Aspatria
Encyclopedia
Aspatria is a small town and civil parish
in Cumbria
, England, and lies half way between Maryport
and Wigton
, on the A596
. Historically within Cumberland
, it is about 5 miles (8 km) away from the coast. It is approximately seven miles from the northern boundary of the Lake District
, and located to the south east of the Solway Firth
. As a result, views from the town stretch from Skiddaw
in the Lakes to Scottish
fells such as Criffel
. It is served by Aspatria railway station
. Aspatria is located on the fringe of the English Lake District.
The parish church of St Kentigern was completed in 1848. Fragments of masonry and crosses from earlier structures on the same site are preserved there.
who fled to the area from Ireland
around 900. In 1789, a local doctor excavated the grave of a Viking
chief on Beacon Hill. Grave goods including a sword, spurs and a battle axe were discovered. Further finds were made on the same site in 1997 when a mobile phone mast was being constructed.
The village stands at the northern end of the West Cumberland Coalfield
and there have been mines in the area since the 16th century. The opening of the Maryport and Carlisle Railway
, in 1842, led to a rapid expansion of the industry. The Brayton Domain Collieries sank five different pits around the town at various times and there were also mines near Mealsgate
, Baggrow
and Fletchertown
. In 1902, a new mine was sunk at Oughterside. The last pit in the town, Brayton Domain No.5, closed in 1940.
In 1889, one of England’s first farmers’ co-operatives was established here with offices in the market square, facing the Aspatria Agricultural College which flourished from 1874 until 1925.
Sir Wilfrid Lawson MP (1829–1906) lived at Brayton Hall just outside the town. He was a committed nonconformist and a leader of the Temperance Movement
. His memorial stands in the market square, topped by a bronze effigy of St George slaying the dragon – said to represent the demon drink. Brayton Hall was destroyed by fire in 1918.
. It translates as "Ash-tree of St Patrick", and is composed of the elements askr (Old Scandinavian for "ash-tree") and the Celtic saint's name. The order of the elements of the name, with the ash-tree coming before the name of the saint, is particular to Celtic place-names.
manufacturer Sealy
have maintained their British head office since 1974. There is also the First Milk creamery
, a farmers’ co-operative which produces Lake District Cheese, now the third best-selling Cheddar Brand in the UK. 60 tonnes of cheese are produced daily, using 800,000 litres of milk. The business of the Aspatria Farmers, formerly the Aspatria Agricultural Cooperative Society
is also close by.
club Aspatria RUFC
, currently playing in the RFU's North West division two. The 'Aspatria Eagles' are the club's second team, and the 'Aspatria Sinners' are the women's team. Aspatria FC are the town's football club who compete in the Tesco Cumberland County Premier League.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in Cumbria
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...
, England, and lies half way between Maryport
Maryport
Maryport is a town and civil parish within the Allerdale borough of Cumbria, England, in the historic county of Cumberland. It is located on the A596 road north of Workington, and is the southernmost town on the Solway Firth. Maryport railway station is on the Cumbrian Coast Line. The town is in...
and Wigton
Wigton
Wigton is a small market town and civil parish outside the Lake District, in the administrative county of Cumbria in England, and traditionally in Cumberland. It is the bustling and thriving centre of the Solway Plain, situated between the Caldbeck Fells and the Solway coast...
, on the A596
A596 road
The A596 is a primary route in Cumbria, in northern England, that runs between Thursby and Workington. For its entirety the A596 parallels the A595, and meets the A595 at both ends. The A596 begins its course at a roundabout junction with the A595 at Thursby, before continuing past the towns of...
. Historically within Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
, it is about 5 miles (8 km) away from the coast. It is approximately seven miles from the northern boundary of the Lake District
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...
, and located to the south east of the Solway Firth
Solway Firth
The Solway Firth is a firth that forms part of the border between England and Scotland, between Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway. It stretches from St Bees Head, just south of Whitehaven in Cumbria, to the Mull of Galloway, on the western end of Dumfries and Galloway. The Isle of Man is also very...
