Richard Barwis
Encyclopedia
Richard Barwis was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of England
between 1628 and 1648. He supported the Parliamentarian side during the English Civil War
. He was known as "Great Richard" Barwis because of his remarkable strength.
Barwis was the son of Anthony Barwis (1580-1616) and his wife Grace Fleming, daughter of William Fleming of Rydal. He lived at Ilekirk Hall.
In 1628, Barwis was elected Member of Parliament
for Carlisle
and held the seat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament. In 1634 he leased the Crosscanonby Salt Pans for 21 years on a lease which included plans for the construction of saltpans and cottages. He was High Sheriff of Cumberland
in 1635.
Barwis was re-elected MP for Carlisle in April 1640 for the Short Parliament and in November 1640 for the Long Parliament
and held the seat until his death in 1648. In summer 1645, in an incident known as the "Barwis Affair", Barwis and his associates were accused by the Scots commissioners in London of protecting royalist delinquents and of depriving the Scottish forces in the area of proper maintenance.
Barwis was so strong that he was known as "Great Richard" and stories have been passed down of his exploits. There is a large stone at Ilekirk which it is claimed he could easily throw the length of the courtyard. He is said to have walked round the court-yard of Ilekirk Hall, carrying, at arm's length, his wife on one hand, and an enormous stone on the other. It is also said that he once walked along Eden Bridge, at Carlisle, holding his wife seated on his hand held over the battlements.
Barwis died at the age of 47.
Barwis married Frances Musgrave, daughter of Sir Edward Musgrave of Hayton Castle. He died without issue. He had an uncle Richard Barwis of Waverton (d. 1662), who was High Sheriff of Cumberland in 1648, 1649 and 1652, and whose son Colonel Thomas Barwis (1621-1648) fought on the Parliamentary side at the siege of Carlisle.
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
between 1628 and 1648. He supported the Parliamentarian side during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. He was known as "Great Richard" Barwis because of his remarkable strength.
Barwis was the son of Anthony Barwis (1580-1616) and his wife Grace Fleming, daughter of William Fleming of Rydal. He lived at Ilekirk Hall.
In 1628, Barwis was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Carlisle
Carlisle (UK Parliament constituency)
Carlisle is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. It was a Labour seat from 1964 until 2010, although the Conservatives came close to victory in the elections in...
and held the seat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament. In 1634 he leased the Crosscanonby Salt Pans for 21 years on a lease which included plans for the construction of saltpans and cottages. He was High Sheriff of Cumberland
High Sheriff of Cumberland
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
in 1635.
Barwis was re-elected MP for Carlisle in April 1640 for the Short Parliament and in November 1640 for the Long Parliament
Long Parliament
The Long Parliament was made on 3 November 1640, following the Bishops' Wars. It received its name from the fact that through an Act of Parliament, it could only be dissolved with the agreement of the members, and those members did not agree to its dissolution until after the English Civil War and...
and held the seat until his death in 1648. In summer 1645, in an incident known as the "Barwis Affair", Barwis and his associates were accused by the Scots commissioners in London of protecting royalist delinquents and of depriving the Scottish forces in the area of proper maintenance.
Barwis was so strong that he was known as "Great Richard" and stories have been passed down of his exploits. There is a large stone at Ilekirk which it is claimed he could easily throw the length of the courtyard. He is said to have walked round the court-yard of Ilekirk Hall, carrying, at arm's length, his wife on one hand, and an enormous stone on the other. It is also said that he once walked along Eden Bridge, at Carlisle, holding his wife seated on his hand held over the battlements.
Barwis died at the age of 47.
Barwis married Frances Musgrave, daughter of Sir Edward Musgrave of Hayton Castle. He died without issue. He had an uncle Richard Barwis of Waverton (d. 1662), who was High Sheriff of Cumberland in 1648, 1649 and 1652, and whose son Colonel Thomas Barwis (1621-1648) fought on the Parliamentary side at the siege of Carlisle.