The Victoria History of Cumberland: Kirkoswald and Renwick has been well received since its publication earlier this year.

Reviewers have praised the book for its high quality, its range of sources, and the varied perspectives it covers, particularly the sections on landscape and economic history. Also noted is the focus on the ordinary people (often absent from traditional VCH histories), who were integral to the story of these two Fellside parishes.

Dan Elsworth, writing for Northern History, says, 'it takes considerable effort to find fault. The book is thorough, detailed and yet concise..... if all of the subsequent ones​ are of this quality, they will form an extremely valuable resource and do great service​ to the project as a whole.'

Brodie Waddell, writing for The Journal of Landscape History, says, 'this volume contributes directly to the mission of the VCH of providing​ ‘authoritative, encyclopaedic histories’ of every​ parish in the country and the publication of further​ histories for Cumberland parishes will provide new​ examples for easy comparative analysis. Yet, it is also​ a stand-alone study that is illuminating in its own​ right, valuable to anyone with an interest in upland​ communities.'

Kirkoswald and Renwick, by Richard Brockington with Sarah Rose, is the first VCH volume on Cumbria in 114 years, and the first for the VCH Cumbria project, which is based in the Regional Heritage Centre. The project is reliant on volunteer researchers and writers, many of whom have no formal training in historical research. These positive reviews stand testament as to what they can achieve.