Mosser
Mosser | |
---|---|
![]() View towards St Michael's Church on the hillside | |
Location within Cumbria | |
Civil parish | |
Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | COCKERMOUTH |
Mosser is a village in the civil parish of Blindbothel, in the Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. It lies 26 miles (42 km) south-west of Carlisle and 3.6 miles (5.8 km) south of Cockermouth, and is within the boundaries of the Lake District National Park.
History
[edit]The name "Mosser" means 'Moss shieling', in the sense of a peat bog.[1]
Mosser was historically a township in the ancient parish of Brigham in the historic county of Cumberland.[2][3] The township took on civil functions under the poor laws from the 17th century onwards. As such, the township also became a civil parish in 1866, when the legal definition of 'parish' was changed to be the areas used for administering the poor laws.[4]

A chapel of ease dedicated to St Philip existed at Mosser from medieval times. It had fallen into ruins by the late 17th century, but was rebuilt in 1773.[5][6] An ecclesiastical parish of Mosser was created in 1883, covering the townships of Mosser, Blindbothel, Eaglesfield and part of Whinfell.[7] The old church of St Philip initially served as the parish church. A new church, also dedicated to St Philip, was built in the Eaglesfield township in 1891; it is called St Philip, Mosser, by reference to the ecclesiastical parish it serves, despite not being in the old Mosser township.[8][9]
The old chapel at Mosser was subsequently rededicated to St Michael and is now also known as the Fell Church.[5][9][10]
The civil parish of Mosser was abolished in 1934 and its area incorporated into the civil parish of Blindbothel.[11] In 1931 (the last census before the parish was abolished), Mosser had a population of 56.[12]
On 28 February 2018 there was a 3.2 magnitude earthquake of which Mosser was at the epicentre.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ "Mosser Key to English Place-names". The University of Nottingham. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ "Mosser". GENUKI. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ "History of Mosser, in Allerdale and Cumberland". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ Youngs, Frederic (1991). Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England: Volume II, Northern England. London: Royal Historical Society. p. xv. ISBN 0861931270.
- ^ a b "St Michael". National Churches Trust. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ Historic England. "Church of St Michael (Grade II) (1145211)". National Heritage List for England.
- ^ Thirty-sixth Report from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England: Appendix Parts II to IV. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 1884. pp. 161–162. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ Kelly's Directory of Cumberland. 1906. p. 215. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ a b "St Philip, Mosser". A Church near you. Church of England. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ "Mosser St Michaels Church". Visit Cumbria. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ "Relationships and changes Mosser Ch/CP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ "Population statistics Mosser Ch/CP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ "Cumbria earthquake: Houses shake as tremor of 3.2 magnitude hits county". Sky News. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
External links
[edit]- Cumbria County History Trust: Mosser (nb: provisional research only – see Talk page)