Waitby
Encyclopedia
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.
vátr (wet) + by (farm. cf "byre") The village may have also been known as Wadeby or Waldeby; the alternative etymology "Waldeve's dwelling" has also been proposed.
. It was purchased from British Rail
in 1987 and is part of the Cumbria Wildlife Trust
.
Now named Waitby School the building is a grade II listed building and has been converted into holiday accommodation.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the Eden
Eden, Cumbria
Eden is a local government district in Cumbria, England. Its council is based in Penrith. It is named after the River Eden which flows north through the district toward Carlisle....
district of Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The parish contains two small villages, Waitby and Smardale
Smardale
Smardale is a small village in Cumbria, England, in the civil parish of Waitby.-Geography and history:The village of Smardale lies in hilly agricultural land at a height of around 1.75 km southeast of Crosby Garrett and 3.5km west of Kirkby Stephen...
, 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
Ravenstonedale
Ravenstonedale is a village and large civil parish in Cumbria, on the watershed between the River Lune and River Eden. Historically also known as "Russendale", the parish is divided into four parts, Town, Newbiggin-on-Lune, Bowderdale and Fell End.-Village:...
forms the boundary to the south. The western border with Crosby Garrett
Crosby Garrett
Crosby Garrett is a hamlet and civil parish in the Eden District of Cumbria, England.In May 2010 the Crosby Garrett Helmet, a copper alloy parade helmet dating to Roman Britain was discovered near the hamlet.-Description:...
civil parish is formed by Scandal Beck. To the north and east lie Soulby and Kirkby Stephen
Kirkby Stephen
Kirkby Stephen is a civil parish and small market town in Cumbria, in North West England which historically, is part of Westmorland. The town is located on the A685, surrounded by sparsely populated hill country, and about from the two nearest larger towns, Kendal and Penrith...
civil parishes respectively.
Waitby Beck rises from springs to the north east of the Waitby, joining Sandwith Sike which flows into the River Eden
River Eden, Cumbria
The River Eden is a river that flows through Cumbria, England on its way to the Solway Firth.-Course of river:The Eden rises in Black Fell Moss, Mallerstang, on the high ground between High Seat, Yorkshire Dales and Hugh Seat. Here it forms the boundary between the counties of Cumbria and North...
. 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 NorseOld Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
vátr (wet) + by (farm. cf "byre") The village may have also been known as Wadeby or Waldeby; the alternative etymology "Waldeve's dwelling" has also been proposed.
Other features
Waitby Greenriggs nature reserve 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 railwayEden Valley Railway
The Eden Valley Railway was a railway in Cumbria, England. It ran between Clifton Junction near Penrith and Kirkby Stephen via Appleby-in-Westmorland....
. It was purchased from British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
in 1987 and is part of the Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Cumbria Wildlife Trust is a wildlife trust covering the county of Cumbria, England. It is a registered charity and was established in 1962. It is a member of The Wildlife Trusts.-Aims:It aims to broaden the awareness and knowledge of the wildlife in Cumbria...
.
Waitby Castle
Waitby castle 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.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. The school was rebuilt in 1867 by public subscription.Now named Waitby School the building is a grade II listed building and has been converted into holiday accommodation.
Other listed structures
Leases farmouse (18th/19th century) and a nearby 19th century barn and boundary stone near Leases are grade II listed structures. The 18th century Wharton House and later threshing barn in Waitby are also grade II listed buildings.Further reading
- Westmorland Heritage , Alfred Wainwright , pp. 454–255 "Waitby" googlebooks preview
External links
- Waitby parish – Old Cumbria Gazetteer maps, images, coordinates and other geographical information of various features in Waitby Parish. www.geog.port.ac.uk (Portsmouth University)