Brough Sowerby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brough Sowerby |
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 Brough Sowerby
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| Population | 137 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | NY7912 |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | KIRKBY STEPHEN |
| Postcode district | CA17 |
| Dialling code | 01768 |
| Police | Cumbria |
| Fire | Cumbria |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Brough Sowerby is a small village in the Eden area of Cumbria, England. It's located about 22 miles southeast of the town of Penrith. In 2011, the village had a population of 137 people. Brough Sowerby is also close to the River Belah. Long ago, it was described as a small settlement with about 140 people and 32 houses. You might find many "Black Bull" inns nearby. These inns got their name from the old Scottish black cattle that were once herded through the market town of Kirkby Stephen.
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What Does "Sowerby" Mean?
The name "Sowerby" has a cool history! Places with this name, like those in Lancashire and Yorkshire, were recorded in the old Domesday Book from 1086. They all mean the same thing: "the farm or village in marshy ground." This comes from two old Norse words: "saurr," which means mud or sour ground, and "byr," which means farm or settlement. So, Brough Sowerby was likely a village built on muddy or wet land.
How the Population Changed
The number of people living in Brough Sowerby has changed a lot over time.
- In 1801, there were 139 people.
- The population grew to its highest point of 180 in 1821.
- Throughout the rest of the 1800s, it stayed between 128 and 155.
- In the 1900s, the population went down to 78 in 1971.
- It then increased to 127 by 2001.
- By 2011, it was 137 people.
Jobs and Businesses in Brough Sowerby
In the past, most people in Brough Sowerby worked in farming. There were also people who worked in trades, like:
- A medieval corn mill (for grinding grain).
- Joiners (who made things from wood).
- Wheelwrights (who made and repaired wheels).
- A clogger (who made wooden shoes).
- A blacksmith (who worked with metal).
Today, the main jobs are still farming and building. Some people even work in refining vegetable oil! The "Black Bull" coaching inn, which was first recorded in 1810, is still open today.
Even though Brough Sowerby is a small village, it has some interesting businesses. One company, Bay Oils Ltd, helps with the disposal of waste oil. They are a family business that has been working with oil for over 25 years.
Who Owned the Land?
Brough Sowerby was part of a larger area called the Westmorland or Appleby barony. Over many years, different important families owned the land in Brough Sowerby. These included the Vetriponts, the Cliffords, and later the earls of Thanet. In the late 1500s, the Wharton family started buying up land there. Eventually, in 1747, the Lowther estate bought these lands from the Duke of Wharton's family. Today, many different people own smaller pieces of land in the village.
Housing in the Village
In 2009, a group called the Cumbria Rural Housing Trust looked into the housing needs in Brough Sowerby. They found that some people in the village wanted to move to a different home within the parish in the next five years. However, they couldn't find suitable housing available. This showed a need for more affordable homes in the area.
