Kaber

THE LORDSHIP of the Manor of Kaber is situated mainly in the parish of Kirkby Stephen. Kaber is a large and scattered village, a good proportion of which lies in the southern division of the forest of Stainmore. The northern part of the Lordship lies on the north side of the river Belo and is in the parish of Brough. The township measures some 3,962 acres and contains the hamlets of Higher Scales and Rookby, as well as the main village of Kaber.

It is not known exactly how the Lordship came by its name. It is possible that it refers, in the Anglo-Saxcon, to the town of kay. Who this individual was is lost to history. The earliest recorded Lord of the Manor of Kaber was the Kabergh family. During the reign of Henry II (1154-1189) it was found to be held by Robert de Kabergh. In the reign of John (1199-1216) it had passed to Robert’s son, Robert. Evidently it continued in the possession of this family until the reign of Edward II (1307-1327). In 1314, at an inquisition taken after the death Robert de Clifford, Baron of Westmoreland, from whom the Lordship was held, it was found that the Lord of the Manor of Kaber was Allan de Kabergh who had owed to his lord, by way of homage, the cornage (rental) of 17s. 8d.

Allan may well have been the last member of this family since by the time of the reign of Edward III (1327-1377) the ownership had passed to the Rookby family. Thomas de Rookby was Lord here in 1336 and in that year was granted free warren over his lands in Kaber. After Thomas’ death the Lordship passed to his son, John, who was levied a fine for his moiety of Rookby in the Lordship, in 1360. Soon after this however the Lordship passed into the hands of the Fulthorp family. Firstly it was held by Roger de Fulthorp, who may have come by it to marriage to a Rookby heiress. From him it passed to his son, William, who is recorded as being Lord here in 1392. From him it passed to either his son, or grandson, Thomas Fulthorp, who was justice of the court of common please.

On the death of Thomas Fulthorp, the Lordship of Kaber descended to his eldest son, Allan. In an inquisition into the death of Henry , Lord Clifford, in 1504 it was found that Allan held the Lordship from the Cliffords by payment of cornage worth 17s. In addition Fulthorp was required to do suit of court every month at the Baron’s castle at Appleby. After Allan’s death he was succeeded in his estates by his son, Christopher. In 1533 there is record of an Ambrose Middleton, tenant of Henry, earl of Cumberland, paying out 100s for the relief of John Fulthorp, son and heir of Christopher Fulthorp, for his Lordship of Kaber, held of the Earl by service of one knight’s fee.

It is not known whether John succeeded his father since in the reign of Mary (1553-1558) it was in the possession of Thomas Fulthorp.

On the death of Thomas Fulthorp, Kaber seems to have passed, either through purchase or by will, to George Wandesforth of Kirlington in Yorkshire. In 1605 he sold it on to Robert Wadeson of Yafforth. Wadeson was succeeded by his son Sir John Wadeson. He sold the Lordship for £1,200 to Robert Jackson of Brough, Thomas Robinson of Nateby and Robert Hindmore of Kirkby Stephen and Anthony Fothergill of Trannahill, in trust for the inhabitants and landowners of Kaber. The history of this agreement is rather obscure and in the 19th century the Lordship was purchased by the earls of Thanet. The current descendent of this family, Lord Hothfield is the present Lord of the Manor of Kaber.

Kaber is notable for being the venue of a rebellion in 1663. This was an unusual event since the rebellion in question was fomented by a group of republicans, angry at the restoration of Charles II. A clandestine meeting of the rebel leaders was called, to be held at a place known as Kaber Rigg. A great number of men are said to have arrived for the meeting but intelligence had got out and they were intercepted by the local militia. Most of the conspirators, of which was known as the Kaber Rigg Plot, escaped but some of the leaders, among then a Captain Atkinson, were arrested. They were transported to Appleby Castle and in March of the following year were executed in the castle grounds.

Rights, customs and incidents

Thomas de Rookby was Lord here in 1336 and in that year was granted free warren over his lands in Kaber.

Historical holder / succession information

1. Thomas de Rookby
   1336 · stated_lord · historical_holder
   Source wording: Thomas de Rookby was Lord here in 1336 and in that year was granted free warren over his lands in Kaber.
2. his son, John [source claim requiring identity review]
   1360 · passed_to · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: After Thomas’ death the Lordship passed to his son, John, who was levied a fine for his moiety of Rookby in the Lordship, in 1360.
3. his eldest son, Allan [source claim requiring identity review]
   passed_to · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: On the death of Thomas Fulthorp, the Lordship of Kaber descended to his eldest son, Allan.
4. In an inquisition into the death of Henry , Lord Clifford [source claim requiring identity review]
   1504 · held_manor · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: In an inquisition into the death of Henry , Lord Clifford, in 1504 it was found that Allan held the Lordship from the Cliffords by payment of cornage worth 17s.
5. earls of Thanet [source claim requiring identity review]
   purchased_by · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: The history of this agreement is rather obscure and in the 19th century the Lordship was purchased by the earls of Thanet.
6. Lord Hothfield
   current_holder_statement · catalogue_stated_current_holder
   Source wording: The current descendent of this family, Lord Hothfield is the present Lord of the Manor of Kaber.