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St Martin, Martindale
St Martin's Church
Martindale Church
locality:-   Martindale
civil parish:-   Martindale (formerly Westmorland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   church
coordinates:-   NY43431840
1Km square:-   NY4318
10Km square:-   NY41

photograph
BQZ43.jpg (taken 6.7.2009)  
photograph
BQZ36.jpg (taken 6.7.2009)  
evidence:-   old map:- OS County Series
source data:-   Maps, County Series maps of Great Britain, scales 6 and 25 inches to 1 mile, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, from about 1863 to 1948.
"Church (Per Curacy) / Grave Yard"
evidence:-   old map:- Saxton 1579
placename:-  Markendale Chapel
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Westmorlandiae et Cumberlandiae Comitatus ie Westmorland and Cumberland, scale about 5 miles to 1 inch, by Christopher Saxton, London, engraved by Augustinus Ryther, 1576, published 1579-1645.
image
Sax9NY41.jpg
Building, symbol for a hamlet, which may or may not have a nucleus.  "Markendale chap:"
item:-  private collection : 2
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Mercator 1595 (edn?) 
placename:-  Markendale Chapel
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Westmorlandia, Lancastria, Cestria etc, ie Westmorland, Lancashire, Cheshire etc, scale about 10.5 miles to 1 inch, by Gerard Mercator, Duisberg, Germany, 1595, edition 1613-16.
image
MER5WmdA.jpg
"Markendale chap."
circle 
item:-  Armitt Library : 2008.14.3
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Speed 1611 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Markendale Chapel
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Cumberland and the Ancient Citie Carlile Described, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by John Speed, 1610, published by J Sudbury and George Humble, Popes Head Alley, London, 1611-12.
image
SP11NY41.jpg
"Markendale chap"
circle, building, tower; Westmorland 
item:-  private collection : 16
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Speed 1611 (Wmd) 
placename:-  Markendale Chappell
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, The Countie Westmorland and Kendale the Cheif Towne, scale about 2.5 miles to 1 inch, by John Speed, 1610, published by George Humble, Popes Head Alley, London, 1611-12.
image
SP14NY42.jpg
"Markendale Chappell"
circle, building and tower 
item:-  Armitt Library : 2008.14.5
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Jansson 1646
placename:-  Markendale Chappell
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Cumbria and Westmoria, ie Cumberland and Westmorland, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, by John Jansson, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1646.
image
JAN3NY41.jpg
"Markendale Chappell"
Building and tower with cross. 
item:-  JandMN : 88
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Morden 1695 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Markendale Chapel
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, Cumberland, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by Robert Morden, 1695, published by Abel Swale, the Unicorn, St Paul's Churchyard, Awnsham, and John Churchill, the Black Swan, Paternoster Row, London, 1695-1715.
image
MD12NY41.jpg
"Markendale Chap"
Circle. 
item:-  JandMN : 90
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Bowen and Kitchin 1760
placename:-  Martendale Chapel
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, A New Map of the Counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland Divided into their Respective Wards, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by Emanuel Bowen and Thomas Kitchin et al, published by T Bowles, Robert Sayer, and John Bowles, London, 1760.
image
BO18NY31.jpg
"Martendale Chapel"
circle, tower 
item:-  Armitt Library : 2008.14.10
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Jefferys 1770 (Wmd) 
source data:-   Map, 4 sheets, The County of Westmoreland, scale 1 inch to 1 mile, surveyed 1768, and engraved and published by Thomas Jefferys, London, 1770.
image
J5NY41NW.jpg
"Chapel"
church 
item:-  National Library of Scotland : EME.s.47
Image © National Library of Scotland
evidence:-   old text:- Clarke 1787
item:-  money lending
source data:-   Guide book, A Survey of the Lakes of Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire, written and published by James Clarke, Penrith, Cumberland, and in London etc, 1787; published 1787-93.
image CL13P035, button  goto source
Page 35:-  "..."
