Burton in Lonsdale
Encyclopedia
Burton in Lonsdale is a village and civil parish
in the Craven
district of North Yorkshire
, England
, close to the border with Lancashire
. It is in Lonsdale (the River Lune
valley and its tributaries). According to the 2001 census it had a population of 621. The parish is approximately 1500 acres (6 km²) in area and has many farms – dairy, beef and sheep. Little is grown, except grass to feed the animals.
Formerly famous for country pottery, it is now a quiet village situated between two national parks (the Lake District National Park
and the Yorkshire Dales National Park) and by the side of the River Greta.
Stoneware and earthenware pottery was produced between about 1650 and 1944, in a total of thirteen potteries, using locally available clay and coal. It is said Burton was known as 'Black Burton' because of the amount of smoke produced by the kilns' fires when firing pots. The firing was carried out over several days at a time, on a regular basis. No doubt the quality of the coal (initially locally sourced) was to blame for the amount of smoke.
Burton pottery is notoriously difficult to identify; only one producer, Kilburn, marked his products. However, it has a distinctive rustic 'feel' about it, and can be found at auctions, although one has to be careful and not assume a piece is automatically Burton Pottery.
The village has a community run shop (containing a small post-office) where local goods such as meats, cheeses and vegetables are available. In December 2007 the shop won "Best shop / PO" in the North West Best Rural Retailers award.
The village contains a motte
that is the remains of Burton in Lonsdale Castle
.
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 Craven
Craven
Craven is a local government district in North Yorkshire, England that came into being in 1974, centred on the market town of Skipton. In the changes to British local government of that year this district was formed as the merger of Skipton urban district, Settle Rural District and most of Skipton...
district of North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, 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...
, close to the border with Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. It is in Lonsdale (the River Lune
River Lune
The River Lune is a river in Cumbria and Lancashire, England.It is formed at Wath, in the parish of Ravenstonedale, Cumbria, at the confluence of Sandwath Beck and Weasdale Beck...
valley and its tributaries). According to the 2001 census it had a population of 621. The parish is approximately 1500 acres (6 km²) in area and has many farms – dairy, beef and sheep. Little is grown, except grass to feed the animals.
Formerly famous for country pottery, it is now a quiet village situated between two national parks (the Lake District National Park
Lake District National Park
The Lake District National Park is located in the north-west of England and is the largest of the English National Parks and the second largest in the United Kingdom. It is in the central and most-visited part of the Lake District....
and the Yorkshire Dales National Park) and by the side of the River Greta.
Stoneware and earthenware pottery was produced between about 1650 and 1944, in a total of thirteen potteries, using locally available clay and coal. It is said Burton was known as 'Black Burton' because of the amount of smoke produced by the kilns' fires when firing pots. The firing was carried out over several days at a time, on a regular basis. No doubt the quality of the coal (initially locally sourced) was to blame for the amount of smoke.
Burton pottery is notoriously difficult to identify; only one producer, Kilburn, marked his products. However, it has a distinctive rustic 'feel' about it, and can be found at auctions, although one has to be careful and not assume a piece is automatically Burton Pottery.
The village contains a motte
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
that is the remains of Burton in Lonsdale Castle
Burton in Lonsdale Castle
Burton in Lonsdale Castle was in the village of Burton in Lonsdale in North Yorkshire, England .The Pipe Rolls for the reign of Henry II record that the castle's garrison in 1129–1130 consisted of a knight, ten sergeants, a gatekeeper, and a watchman....
.