Cumbria: Local History Resources

Cumbria England UK Local History

Cumbria is a rural county in England’s North West region, with its northern border meeting Scotland. Down the west side of the county, the coastline meets the Irish Sea.

Cities And Towns In Cumbria

The cathedral city of Carlisle, which gained its city status back in 1158, is the only city in the county of Cumbria.

The following towns and market towns are found in Cumbria:

  • Alston
  • Ambleside
  • Appleby-in-Westmorland
  • Aspatria
  • Barrow-in-Furness
  • Brampton
  • Broughton-in-Furness
  • Carlisle
  • Cleator Moor
  • Cockermouth
  • Dalton-in-Furness
  • Egremont
  • Grange-over-Sands
  • Harrington
  • Kendal
  • Keswick
  • Kirkby Lonsdale
  • Kirkby Stephen
  • Longtown
  • Maryport
  • Millom
  • Penrith
  • Sedbergh
  • Silloth
  • Ulverston
  • Whitehaven
  • Wigton
  • Windermere
  • Workington

Facebook Groups: Cumbrian History

Swythamley Historical Society

“Swythamley Historical Society has a goal to promote interest in the history of Swythamley and the surrounding communities. We do this by organising talks and walks and researching local history topics. The research has led us to give our own talks too.”

Penrith Old Photos

Described as “a page for old photos of the town please feel free to add your photos.”

Barrow-in-Furness In Old Photos

Set up for everyone to “see photos and comments on Barrow-in-Furness in old photos”.

Cumbrian Societies And Resources

A lot of the national resources also include information and evidence about Cumbria, which you’ll find on a separate page because there are so many.

The groups and resources specific to Cumbria which could help your family and local history studies include:

  • Alston Moor Historical Society
  • Ambleside & District U3A
  • Ambleside Oral History Group
  • Appleby-in-Westmorland Society
  • Asby History Group
  • Askam & Ireleth Local History Group
  • Bampton & District Local History Soc
  • Barrow Civic & Local History Society
  • Caldbeck & District Local History Society
  • Carlisle History Group
  • Cartmel Fell & District Local History Society
  • Cartmel Peninsula Local History Society
  • Cockermouth Heritage Group
  • Crosby Ravensworth LH Society
  • Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society
  • Cumbria Amenity Trust Mining History Society
  • Cumbria Family History Society
  • Cumbria Industrial History Society
  • Cumbria Local History Federation
  • Cumbrian Railways Association
  • Cumbria Vernacular Buildings Group
  • CWAAS Carlisle Affiliated Group
  • CWAAS Penrith Affiliated Group
  • Dalton Local History Society
  • Distington Family & Local History Society
  • Duddon Valley Local History Group
  • Friends of Cumbrian Archives (FOCAS)
  • Friends of Helena Thompson Museum
  • Friends of Keswick Museum
  • Furness Family History Society
  • Hesket Local History Group
  • History of Kirkby Group
  • Holme & District Local History Society
  • Kendal Historical & Archaeological Society (CWAAS)
  • Kirkby Lonsdale & District Civic Society 
  • Kendal Oral History Group
  • Kirkoswald & Renwick History Group
  • Lamplugh and District Heritage Society
  • Lazonby & District Local History Society
  • Levens Local History Group
  • Long Marton Local History Group
  • Longtown Memorial Hall Community Centre
  • Lorton & Derwent Fells Local History Society
  • Lowther and Askham History and Archaeological Society
  • Maryport Heritage Society
  • Millom & District Local History Society
  • Morecambe Bay Archaeological Society
  • Morecambe Bay Partnership
  • Orton & Tebay Local History Society
  • Mourholme Local History Society (for Carnforth, Warton & Silverdale)
  • Newland Furnace Trust
  • North Lonsdale History Society
  • Open Mind (WestlakesU3A) member of Cumbria Local History Federation
  • Orton & Tebay Local History Society
  • Papcastle Local History Group
  • Ravenstonedale Parish History Group
  • Recording Morecambe Bay
  • Sedbergh & District History Society
  • Shap Local History Society
  • Solway History Society
  • South West Cumbria History & Archaeology Society (CWAAS)
  • Staveley & District History Society
  • Ulverston & District Civic Society
  • Upper Eden History Society
  • Waberthwaite History Group
  • Warwick Bridge Local History Group
  • Wordsworth Trust

You’ll notice some of the resources actually relate to Lancahsire, but the proximity of the two counties means there is sometimes some overlap in the information they provide.


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Thanks to gary gray for use of the image at the top of this page.

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