Waitby is a small village and civil parish in Westmorland and Furness Unitary Authority of Cumbria, England. The parish contains two small villages, Waitby and Smardale, plus the small hamlets of Riddlesay, Stripes and Leases, all of which are in the farmed and enclosured northern part at an elevation of around 200–300m. The southern half of the parish is mostly heath and unused for agriculture, it rises to Smardale fell; which it includes, at elevations between 300 and 400m. The civil parish of Ravenstonedale forms the boundary to the south. The western border with Crosby Garrett civil parish is formed by Scandal Beck. To the north and east lie Soulby and Kirkby Stephen civil parishes respectively. The population of the civil parish as measured at the 2011 Census was less than 100. Details are included in the parish of Crosby Garrett.
Waitby Beck rises from springs to the north east of the Waitby, joining Sandwith Sike which flows into the River Eden. Other minor becks include Hazel Gill and Choup Gill both of which join Scandal Beck.
Waitby (originally Watebi c.1170) means "wet farmstead" from the Old Norsevátr (wet) + by (farm. cf "byre")[1] The village may have also been known as Wadeby or Waldeby; the alternative etymology "Waldeve's dwelling" has also been proposed.[2]
Waitby and Smardale school was founded in 1630 as a free school for the children of the villages of Waitby and Smardale by James Highmoor, a London weaver born in Kirkby Stephen with the gift of £100 for its upkeep and to employ a schoolmaster.[7] The school was rebuilt in 1867 by public subscription.[8]
Now named Waitby School the building is a grade II listed building[8] and has been converted into holiday accommodation.[9]
There is also a football team in waitby called waitby fc
Other listed structures
Leases farmhouse (18th/19th century)[10] and a nearby 19th century barn[11] and boundary stone near Leases[12] are grade II listed structures. The 18th century Wharton House and later threshing barn in Waitby are also grade II listed buildings.[13]
^Waitby via www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
^The history and antiquities of the counties of Westmorland and Cumberland , Volume 1 , Joseph Nicolson, Richard Burn, William Nicolson, Henry Hornyold-Strickland , 1777 , p.555. "Manor of Waitby" google books link
^Waitby Greenriggswww.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk Retrieved 25 July 2010.