. As a result, views from the town stretch from Skiddaw
Skiddaw
Skiddaw is a mountain in the Lake District National Park in England. With a summit at 931 m above sea level it is the fourth highest mountain in England. It lies just north of the town of Keswick, Cumbria, and dominates the skyline in this part of the northern lakes...
in the Lakes to Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
fells such as Criffel
Criffel
Criffel is a hill in southern Galloway, Scotland. It is 570 metres high but appears higher because of its great isolation and high relative height — it is the eighth most prominent hill in Southern Scotland...
. It is served by Aspatria railway station
Aspatria railway station
Aspatria Railway Station serves the town of Aspatria in Cumbria, England. The railway station is a request stop on part of the scenic Cumbrian Coast Line south west of Carlisle...
. Aspatria is located on the fringe of the English Lake District.
The parish church of St Kentigern was completed in 1848. Fragments of masonry and crosses from earlier structures on the same site are preserved there.
History
Aspatria is an ancient settlement and seems to have been home to a group of NorsemenNorsemen
Norsemen is used to refer to the group of people as a whole who spoke what is now called the Old Norse language belonging to the North Germanic branch of Indo-European languages, especially Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese, Swedish and Danish in their earlier forms.The meaning of Norseman was "people...
who fled to the area from Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
around 900. In 1789, a local doctor excavated the grave of a Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
chief on Beacon Hill. Grave goods including a sword, spurs and a battle axe were discovered. Further finds were made on the same site in 1997 when a mobile phone mast was being constructed.
The village stands at the northern end of the West Cumberland Coalfield
Cumberland Coalfield
The Cumberland Coalfield is a coalfield in Cumbria, north-west England. It extends from Whitehaven in the south to Maryport and Aspatria in the north.The following coal seams occur within the Coal Measures Group in this coalfield...
and there have been mines in the area since the 16th century. The opening of the Maryport and Carlisle Railway
Maryport and Carlisle Railway
The Maryport & Carlisle Railway was a small but highly profitable railway formed in 1836 to connect the town of Maryport to the county town of Carlisle and to allow the output of collieries inland of Maryport to be more cheaply transported to Maryport for oward movement by sea. Its headquarters...
, in 1842, led to a rapid expansion of the industry. The Brayton Domain Collieries sank five different pits around the town at various times and there were also mines near Mealsgate
Mealsgate
-Location:Mealsgate is situated on the old Roman Road between Carlisle and the Roman fort of Derventio at Papcastle . This road is now known as the A595.-Railway Connection:...
, Baggrow
Baggrow
Baggrow is a small village in the parish of Allhallows situated north of the Lake District in the English county of Cumbria. In many parts of the village views of England's 4th highest peak Skiddaw, standing 931 metres above sea level, can be seen to the South East, some 9½ miles...
and Fletchertown
Fletchertown
Fletchertown is a small village in the parish of Allhallows, Cumbria, England. Historically within Cumberland, the parish recorded 548 residents , Fletchertown being the largest centre of population in the parish. The village was originally built to house workers in a nearby coal mine, since...
. In 1902, a new mine was sunk at Oughterside. The last pit in the town, Brayton Domain No.5, closed in 1940.
In 1889, one of England’s first farmers’ co-operatives was established here with offices in the market square, facing the Aspatria Agricultural College which flourished from 1874 until 1925.
Sir Wilfrid Lawson MP (1829–1906) lived at Brayton Hall just outside the town. He was a committed nonconformist and a leader of the Temperance Movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
. His memorial stands in the market square, topped by a bronze effigy of St George slaying the dragon – said to represent the demon drink. Brayton Hall was destroyed by fire in 1918.
Toponymy
The origins of the name lie in Old Scandinavian and CelticCeltic languages
The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic"; a branch of the greater Indo-European language family...
. It translates as "Ash-tree of St Patrick", and is composed of the elements askr (Old Scandinavian for "ash-tree") and the Celtic saint's name. The order of the elements of the name, with the ash-tree coming before the name of the saint, is particular to Celtic place-names.
