Appleby-in-Westmorland
Encyclopedia
Appleby-in-Westmorland is a town and civil parish in Cumbria
, in North West England
. It is situated within a loop of the River Eden
and has a population of approximately 2,500. It is in the historic county
of Westmorland
, of which it was the county town
. The town's name was simply Appleby, until the local government changes of 1974. When a successor parish
was formed for the former borough of Appleby, the council effected a change in the town's name, to preserve the historic county's name.
Appleby's main industry is tourism, due to its history, remote location, scenery and closeness to the Lake District
, the North Pennines
, Swaledale
and Howgill Fells
.
Appleby is overlooked by the (privately owned) Appleby Castle
, a predominantly Norman
structure, which provided the home for Lady Anne Clifford
, in the 17th century. The closure of Appleby Castle during the summer months means that this peaceful backwater remains somewhat quiet almost all year round. Its main status — with very little industry in Cumbria — is to sell goods to the farming communities round about. Many residents commute to jobs elsewhere. The bypass around the town does not help, as potential passing trade does not often enter the town. However, the annual Appleby Horse Fair
, held regularly in early June, earliest record since the 12th century with a charter made by Henry II (however it is thought to have a longer tradition), brings Gypsies
from all over Britain to the town.
Appleby railway station is on the Settle-Carlisle Line. Appleby East
station was nearby; it closed in 1962 but retains the potential for connection to the Eden Valley Railway
.
was a parliamentary borough, electing two Members of Parliament
, from medieval times; by the 18th century it had become a pocket borough, the nomination of its MPs effectively being in the gift of the Lowther family
. Its representatives included William Pitt the Younger
, who was MP for Appleby when he became Prime Minister in 1783 (although he stood down at the following general election when he was instead elected for Cambridge University
). A later member for Appleby was Viscount Howick, subsequently (as Earl Grey
) the Prime Minister whose administration passed the Great Reform Act
of 1832; but Grey's history as a former MP for the town did not save it from losing both its members under the Act. As the only county town to be disfranchised, Appleby was one of the more controversial cases in the debates on the reform bill, the opposition making unsuccessful attempts to amend the bill so as to save at least one of its MPs.
The town remained a municipal borough
until this status was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972
and superseded by Eden
district, based in Penrith
. Although having the status of a municipal borough, it was a lot smaller in size and population than most urban district
s in the country. It had, however, a larger population than some early Westmorland urban districts including Grasmere
and Shap
.
Although Appleby was the county town of Westmorland
, the former county council
sat in Kendal
, even though the Assize Courts were in Appleby.
spoken around the Penrith
and Eden district area.
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, in North West England
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
. It is situated within a loop of the River Eden
River Eden, Cumbria
The River Eden is a river that flows through Cumbria, England on its way to the Solway Firth.-Course of river:The Eden rises in Black Fell Moss, Mallerstang, on the high ground between High Seat, Yorkshire Dales and Hugh Seat. Here it forms the boundary between the counties of Cumbria and North...
and has a population of approximately 2,500. It is in the historic county
Historic counties of England
The historic counties of England are subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires...
of Westmorland
Westmorland
Westmorland is an area of North West England and one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974, after which the entirety of the county was absorbed into the new county of Cumbria.-Early history:...
, of which it was the county town
County town
A county town is a county's administrative centre in the United Kingdom or Ireland. County towns are usually the location of administrative or judicial functions, or established over time as the de facto main town of a county. The concept of a county town eventually became detached from its...
. The town's name was simply Appleby, until the local government changes of 1974. When a successor parish
Successor parish
Successor parishes are civil parishes with a parish council created by the Local Government Act 1972 in England. They replaced, with the same boundaries, a selected group of urban districts and municipal boroughs that were abolished in 1974. Most successor parish councils exercised the right to...
was formed for the former borough of Appleby, the council effected a change in the town's name, to preserve the historic county's name.
Economy
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
, the North Pennines
North Pennines
The North Pennines is the northernmost section of the Pennine range of hills which runs north-south through northern England. It lies between Carlisle to the west and Darlington to the east...
, Swaledale
Swaledale
Swaledale is one of the northernmost dales in the Yorkshire Dales National Park in northern England. It is the dale of the River Swale on the east side of the Pennines in North Yorkshire.-Geographical overview:...
and Howgill Fells
Howgill Fells
The Howgill Fells are hills in Northern England between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, lying roughly in between the vertices of a triangle made by the towns of Sedbergh, Kirkby Stephen and Tebay....
.
Appleby is overlooked by the (privately owned) Appleby Castle
Appleby Castle
Appleby Castle is in the town of Appleby, Cumbria overlooking the River Eden . It consists of a 12th-century castle keep which is known as Caesar's tower, and a mansion house. These, together with their associated buildings, are set in a courtyard surrounded by curtain walls...
, a predominantly Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
structure, which provided the home for Lady Anne Clifford
Lady Anne Clifford
Lady Anne Clifford, 14th Baroness de Clifford was the only surviving child of George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland by his wife Lady Margaret Russell, daughter of Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford...
