A Brief History of the Moot Hall, Ireby

Ireby was a thriving market town until the end of the 19th century when Keswick and Cockermouth expanded. The village supported 5 public houses, grocers, butchers, haberdashers, saddlers etc and was a bustling little place.
The Grade II listed Moot Hall was built in the late 16th century (number 2 dates from this period), with early and late 19th century additions and alterations. The portico above the front door of number 2 is mentioned in Pevsner and the shield above the door is the Salkeld coat of arms. At the back of number 2 can be seen an original chamfered surround with 2 light mullion windows

In 1692, Thomas Stamper, a yeoman of Dash, purchased from Sir John Ballantine, the Moothall of Ireby of the annual and yearly free rent of 13 shillings and 4 pence. Thomas Stamper had essentially bought the freehold of the Moot Hall although he was still subject to all the manorial dues. The rent remained the same through several tenants and was still 13 shillings and 4 pence when John Stott lived there in 1866!

A copy of an early agreement can be seen in a frame on the staircase. The Moot Hall, along with many houses in both Low and High Ireby was owned by a Mr Grainger who lived at The Grange in High Ireby, This house was to become The Fortress in Walpole & Herries Chronicles

High Ireby has kept its literary connections to this day as Lord Melvyn Bragg has a house in the hamlet and to keep the sporting connections, Jonathan Edwards spends time at his parents house there and Chris Bonnington can often be spotted in Hesket Newmarket where he lives with his family.

When the Moot Hall was advertised for sale in 1920, it was described as being a substantial building of great antiquity modernised and converted into dwelling houses in first class repair and being capable of being adapted to other purposes. This lot is of customary tenure, parcel of the Manor of Ireby
From the Census of 1891, it is interesting to read that the Moot Hall was divided into 9 tenements!
2 Moot Hall has a long history, but you will be pleased to learn that the archives haven’t mentioned any ghosts!

 

© Ruth Boyes 2007-10 www.irebymoothall.co.uk

2, Moot Hall,
Ireby,
Wigton
CA7 1DU