In the sleepy agricultural village of Ireby in Cumbria, is the Parish church dedicated to St James.
A monument to the fallen in World War I and II reads:
In memory of the men
Ireby, Cumbria - War Memorial
of this parish who
gave their lives
in the war
1914- 1918
William Carlisle
John Graham
George Lawman
William Lawman
Ben Pattinson
j Dixon Pearson
Joseph Smithson
and in the war
1939 – 1945
Harry Stephens
Joseph Strong
Frank Vipond
Tom Watson
St Jame's church, Ireby
This new church replaced the earlier 12th century building about 1 mile further away and itself is built on the remnants of an old medieval church, especially noticeable in the build of the north wall. However, most of the structure dates back to it’s early 18th century construction.
The font, which is thought to date from the 18th century sits on an earlier medieval base brought from the original church.
Internal memorials are dedicated to Thomas Thomlinson 1803 and in the chancel, to the Gillbanks family of Whitfield house, who’s vault is in the church.
In the small cemetery, most gravestones are dated around the 18th and 19th centuries. Any older burials will be sited at the old church but most of these gravestones have now gone.
CA7 1HA
OS Grid Reference: NY2401137930
OS Grid Coordinates: 324011, 537930
Latitude/Longitude: 54.7306, -3.1815
To date, we have been unable to find any transcription records for St. Jame’s church burials in Ireby or for the older Norman church, but if anybody knows different, please do contact us via the comments section at the end of this article.
