Longtown, Cumbria
Encyclopedia
Longtown is a small town in northern Cumbria
, England
, with a population of around 3,000. It is in the parish of Arthuret
and on the River Esk, not far from the Anglo-Scottish border
. Nearby was the Battle of Arfderydd
.
Longtown is the location of the largest sheep market in England, and is close to the site where the Battle of Solway Moss
was fought in 1542. Longtown has one primary school with around 190 pupils, most secondary school
pupils travel to William Howard School
, Brampton
. Though up until 2008 Longtown had its own secondary school, Lochinvar School.
The first animal to be found to be infected with foot-and-mouth disease in the 2001 crisis had been purchased at Longtown market. While at the market it spread the infection to other animals. The size of the Longtown sheep market meant that the disease had spread right across the country in a very short time. Longtown became the centre for control of the disease in south western Scotland and north western England.
Longtown is also the site of one of the biggest Defence Munitions Sites DMC Longtown in Western Europe. It used to be part of one site
that stretched to Eastriggs
over the border in Scotland
that was the biggest maker of explosives during World War I
. The township of Gretna
was established to house the workers of this establishment. Currently Longtown and Eastriggs are two separate sites jointly managed.
A little over two miles to the north, on the west bank of the River Esk
, Kirkandrews Tower is an isolated and well-preserved 16th century pele tower
.
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
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, with a population of around 3,000. It is in the parish of Arthuret
Arthuret
Arthuret is a civil parish in the Carlisle district of Cumbria, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,434. The parish includes the small town of Longtown and the village of Easton...
and on the River Esk, not far from the Anglo-Scottish border
Anglo-Scottish border
The Anglo-Scottish border is the official border and mark of entry between Scotland and England. It runs for 154 km between the River Tweed on the east coast and the Solway Firth in the west. It is Scotland's only land border...
. Nearby was the Battle of Arfderydd
Battle of Arfderydd
The Battle of Arfderydd was fought, according to the Annales Cambriae, in 573. The opposing armies are variously given in a number of Old Welsh sources, perhaps suggesting a number of allied armies were involved...
.
Longtown is the location of the largest sheep market in England, and is close to the site where the Battle of Solway Moss
Battle of Solway Moss
The Battle of Solway Moss took place on Solway Moss near the River Esk on the English side of the Anglo-Scottish Border in November 1542 between forces from England and Scotland.-Background:...
was fought in 1542. Longtown has one primary school with around 190 pupils, most secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
pupils travel to William Howard School
William Howard School
The William Howard School is a co-educational comprehensive secondary school on Longtown Road in Brampton, Cumbria, England for pupils aged 11–18.-The school today:...
, Brampton
Brampton, Carlisle, Cumbria
Brampton is a small market town and civil parish within the City of Carlisle district of Cumbria, England about 9 miles east of Carlisle and 2 miles south of Hadrian's Wall. It is situated off the A69 road which bypasses it...
. Though up until 2008 Longtown had its own secondary school, Lochinvar School.
The first animal to be found to be infected with foot-and-mouth disease in the 2001 crisis had been purchased at Longtown market. While at the market it spread the infection to other animals. The size of the Longtown sheep market meant that the disease had spread right across the country in a very short time. Longtown became the centre for control of the disease in south western Scotland and north western England.
Longtown is also the site of one of the biggest Defence Munitions Sites DMC Longtown in Western Europe. It used to be part of one site
HM Factory, Gretna
His Majesty's Factory, Gretna, or H.M. Factory, Gretna as it was usually known, was a UK government World War I Cordite factory, adjacent to the Solway Firth, near Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway...
that stretched to Eastriggs
Eastriggs
Eastriggs is a village in the south of Dumfries and Galloway. It has a small number of shops, a restaurant, post office, public house, working men's club and a church...
over the border in Scotland
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...
that was the biggest maker of explosives during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The township of Gretna
Gretna
-Places:In Scotland:*Gretna, Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway*Gretna GreenIn Canada:*Gretna, ManitobaIn the United States:*Gretna, Florida*Gretna, Louisiana*Gretna, Nebraska*Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania*Mount Gretna Heights, Pennsylvania...
was established to house the workers of this establishment. Currently Longtown and Eastriggs are two separate sites jointly managed.
A little over two miles to the north, on the west bank of the River Esk
River Esk, Dumfries and Galloway
The River Esk is a river in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, that flows into the Solway Firth. It also flows for a small way through the English county of Cumbria before entering the Solway....
, Kirkandrews Tower is an isolated and well-preserved 16th century pele tower
Peel tower
Peel towers are small fortified keeps or tower houses, built along the English and Scottish borders in the Scottish Marches and North of England, intended as watch towers where signal fires could be lit by the garrison to warn of approaching danger...
.