"The chapel of Martindale is a perpetual curacy, under the vicarage of Barton; the donation of it is alternate, between J[ ] Richardson, Esq; of Penrith, and the Vicar of Barton: the former, (who is likewise proprietor of the tythes,) presenting to it twice, and the latter once: the ancient endowment was only 2l. 15s. 4d. per annum, a small house, and about four acres of land. Strange as it may seem, a Mr Richard Birker, who served this curacy sixty-seven years, amassed a considerable sum of money upon it, though, at his first coming, two shirts, and one suit of cloathes were his whole property. His penury and avarice were the sole causes of his wealth; for being the only man except one in the parish who could write, he transacted most of the law affairs of his parishioners, and was by them, on that account, nicknamed Sir Richard, or the Lawyer. Whenever he lent money, he deducted at the time of lending, two shillings in the pound for interest, and the term of the loan never exceeded a year: he charged for writing a receipt two-pence, and for a promissary note four-pence; and used such other acts of extortion as one would scarce believe to have been practised in so contracted a sphere. He likewise taught a school, and served as parish-clerk; and in both these offices he likewise shewed his wonderful turn for economy and gain; for his quarter-dues from his scholars being small, he had from the parents of each scholar a fortnight's board and lodging; and the Easter days, being usually paid in eggs, he, at the time of collecting, carried with him a board, in which was an hole which served him as a gage, and he positively refuse to accept any which would pass through. He married a woman of the name of Brown, with whom he got a fortune of L.60, and to whom, at his decease, he left the sum of L/1200; after which she was married to Theodorus Sisson, Esquire."
"Upon the death of Mr Birker no one would undertake the cure, on account of the smallness of the stipend: those therefore of the parishioners who could read, performed the service by turns. We need not doubt that this occasioned some humorous blunders; one in particular was this: An honest farmer, whose yokefellow was not, it seems, the most pacific of her sex, was to hold forth one Sunday; after rummaging the book a long time to no purpose for the concluding clause, he called to one of his neighbours, whose wife was lately dead, to assist him, declaring, at the same time, that he was afraid he should never find the peace of God as long as he lived."
"Things remained in this situation for some time; at length a little decrepid man, called Brownrigg, to whom Mr Birket (sic) had taught a little Latin and Greek, was by the parishioners appointed perpetual reader: for this they allowed him, (with the consent of the Donee,) the church perquisites, then worth about L.12 per annum. Brownrigg being a man of good character, and there being no clergyman within several miles to baptize their children, or bury their dead, the parishioners petitioned the Bishop to grant him deacon's orders; this was accordingly done, and he served the cure forty-eight years."
evidence:-   old map:- Cary 1789 (edn 1805) 
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, Westmoreland, scale about 2.5 miles to 1 inch, by John Cary, London, 1789; edition 1805.
image
CY24NY41.jpg
"Chapel"
church symbol; church or chapel 
item:-  JandMN : 129
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old text:- Wordsworth 1810
item:-  yew tree
source data:-   Guide book, A Description of the Scenery of the Lakes, later A Guide through the District of The Lakes, by William Wordsworth, 1810-35.
image WW01p125, button  goto source
page 125  "... Crossed the one-arched bridge, below the chapel, with its "bare ring of mossy wall," and a single yew-tree. ..."
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843) 
placename:-  Martindale
item:-  yew; tree
source data:-   Guide book, A Description of Scenery in the Lake District, by Rev William Ford, published by Charles Thurnam, Carlisle, by W Edwards, 12 Ave Maria Lane, Charles Tilt, Fleet Street, William Smith, 113 Fleet Street, London, by Currie and Bowman, Newcastle, by Bancks and Co, Manchester, by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, and by Sinclair, Dumfries, 1839.
image FD01P145, button  goto source
Page 145:-  "[Martindale] ... a chapel with low roof and simple bell-gable, and a picturesque yew-tree, ..."
evidence:-   site plan:- Historical Monuments 1936
source data:-   Site plan, uncoloured lithograph, Old Parish Church of St Martin, Martindale, Westmorland, scale about 1 to 290? published by Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, London, 1936.
image  click to enlarge
HMW102.jpg
On p.165 of the Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Westmorland. 
