Parish councils were established in 1894 under the terms of the 1894 Local Government Act, and inherited the remaining secular functions of the ecclesiastical parish vestries.
Under the terms of the Act, there had to be a parish meeting in each rural parish or a parish council if population exceeded 300. Parish councils could also be created in parishes with less than 300 residents providing the county council agreed.
Parish meetings consist of the parochial electors whereas parish councils are formed by a chairman and councillors chosen by the parochial electors.
Parish councils and parish meetings only have limited powers. Their main influence is to make recommendations to the district councils and/or the county council. They are involved in the management of burial grounds and act as trustees for local charities and parish property (eg village greens, village halls, recreation grounds and allotments). They also have dealings with public footpaths, street lighting, public improvements, building control, planning applications, sewerage, water supply and roads.
Parish councils and parish meetings still exist today. The 1972 Local Government Act incorporated them in the new scheme of local government alongside district councils and county councils. This act also created town councils (which have the same status as parish councils) in former boroughs.
Parishes: ABCDEFGHIKLMNOPRSTUW
A
Above Derwent Parish Council
Aikton Parish Council
Ainstable Parish Council
Aldingham Parish Council
Allhallows Parish Council
Allithwaite Upper Parish Council
Allonby Parish Council
Alston Moor Parish Council
Arlecdon and Frizington Parish Council
Arnside Parish Council
Arthuret Parish Council
Asby (W) Parish Council
Askam & Ireleth Parish Council
Askham Parish Council
Aspatria Town Council
B
Bampton Parish Council
Bandleyside Parish Council
Barbon Parish Council
Bassenthwaite Parish Council
Beaumont Parish Council
Beckermet St Bridget Parish Council
Beckermet St John Parish Council
Beetham Parish Council
Bewcastle Parish Council
Blawith Parish Council
Blennerhasset and Torpenhow Parish Council
Blindbothel and Whinfell Parish Council
Bolton Parish Council
Boltons Parish Council
Bootle Parish Council
Borrowdale Parish Council
Bothel and Threapland Parish Council
Bowness-on-Solway Parish Council
Bradleyside Parish Council
Braithwaite and Carlatton Parish Council
Brampton Parish Council
Bromfield Parish Council
Brougham Parish Council
Brough Parish Council
Broughton East Parish Council
Broughton Moor Parish Council
Broughton Parish Council
Burgh-by-Sands Parish Council
Burneside Parish Council
Burton-in-Kendal Parish Council
Buttermere Parish Council
C
Caldbeck Parish Council
Carlisle, St Cuthbert's Without Parish Council
Cartmel Fell Parish Council
Casterton Parish Council
Castlerigg, St.John's and Wythburn Parish Council
Castle Carrock Parish Council
Castle Sowerby Parish Council
Claife Parish Council
Cliburn Parish Council
Clifton Parish Council
Cockermouth Town Council
Colton Parish Council
Coniston Parish Council
Croglin Parish Council
Crook and Winster Parish Council
Crosby Ravensworth Parish Council
Crosscanonby Parish Council
Crosthwaite and Lyth Parish Council
Culgaith Parish Council
Cummersdale Parish Council
Cumrew Parish Council
Cumrew Parish Meeting
Cumwhitton Parish Council
D
Dacre Parish Council
Dalston Parish Council
Dean Parish Council
Dearham Parish Council
Dent Parish Council
Distington Parish Council
Drigg and Carleton Parish Council
Duddon Parish Council
Dufton Parish Council
Dundraw Parish Council
E
Eaglesfield Parish Council
Egremont, Lowside Parish Council
Egton-cum-Newland Parish Council
Embleton and District Parish Council
Ennerdale and Kinniside Parish Council
Eskdale and Wasdale / Eskdale / Birker and Austhwaite Parish Councils
