The Steel family of Bolton, Westmorland.

Investigations so far have revealed that the first Steel ancestors definitely traced were called William and Mary Steel (the great-great-great- great-great grandparents of the author). They were married in Long Marton, a village in Westmorland, in 1741. One of their sons, George Steel (1746-1807) was born in Crackenthorpe and baptised in Appleby St Michael in 1746.

George Steel (1746-1807) moved to the village of Bolton, near Appleby, and married Mary Allen (1747-1828), in 1770 at the parish church in Bolton. They had seven children, born between 1770 and 1790. One of their sons was called Lancelot Steel (1790-1873) the author's great-great- great grandfather. Lancelot's son George Steel (1818-1902) was born in the nearby village of Morland, and his son George Steel (1859-1940) was born in Kirkby Stephen, Westmorland.

A visit was made to this part of Westmorland, now part of Cumbria, and specifically the Eden Valley, to take a look at the villages where these people lived.
Here are some photographs of the Eden Valley villages.

Click on any picture to see a larger version.

The parish church at Bolton, Westmorland.

The gravestone of George Steel (1746-1807) and family at Bolton.

The parish church at Morland.

The beautiful village of Morland.

The parish church at Kirkby Stephen.

The 19th century Cloisters in Kirkby Stephen Market Square.

The grave and sundial of George Steel (1859-1940) in Kirkby Stephen Cemetery.

This sundial has a story associated with it:

George Steel wanted to honour his father (also called George Steel) by building a monument in the cemetery. He chose to install a sundial, which bears a plaque dated 1930, and is still there, now next to his grave. The following story is recounted in a book entitled The History of Kirkby Stephen (by Douglas Birkbeck):

'A native of the town, Mr G. Steel, felt much affection for Kirkby Stephen, though he had moved elsewhere. His son lived near Morecambe, but inherited his father's love of the town, and to perpetuate his father's memory he had a sundial built in the cemetery. On his birthday, he required a boy to place his hand on the sundial and recite a psalm. In return, the boy received £1. when this second G. Steel died in 1940 he left a small annuity for beautifying of the cemetery on condition that on his birthday the first psalm was to be recited at the sundial. So each year a pupil of the Primary School was chosen to fulfil this condition and to receive his £1 reward, a custom which is still continued. There was one year, some time ago, when as many as eight children turned up to take part. They encircled the sundial, recited the psalm, and received half a crown (12.5 p) each as their reward.'

The Steel family tree has been compiled and is kept up to date by John Steel. The family tree of George and Mary Steel is detailed on his website

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