Description
Abbey-Holme or Holme-Cultram, a parish and a township in Cumberland. The parish comprises the several quarters of Abbey-Town, East Waver, St Cuthberts, and Low Quarter, and lies on the river Waver, and on the North British railway, near the head of Moricambe Bay, 6 miles WNW of Wigton. It has two railway stations, and a post, money order, and telegraph office of the name of Abbey-Town under Silloth. It was formerly a market-town; and it still has fairs on 29 Oct. and Tuesday before Whitsuntide. A Cistercian abbey was founded here in the 12th century by Henry I., and rose to such consequence that its abbots were frequently summoned to sit in Parliament in the reigns of Edward I. and II. It was partly demolished by Robert Bruce, but afterwards splendidly rebuilt. It sustained much injury in the time of Henry VIII.; but its church continued in good condition till 1600, when the steeple fell, and destroyed a great part of the chancel; and in 1604 most of the rest was ruined by an accidental fire. The area is 5235 acres; population, 906. The living of Holme-Cultram is a rectory in the diocese of Carlisle; net value, £280, in the gift of Oxford University. There are also places of worship for Congregationalists, Friends, Primitive and Wesleyan Methodists, and several good schools.