Crayston Webster

Baptised in Heversham Westmorland 21 Dec 1823 (son of Alexander Webster and Margaret CRAYSTON.

Crayston was the Kendal Borough Surveyor and Land Agent

He had his own firm Webster Son & Banks. Alexander was the son and the BANKS was an a John BANKS.

Crayston married Jane RISHTON 9 March 1846 Kendal. Jane's parents were Henry RISHTON and Jane PRESTON. Crayston and Jane's children were: Jane (c. 1847), Margaret (c. 1849), Alexander (c. b. 13 June 1851), Alfred (c. 1853), Dorah (c. 4 May 1855), Henry John (10 May 1855), James (c. 1861 d. 27 Jul 1885 on board ship in the Red Sea), Emma (c. 1864).

Webster wrote, The farming of Westmorland, Journal of the Royal Society of Agriculture of England, 2nd ser. 4 (1868), pp6-7.

"Webster as sole valuer for 25 enclosures made under the 1845 act, oversaw the re-shaping of some 17 per cent of the total area enclosed in Westmorland and 18 per cent in north Lancashire.[1]

    1848-1849 Smardale
    1848-1850 Newbiggin
    1845-1851 Waitby intack
    1845-1852 Kirkby intack
    1845-1853 Little Musgrave intake
    1850-1853 Little Musgrave
    1850-53 Dillicar
    1850-54 Over Staveley
    1852-1854 Waitby
    1851-1854 Colby
    1852-1855 Kirkby Stephen,
    1853-54 Kentmere Green Quarter
    1854-1855 Church Brough intake
    1855-1858 Maulds Meaburn
    1856- 1858 Tilberthwaite Fell
    1857-1859 Great Musgrave
    1857-1859 Gleaston
    1858-1862 Hawkshead
    1859-1862 Skelwyth
    1859-1862 Osmotherley
    1861-65 Hartsop
    1861-65 Scandale
    1867-70 Wadshaw Common
    1872 High and Low Millala, Dufton Moss, Dufton
    1879-1890 Stainmore[2]

His enclosure surveys were not limited to Lancashire and Westmorland.

---

[1] I. Whyte, Transforming Fell and Valley, CNWRS, University of Lancaster, 2000, p44

[2] list taken from Whyte p45

Credit: Stephen Read