Cumbria Archives
Preserving and providing the historical records of Cumbria

Cities

A city is a borough which has or had a bishop, or which has been created a city by the Crown.  It is a purely honorific title.  Carlisle is the only city in Cumbria. The City of Carlisle was incorporated in 1158. It was made a County Borough in 1888 and gained District Council powers in 1974. 

Carlisle City pre 1835 records include:

  • Charters and letters patent
  • Assembly minutes
  • Freeman and gild admission
  • Court records of the Court of Mayor and Bailiffs, Court leet, Court of Freeholders and of Customary tenants
  • Chamberlains' accounts
  • Rentals
  • Manor of Warwick records

Carlisle City post 1835 records include:

  • Minute books of Board of Health/Urban Sanitary Authority
  • Letter books
  • Electoral registers
  • Burgess/Citizen rolls
  • Motor taxation registers and records re 'HH' registration
  • Rate books
  • Valuation lists
  • Building control plans

Carlisle City post 1975 records include:

  • Copy minute books of council and committees
  • Rate books

City of Carlisle records