Milburn is a village set around a rectangular green three miles north-east of Temple Sowerby, making it a classic example of a mediaeval fortified village.
The parish is the most northern in old Westmorland and the village has retained its original plan laid down in the 12th century. Always in danger of being destroyed by raiders from Scotland, its houses were built facing a spacious green to make a protection for cattle. At each corner of the gree are narrow entrances which were walled up each winter, a custom that continued until 150 years ago. Access to the village was made by 'through-gangs'...narrow, easily defended gaps between the houses.
The village green has been used as common land for centuries with some of the present inhabitants still retaining their grazing rights. The maypole still to be seen is believed to have been erected on an ancient Celtic burial site.
Just outside the village is Howgill Castle dating back to the 14th century. Much of the castle has undergone many architectural changes over the centuries, with much of the interior of the two pele towers being beautifully restored, together with the adjoining watermill and currently in regular use. Until comparatively recently, the house of an extensive sheep farm, Howgill Castle was originally planned as a semi-fortified house in the 14th century. With walls ten feet thick and two huge towers on each side of a central hall, it still retains something of its early grandeur.
The whole of the south-east front was altered in 1733 but some of the 16th century windows were retained. In the middle of the 18th century Colonel Honeywood, an officer in the Duke of Cumberland's army, owned the castle. It was to this place that he was brought home severely wounded, after the skirmish on Clifton Moor near Penrith, with a rearguard force of Highlanders retreating north-ward in December 1745. He recovered to be an MP for Appleby for 30 years.
The church of St Cuthberts dates from Norman times, and is built of red sandstone.
An old custom here was Butts Hill Nights when local lads on saturday nights would remove gates and set them around Butt Hill. Other household goods, such as brooms, buckets, etc would be set around the maypole to be subsequently retrieved by the owners the following day.
Built into the wall of Underwood House, within a mile of the church is a Roman inscribed stone, taken from a nearby quarry, and relates to the work of the 20th legion.
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