WIGTON, a market town, in a parish of the same name and in the ward of Cumberland, is 305 miles from London, 16 from Maryport, 15 from Keswick, 14 from Cockermouth, and 11 from Carlisle. The town is tolerably well built, and consists of one long spacious street, many of the houses being handsome and modern. The Earl of Egremont is lord of the manor or barony of Wigton, and holds a court leet twice in the year, at one of which a constable is appointed; but the general government of the town lies with the county magistrates. The church, a neat light structure, was erected in 1788, and [there] is a vicarage, in the patronage of the bishop of the diocese: the present incumbent is the Revd Jonathan Irving. Here are chapels for the Wesleyan Methodists, independents, and a friends’ meeting house; also a free grammar school, and an hospital for six clergymen’s widows. Brookfield school, near the town, was established in 1826 by the Society of Friends, for the education of sixty scholars. Here are subscription, parochial, and diocesan libraries; last named presented by Dr Bray, for the use of the clergy. The principal manufactures of Wigton comprise checks, ginghams, calicos, and some linens, an extensive calico printing establishment; and a silk hat manufactory are also in the town. At a short distance from it pass the rivers Wampool and Waver, which turn a number of corn mills: coals are worked three miles off, and copper about five miles from Wigton.

About a mile to the south are the ruins of a Roman station, called “Old Carlisle,” where many antiquities have, at various times, been found. Wigton is seated in a beautiful and healthy part of the county in a fine agricultural district: the land in the vicinity of the town is flat, fertile, and well-cultivated … The weekly market is on Tuesday, which is well supplied with corn, butcher’s meat, &c. On St. Thomas’ day is also a very large one for butcher’s meat, apples, and honey. Fairs are 20th February for horses, which is one of the very largest in the north of England, 5th of April for cattle and horses, and on Whitsun Tuesday for cattle and the hiring agricultural servants, &c. In 1821 the township of Wigton contained 4,056 inhabitants.