RCHME no. Wmd, Martindale 1 
item:-  Armitt Library : A745.102
Image © see bottom of page

photograph
BQZ42.jpg  The church bell.
(taken 6.7.2009)  
evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
placename:-  Church of St Martin
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"CHURCH OF ST MARTIN / / / MARTINDALE / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II[star] / 74532 / NY4343818401"
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"Church. Late C16 on medieval foundations, porch c1714, roof 1880s. Stone rubble with slate roof. Single-vessel nave, chancel and west lobby and vestries. Irregular fenestration to north and south elevations; 4-windows to each elevation have fixed chamfered wooden frames with transom and leaded glazing tied back to 2 intermediate bars, but window to north side of 2-lights; that to east end of 3-lights, to west end of 2-lights. West end has gabled porch with C19 door with closeable cusped ventilation slots. Gabled bell cote. North elevation has studded vestry door to west end and stone dated 1714 to window jamb. Interior has C19 king post trusses. C17 wainscotting with fielded panels and longitudinal pews, said to be adapted from box pews. C17 pulpit to west end has some decorative panels and inscription: "I &AD 1634" to applied panel. Lobby panelling also C17, with ovolo moulded members and cresting; C19 paired doors to church has cusped ventilation slots. Font to east end of church has broach stops to chamfers and small recess in top, possibly Roman altar or medieval holy water stoup, grooves to one face said to be from arrow sharpening. A good example of a Lakeland vernacular church."
evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
item:-  Birket Monument
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"BIRKET MONUMENT APPROXIMATELY 2 METRES SOUTH ST MARTINS CHURCH / / / MARTINDALE / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II / 74533 / NY4345018391"
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"Monument. Dated 1699. Stone rubble with ashlar top slab. Moulded edge to slab and inscriptions, difficult to read, recording Richard Birket, benefactor of the church and for 67 years its curate."
 yew tree

photograph
BQZ41.jpg  Font; made from a roman altar, probably from a wayside shrine on High Street.
(taken 6.7.2009)  
photograph
BQZ39.jpg  Altar table.
(taken 6.7.2009)  
photograph
BQZ40.jpg  Altar table, inscription:-
"E B / A.D. 1674" (taken 6.7.2009)  
photograph
BTR57.jpg  Pews.
(taken 20.10.2010)  
photograph
BYB82.jpg  Pews.
(taken 10.4.2013)  
photograph
BTR58.jpg  Pulpit.
(taken 20.10.2010)  
photograph
CCU81.jpg  Date:-
"1714" (taken 8.4.2015)  
photograph
BQZ37.jpg  Memorial, William Dawes, son of Edward and Anne Dawes of How Town, died 1812.
(taken 6.7.2009)  
photograph
BQZ38.jpg  Coat of arms on the memorial to William Dawes, died 1812.
(taken 6.7.2009)  
photograph
BTR59.jpg  Tomb of Richard Birkett, died 1699, vicar here for 66 years.
(taken 20.10.2010)  
photograph
BTR60.jpg  Gate catch.
(taken 20.10.2010)  
photograph
CCU82.jpg  Sign.
(taken 8.4.2015)  
photograph
CCU83.jpg  Sign, St Martin.
(taken 8.4.2015)  
photograph
CCU80.jpg (taken 8.4.2015)  
notes:-  
 The church existed before 1220 when it was mentioned in a charter. The present building was probably erected at the end of the 16th century. In 1714 the floor was flagged. The last major restoration was in 1882, replacing the roof which had fallen in during a storm, 6 January 1882, the day the new church of St Peter was consecrated.

: : church leaflet
dedication
person:-    : St Martin
place:-   Martindale / Carlisle Diocese
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