F
Farlam Parish Council
Finsthwaite Parish Council
G
Garsdale Parish Council
Gilcrux Parish Council
Gosforth Parish Council
Great Clifton Parish Council
Great Salkeld Parish Council
Great Strickland Parish Council
Greysouthen Parish Council
Greystoke Gill Parish Council
H
Haile and Wilton Parish Council
Hartsop and Patterdale Parish Council
Haverthwaite Parish Council
Hawkshead Parish Council
Hayton Parish Council
Helsington Parish Council
Hesket Parish Council
Hethersgill Parish Council
Heversham Parish Council
Holme Abbey Parish Council
Holme Parish Council
Hugill Parish Council
Hutton John & Hutton Soil Parish Council
Hutton Roof Parish Council
K
Kaber Parish Council
Kingmoor Parish Council
Kingwater Parish Council
Kirkandrews on Esk Parish Council
Kirkbampton Parish Council
Kirkby Ireleth Parish Council
Kirkby Lonsdale Parish Council
Kirkby Stephen Parish Council
Kirkby Thore Parish Council
Kirklinton Middle Parish Council
Kirkoswald Parish Council
L
Lambrigg Parish Council
Lamplugh Parish Council
Langdale Parish Council
Langwathby Parish Council
Lazonby Parish Council
Levens Parish Council
Long Marton Parish Council
Lorton Parish Council
Lowca Parish Council
Lower Allithwaite and Upper Holker Parish Council
Loweswater Parish Council
Lowick Parish Council
Low Ireby Parish Council
Lowther Parish Council
Lupton Parish Council
M
Matterdale (including Watermillock) Parish Council
Middlesceugh and Braithwaite Parish Council
Midgeholme Parish Council
Milburn Parish Council
Millom Parish Council
Millom Without Parish Council
Milnthorpe Parish Council
Moresby Parish Council
Morland Parish Council
Muncaster Parish Council
Mungrisdale Parish Council
Murton Parish Council
Musgrave Parish Council
N
Natland Parish Council
Nether Denton Parish Council
Nether Staveley Parish Council
New Hutton Parish Council
Newton Arlosh Parish Council
Nicholforest Parish Council
O
Old Hutton and Holmescales Parish Council
Orton Parish Council (records at Carlisle Archives)
Orton Parish Council (records at Kendal Archives)
Oughterside and Allerby Parish Council
Ousby and Melmerby Parish Council
Over Staveley Parish Council
P
Papcastle Parish Council
Parton Parish Council
Pennington Parish Council
Penrith Town Council
Plumbland Parish Council
Plumpton Wall Parish Council
Ponsonby Parish Council
Portinscale Parish Council
Preston Patrick Parish Council
Preston Richard Parish Council
R
Ravenstonedale Parish Council
Renwick Parish Council
Rockcliffe Parish Council
Rusland Parish Council
Rydal and Loughrigg Parish Council
S
Satterthwaite Parish Council 1958-2006
Satterthwaite Parish Council 1885-1980
Scaleby Parish Council
Scalthwaiterigg Parish Council
Seascale Parish Council
Seaton Parish Council
Sebergham Parish Council
Sedbergh Parish Council
Sedgwick Parish Council
Shap Parish Council
Silloth-on-Solway Town Council
Skelsmergh Parish Council
Skelton Parish Council
Skirwith Parish Council
Sockbridge and Tirril Parish Council
Solport Parish Council
Soulby Parish Council
Staffield Parish Council
Stainmore Parish Council
Stanwix Rural Parish Council
Stapleton, Solport & Trough Parish Council
St Bees Parish Council
T
Tallentire Parish Council
Tebay Parish Council
Threlkeld Parish Council
Thursby Parish Council
Troutbeck (W) Parish Council
U
Uldale Parish Council
Ulpha (C) Parish Council
Ulverston Parish Council
Underbarrow and Bradleyfield Parish Council
Undermillbeck Parish Council
Urswick Parish Council
W
Walton Parish Council
Warcop Parish Council
Wasdale Parish Meeting
Watermillock Parish Council
Waverton Parish Council
Westward Parish Council
Wetheral Parish Council
Whicham Parish Council
Wigton Town Council
Windermere Parish Council
Winscales Parish Council
Witherslack Parish Council
Woodside and Oulton Parish Council
Wreay Parish Meeting