and The Border
List of places
UK
England
Cumbria

Coordinates: 54°28′05″N 2°23′10″W / 54.468°N 2.386°W

Waitby is a small village and civil parish in the Eden district of Cumbria, England. The parish contains two small villages, Waitby and Smardale, plus the small hamlets of Riddlesay, Stripes and Leases, all of which are in the farmed and enclosured northern part at an elevation of around 200–300m. The southern half of the parish is mostly heath and unused for agriculture, it rises to Smardale fell; which it includes, at elevations between 300 and 400m. The civil parish of Ravenstonedale forms the boundary to the south. The western border with Crosby Garrett civil parish is formed by Scandal Beck. To the north and east lie Soulby and Kirkby Stephen civil parishes respectively.

Waitby Beck rises from springs to the north east of the Waitby, joining Sandwith Sike which flows into the River Eden. Other minor becks include Hazel Gill and Choup Gill both of which join Scandal Beck.

The Settle and Carlisle Railway passes through the parish, as did the South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway; both cross Scandal Beck by Smardale viaduct and Smardalegill viaducts respectively.

Etymology

Waitby (originally Watebi c.1170) means "wet farmstead" from the Old Norse vátr (wet) + by (farm. cf "byre")[1] The village may have also been known as Wadeby or Waldeby; the alternative etymology "Waldeve's dwelling" has also been proposed.[2]

Smardale

Main article: Smardale

Other features

Waitby Greenriggs nature reserve 54°28′10″N 2°22′14″W / 54.46957°N 2.370636°W lies east of Waitby outside the parish boundary halfway to Kirkby Stephen at the former junction between the South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway (Stainmore railway) and the Eden Valley railway. It was purchased from British Rail in 1987 and is part of the Cumbria Wildlife Trust.[3][4]

History

Waitby Castle

Waitby castle 54°28′10″N 2°22′35″W / 54.469394°N 2.376469°W is a typical romano-British fortification built on top of a small hill. The banks ringing the roughly round enclosure are still visible as are the outlines of some inner buildings.[5][6]

Waitby and Smardale school

Waitby and Smardale school was founded in 1630 as a free school for the children of the villages of Waitby and Smardale by James Highmoor, a London weaver born in Kirkby Stephen with the gift of £100 for its upkeep and to employ a schoolmaster.[7] The school was rebuilt in 1867 by public subscription.[8]

Now named Waitby School the building is a grade II listed building[8] and has been converted into holiday accommodation.[9]

Other listed structures

Leases farmouse (18th/19th century)[10] and a nearby 19th century barn[11] and boundary stone near Leases[12] are grade II listed structures. The 18th century Wharton House and later threshing barn in Waitby are also grade II listed buildings.[13]

References

  1. Waitby via www.encyclopedia.com
  2. The history and antiquities of the counties of Westmorland and Cumberland , Volume 1 , Joseph Nicolson, Richard Burn, William Nicolson, Henry Hornyold-Strickland , 1777 , p.555. "Manor of Waitby" google books link
  3. Waitby Greenriggs www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk
  4. Waitby Greenriggs Cumbria Wildlife Trust Reserve , www.wildlifeincumbria.org.uk
  5. Waitby Castle, Waitby www.matthewpenmott.co.uk
  6. Kirkby Stephen – Waitby Castle www.visitcumbria.com
  7. Nicholas Carlisle (1818), "Waitby, near Kirby Stephen", A concise description of the endowed grammar schools in England and Wales 2, Baldwin, Cradock and Joy, pp. 736–738
  8. 8.0 8.1 Waitby and Smardale school www.imagesofengland.org.uk
  9. Waitby School www.waitbyschool.com
  10. The Leases, farmhouse and attached buildings wwww.imagesofengland.org.uk
  11. Byre range south of Leases farmhouse www.imagesodengland.org.uk
  12. Boundary stone south-west of Leases Farmhouse www.imagesofengland.org.uk
  13. Wharton House and attached barn www.imagesofengland.org.uk

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Waitby.