In 1717 Gastrell noted that there was a private school in the parish without any endowment at present, but the late rector Richard Hutton had left the interest of £50 towards a master upon the death of his widow and Mr Henry Singleton of Whitehaven had left the inetrest of £200 for the same use after the death of his widow. In 1717, both women were living. By 1722 they were both dead, and the 'school built at the charge of inhabitants'. Master nominated by Rector and 4 or 5 of the parish. The Cumbria Parishes, ed. L.A.S. Butler, Cumb. & Westmor. Ant. & Arch. Soc., vol. 12 (1998), 48.