Early Keenlyside residents of Allendale

The earliest verifiable date for Keenlysides in Allendale is 1547, when a survey of the area shows them owning two properties. Roger Keenlyside has Keenlyside (possibly Keenlyside Fell and Michael Keenlyside has Keenlyside Hill. By the time of the next survey in 1608 the two properties have been combinded and are owned by William Keenlyside. The property remains with the family and in 1701 another William Keenlyside surrenders it to himself for life and the life of his daughter, Mary. This seems unusual, at that time women did not ordinarily own property. The property leaves the family in 1830 when Mary's great-grandson (so she must have married), John Clark sold his share to Mr Ord of Whitfield. There had been Keenlysides here for 283 years, possibly longer as we are not aware of the exact time they took possession of the property.

1547 was a significant year. On 28 January King Henry V111 died leaving the country in the hands of his son, the nine year old Edward V1 (1537-1553). He was the only legitimate heir by Henry's wife, Jane Seymour.