Dalston was described by Francis Jollie in 1811 as follows:
An extensive and well-built village on the banks of the Caldew; at the east end of the town is a cross raised on several steps, the pillar sculpted with the coat of arms of Bishop Kyte and others. This thriving village dates its rise from the late enterprising George Hodson, a gentleman who came from Manchester about 26 years ago, well skilled in every branch of the cotton business. He erected extensive cotton works here upon the Caldew for manufacturing calicoes, fustians, corduroys, velverets, &c dyeing and finishing the same; and also for spinning. The works are now carried on under the firm of Messrs. Hebson, Lamb, Foster and Waldie. Mr Watson, on the west side of the Caldew, has also a cotton-twist mill, and an iron-plating forge, where excellent articles are made; and a few years ago, Mr Hebson erected a cotton twist mill, on an extensive scale. This place is the residence of Mr Dugdale, a very ingenious mechanic.
Pigot’s 1829-29 directory states:
‘A village and parish is rather more than 4 miles from Carlisle and 17 from Penrith, pleasantly situated on the river Caldew, the stream of which is applied to working the machinery of three cotton mills, a flax mill and a flour mill: at a forge in this parish are made a great number of spades and other instruments of husbandry. There is a small market on Friday, for the sale of butcher’s meat, vegetables, &c. The population of the whole parish in 1821 was 2716, and of Dalston township about 1000 of that number.’
The population of Dalston was 2,120 in 1801. By 1831 it had increased to 3,023. First cotton mill in the town was opened in 1782.
The parish workhouse was built in 1827.
Sources
Francis Jollie, Cumberland Guide and Directory containing a descriptive tour through the county (Carlisle: F. Jollie and Sons, 1811)
Pigot and Co., National Commercial Directory [Part 1: Cheshire – Northumberland] for 1828–29 (London and Manchester: J. Pigot and Co., 1828)
cumbriacountyhistory.org.uk/township/dalston