Westmorland

Westmorland is a historic area located in North West England. It was once an administrative county with its own distinct identity. Today, the area is part of a larger region known as Cumbria. However, the name has recently reappeared on national maps. In April 2023, it became part of the Westmorland and Furness unitary authority. This new administrative unit covers the historic county along with parts of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cumberland.

The geography of Westmorland is characterized by diverse landscapes. It includes portions of the Lake District and the southern Vale of Eden. The county's borders were defined by natural features and neighboring regions. To the north, it bordered Cumberland. To the east, it sat near County Durham and Yorkshire. Lancashire formed the border to the south and west. The lakes of Windermere and Ullswater served as parts of these borders. The highest point in the entire county was the mountain Helvellyn.

The history of Westmorland involves a long process of political change. In the year 1086, the county did not exist as a single unit. During the time of the Domesday Book, half the area was part of Yorkshire. The other half was considered part of Scotland. Before 1226, the land was split into two baronies. The Barony of Kendal was part of the Honour of Lancaster. The Barony of Westmorland was part of the Earldom of Carlisle. These two baronies finally merged to form the single county of Westmorland in 1226 or 1227.

Administrative structures within the county were complex and evolved over centuries. The county was subdivided into two main baronies: Kendal and Westmorland. These were further divided into wards to manage the land. For example, the Westmorland East ward included places like Appleby and Brough. The Kendal ward included areas such as Ambleside and Windermere.

In 1889, the Local Government Act 1888 created a county council. This council was based at County Hall in Kendal. However, legal proceedings known as assizes were still held in Appleby. Appleby served as the historic county town and held a charter from 1179.

Population and local government changed significantly during the 20th century. In 1894, the county was divided into urban and rural districts. Some districts, like Lakes and Shap, were actually quite rural in character. By 1971, Westmorland was a very sparsely populated area. It was the second least populated administrative county in England, following Rutland. The 1971 census showed the Municipal Borough of Kendal had 21,602 people. In contrast, the Municipal Borough of Appleby had only 1,944 residents. In 1974, the Local Government Act 1972 abolished the county council. This led to the creation of the new county of Cumbria.

The name "Westmorland" itself has interesting possible origins. One theory suggests it comes from the Anglo-Saxon term Westmoringaland. This meant "the land of the people of the western moors." This distinguished them from people living by the eastern moors. Another theory links the name to the twelfth-century term Westmarieland. This translates to the "land of the western meres." A mere can mean a boundary or a lake. It remains uncertain which meaning was intended.

Westmorland maintains a strong cultural legacy through various symbols and organizations. The county council was granted a coat of arms in 1926. The shield featured red bars and a gold apple tree. The crest displayed a head of a local Herdwick ram. A shearman's hook sat on the ram's forehead.

Even after the county's administrative dissolution, the name persists. Many groups still use it, such as the Westmorland Gazette and the Westmorland Youth Orchestra. The Westmorland Association works to promote the county's unique identity.