How I became interested in local history.

 

 

A small circular walled enclosure, known locally as the pound, stands on White Moss Common in the hamlet of Field Broughton which is 2 miles north of Cartmel. I was part of the local sub group of the Parish Council that was formed to raise funds for necessary repairs to be carried out to the pound and during this time I became interested in the history of the pound.  Recent records of repairs and maintenance to the pound were readily found but I could not immediately trace any specific or general history of why and when pounds were built.

 

First let me explain what a pound is.

 

 

An enquiry to a Lake District National Park (LDNP) officer revealed that at least 3 other pounds were in existence in Cumbria and this sparked my interest and my “collecting instinct” into action. I decided to locate, photograph and research the Pounds and Pinfolds in Cumbria.

 

I needed a plan and a digital camera. The plan was a simple one of starting with the Listed Buildings Register and talking to anyone that might know something..

 

1.2 Scope of Project

 

The project intention was to identify the location of the pounds and pinfolds that still existed in Cumbria, to visit and photograph them and to research the general purpose and history of these ancient structures.

 

In the initial stages of the project washfolds and significant sheepfolds were also included but it became increasingly obvious that in view of the number of pounds and pinfolds that I was discovering I needed to focus on them specifically and exclude washfolds and sheepfolds. (These could be the subject of a later project, especially washfolds, which are the more interesting historically but fewer in number, Melmerby being an interesting example).

 

 

1.3 Methodology

 

I could trace no published work that centred on the purpose and history of pounds and pinfolds but references to them in various books and web sites were found and noted. To identify existing sites in Cumbria I am grateful to the following sources:

 

Staff and library at FLD offices, Kendal

Listed Building Register

Cumbria Association of Local Councils

Parish Council Clerks and members

Andy Goldsworthy’s Sheepfolds web site

Cumbria Archaeologist and the Sites & Monuments Records

LDNP Officers

Records Office an Kendal and Whitehaven

Kendal & Lancaster Public Libraries

Field Broughton Historical Society

Friends and relations

 

The initial methodology involved identifying possible sites from whichever source, checking current and old maps for any mention or notation and then visiting, finding and photographing the buildings. Finding the pound or pinfold was often the most difficult and was frequently at first un-successful as even local people were not aware of its presence in their village!

 

The condition and appearance of the structure, once found, was sometimes a surprise. One pinfold turned out to be nothing more than a large stone (Brampton) and another so overgrown that it took an hour to find (Bassenthwaite).   

 

 

 

2. Pounds and Pinfolds

 

2.1 Pound or Pinfold?

 

In this report I have used either pound or pinfold to describe the site or structure based on the oral or written evidence I have found. For example Field Broughton has a pound because it is shown on old maps as a pound and is also referred to locally as a pound. On the other hand Kirkby Thore and Crook have similar structures but both are known locally and shown on the maps as pinfolds.

 

The reason these buildings became known as either a pound or pinfold may be historical and linked to their original purpose as a structure where impounded (pound) animals were kept or a pen where strays were folded (pinfold). This argument holds when the pound is located in a village or near a manor or local courthouse, as it often is, but there are many instances where this theory is not proven. It is more likely that whether it became a pound or pinfold was due to the local preference and was therefore picked up by the early surveyors and then fell into common usage.  

 

The derivation of both pound and pinfold shows a similarity of meaning. Chambers dictionary gives pownd as an enclosure in which to confine animals and a pinfold as a

pin fold a pound for the enclosure for animals. Other words and spellings that have been used prior to the modern use of pound and pinfold include pin fowld, pundfald  poundfold and pin field.  The person who looked after the pound or pinfold was known as a pinder or pinner.

 

It should be noted that the sheepfold, although similar in structure, was built for a different purpose and should not be confused with a pinfold or pound. Sheepfolds were and are used to provide shelter and for use by the shepherd in the management of the sheep flocks. They are usually on the fells away from the villages. However there are some pinfolds in places where you would normally find a sheepfold.  For the purposes of this study I have excluded structures shown on maps as a sheepfold.

 

 (to be continued)