Industry
Next to the railway station is a small industrial area where mattressMattress
A mattress is a manufactured product to sleep or lie on, consisting of resilient materials and covered with an outer fabric or ticking. In the developed world it is typically part of a bed set and is placed upon a foundation....
manufacturer Sealy
Sealy Corporation
Sealy Corporation is an American owned major manufacturer of mattresses, based in Trinity, North Carolina, in the United States. The company draws its name from the city where it started, Sealy, Texas.- History :...
have maintained their British head office since 1974. There is also the First Milk creamery
Creamery
In a dairy, the creamery is the location of cream processing. Cream is separated from whole milk; pasteurization is done to the skimmed milk and cream separately. Whole milk for sale has had some cream returned to the skimmed milk....
, a farmers’ co-operative which produces Lake District Cheese, now the third best-selling Cheddar Brand in the UK. 60 tonnes of cheese are produced daily, using 800,000 litres of milk. The business of the Aspatria Farmers, formerly the Aspatria Agricultural Cooperative Society
Aspatria Agricultural Cooperative Society
The Aspatria Agricultural Cooperative Society was established in Aspatria, Cumberland, England in 1870, after a group of local farmers combined to deal in artificial manures, feeding stuffs, seeds, and agricultural implements...
is also close by.
Sport
Aspatria is home to rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club Aspatria RUFC
Aspatria RUFC
Aspatria Rugby Union Football Club is based in Aspatria, Cumbria in north west England, not far from the Scottish Border. They are nicknamed the "black reds", and have a red cockerel as their logo....
, currently playing in the RFU's North West division two. The 'Aspatria Eagles' are the club's second team, and the 'Aspatria Sinners' are the women's team. Aspatria FC are the town's football club who compete in the Tesco Cumberland County Premier League.
Notable people
- Sheila FellSheila FellSheila Fell was an English artist. She was born at Aspatria, Cumberland in 1931, and although she lived in London for the greater part of her life, she devoted her career to painting and drawing places close to her place of birth...
, artist, born in Aspatria - Jenny CowernJenny CowernJenny Cowern was a visual, multi-media artist, who took inspiration from the natural surroundings of her adopted county, Cumbria, to produce some of the most dramatic and lasting images of nature...
, artist, lived at Langrigg, Aspatria - Thomas HollidayThomas HollidayThomas Edward Holliday, nicknamed "Tom" or "Tosh" , was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1920s...
, rugby international, had a drapery and ironmonger's business in Queen Street - Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 2nd Baronet of Brayton, temperance campaigner and Liberal Party politician
- Henry Thompson MRCVSHenry Thompson MRCVSHenry Thompson was a founder member of the Aspatria Agricultural Society, the Aspatria Agricultural Cooperative Society and the Aspatria Agricultural College.-Early life and education:...
, veterinary surgeon, pioneer agriculturalist and author - Greg RidleyGreg RidleyAlfred Gregory 'Greg' Ridley was one of the more visible rock bassists in England, and a founding member of the successful rock band Humble Pie...
, Rock musician - William Thompson CassonWilliam Thompson CassonWilliam Thompson Casson was a leading English coach designer and coach manufacturer, who, in the latter part of the nineteenth century. designed and built coaches for Queen Victoria and other members of the European nobility...
, coach designer and manufacturer - Rev. William Slater CalverleyRev. William Slater CalverleyThe Rev. William Slater Calverley was an unassuming rural English vicar who through diligent study and painstaking scrutiny became an extraordinary amateur antiquarian. Although born in Yorkshire, Calverley claimed his fame through interpreting the carved sculptured relics that he and others found...
, antiquarian - Thomas FarrallThomas FarrallThomas Farral was a Cumbrian teacher, author and agricultural authority, who today, is most remembered for his Cumberland dialect poems and stories published in Betty Wilson's Cummerland Teals.-Education:...
, author, teacher and agriculturalist - Henry J. WebbHenry J. WebbDr Henry John Webb BSc Phd M.R.A.S. was a remarkable English scholar, who became a trained botanist before moving into medicine. However, it was eventually agriculture and the training of scientific, practical agriculturalists that eventually caught his imagination...
, principal of Aspatria Agricultural College