Hartley is a village and civil parish in the Westmorland and Furness district of Cumbria, England.

The area has many old lead and copper mines that are now abandoned as well as a large quantity of iron haematite, ironstone and ore. At the highest peak in Hartley stand nine obelisks referred to as "Nine Standards".

Nobody knows the true purpose of the "Nine Standards" although some believe that they were used to create a sense of a forthcoming army to scare the enemy forces.

However, it is more widely believed that they were placed as geographical aid to help outline the borders between the two neighbouring counties, Westmorland and Yorkshire.

Sir Andrew de Harcala was given residence at Hartley Castle in the 13th century as he served Edward II and then was later pronounced Earl of Carlisle.

However, when Robert the Bruce invaded the north of England, Sir Andrew de Harcala was executed on accounts of treason.

[3] However, Sir Andrew de Harcala was also given other pieces of estate including the Kings Watermill now known as Hartley Low Mill.

As well as losing residence at Hartley Castle, Sir Andrew also lost the Kings Watermill as soon as he was executed.

The census in 1881 helps show the different occupations that the population of Hartley, Westmorland had at the time.

Whilst for women, it was very difficult for them to acquire a job as they were expected by society to not work and to be dependent on men.

The Victoria and Albert Museum states that "Traditionally, women were defined physically and intellectually as the 'weaker' sex, in all ways subordinate to male authority.