, in the 17th century. The closure of Appleby Castle during the summer months means that this peaceful backwater remains somewhat quiet almost all year round. Its main status — with very little industry in Cumbria — is to sell goods to the farming communities round about. Many residents commute to jobs elsewhere. The bypass around the town does not help, as potential passing trade does not often enter the town. However, the annual Appleby Horse Fair
Appleby Horse Fair
The Appleby Horse Fair is a horse fair which is held annually at Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria in England....
, held regularly in early June, earliest record since the 12th century with a charter made by Henry II (however it is thought to have a longer tradition), brings Gypsies
Irish Traveller
Irish Travellers are a traditionally nomadic people of ethnic Irish origin, who maintain a separate language and set of traditions. They live predominantly in the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States.-Etymology:...
from all over Britain to the town.
Appleby railway station is on the Settle-Carlisle Line. Appleby East
Appleby East railway station
Appleby East railway station was situated on the Eden Valley Railway between Kirkby Stephen East and Penrith in Cumbria, England. The station served the town of Appleby-in-Westmorland. Railway services to Appleby now use Appleby railway station.-History:...
station was nearby; it closed in 1962 but retains the potential for connection to the Eden Valley Railway
Eden Valley Railway
The Eden Valley Railway was a railway in Cumbria, England. It ran between Clifton Junction near Penrith and Kirkby Stephen via Appleby-in-Westmorland....
.
Local government
ApplebyAppleby (UK Parliament constituency)
Appleby was a parliamentary constituency in the former county of Westmorland in England. It existed for two separate periods: from 1295 to 1832, and from 1885 to 1918....
was a parliamentary borough, electing two Members of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, from medieval times; by the 18th century it had become a pocket borough, the nomination of its MPs effectively being in the gift of the Lowther family
Earl of Lonsdale
Earl of Lonsdale is a title that has been created twice in British history, firstly in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1784 , and then in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1807, both times for members of the Lowther family....
. Its representatives included William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
, who was MP for Appleby when he became Prime Minister in 1783 (although he stood down at the following general election when he was instead elected for Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
). A later member for Appleby was Viscount Howick, subsequently (as Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, KG, PC , known as Viscount Howick between 1806 and 1807, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 22 November 1830 to 16 July 1834. A member of the Whig Party, he backed significant reform of the British government and was among the...
) the Prime Minister whose administration passed the Great Reform Act
Reform Act 1832
The Representation of the People Act 1832 was an Act of Parliament that introduced wide-ranging changes to the electoral system of England and Wales...
of 1832; but Grey's history as a former MP for the town did not save it from losing both its members under the Act. As the only county town to be disfranchised, Appleby was one of the more controversial cases in the debates on the reform bill, the opposition making unsuccessful attempts to amend the bill so as to save at least one of its MPs.
The town remained a municipal borough
Municipal borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002...
until this status was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
and superseded by Eden
Eden, Cumbria
Eden is a local government district in Cumbria, England. Its council is based in Penrith. It is named after the River Eden which flows north through the district toward Carlisle....
district, based in Penrith
Penrith, Cumbria
Penrith was an urban district between 1894 and 1974, when it was merged into Eden District.The authority's area was coterminous with the civil parish of Penrith although when the council was abolished Penrith became an unparished area....
. Although having the status of a municipal borough, it was a lot smaller in size and population than most urban district
Urban district
In the England, Wales and Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected Urban District Council , which shared local government responsibilities with a county council....
s in the country. It had, however, a larger population than some early Westmorland urban districts including Grasmere
Grasmere
Grasmere is a village, and popular tourist destination, in the centre of the English Lake District. It takes its name from the adjacent lake, and is associated with the Lake Poets...
and Shap
Shap
Shap is a linear village and civil parish located amongst fells and isolated dales in Eden district, Cumbria, England. The village lies along the A6 road and the West Coast Main Line, and is near to the M6 motorway...
.
Although Appleby was the county town of Westmorland
Westmorland
Westmorland is an area of North West England and one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974, after which the entirety of the county was absorbed into the new county of Cumbria.-Early history:...
, the former county council
County council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
sat in Kendal
Kendal
Kendal, anciently known as Kirkby in Kendal or Kirkby Kendal, is a market town and civil parish within the South Lakeland District of Cumbria, England...
, even though the Assize Courts were in Appleby.
Appleby dialect
The Appleby dialect is a variant of the Cumbrian dialectCumbrian dialect
The Cumbrian dialect is a local English dialect spoken in Cumbria in northern England, not to be confused with the extinct Celtic language Cumbric that used to be spoken in Cumbria. As in any county, there is a gradual drift in accent towards its neighbours...
spoken around the Penrith
Penrith, Cumbria
Penrith was an urban district between 1894 and 1974, when it was merged into Eden District.The authority's area was coterminous with the civil parish of Penrith although when the council was abolished Penrith became an unparished area....
and Eden district area.
External links
- Town Council and Tourist Information Centre
- Appleby Horse Fair Appleby is the site of the celebrated horse fair.
- Appleby webcam overlooking River Eden
- Information Guide to Appleby