Aspatria
Coordinates: 54°45′48″N 3°19′41″W / 54.7633°N 3.3281°W
| Aspatria | |
 St Kentigern's Church, |
|
 Aspatria
Aspatria shown within Cumbria |
|
| Population | 2,718 (2001) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | NY145417 |
| Civil parish | Aspatria |
| District | Allerdale |
| Shire county | Cumbria |
| Region | North West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CARLISLE |
| Postcode district | CA7 |
| Dialling code | 016973 |
| Police | Cumbria |
| Fire | Cumbria |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament | Workington |
| List of places: UK • England • Cumbria | |
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.
Contents |
[edit] History
Aspatria is an ancient settlement and seems to have been home to a group of Norsemen 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.[1] Further finds were made on the same site in 1997 when a mobile phone mast was being constructed.[2]
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.[3]
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.[4]
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.[4] Brayton Hall was destroyed by fire in 1918.[5]
[edit] Toponymy
The origins of the name lie in Old Scandinavian[disambiguation needed 
] and Celtic. 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.
[edit] Industry
Next to the railway station is a small industrial area where mattress 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.[6] The business of the Aspatria Farmers, formerly the Aspatria Agricultural Cooperative Society is also close by.
[edit] Sport
Aspatria is home to rugby union 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.
[edit] Notable people
- Sheila Fell, artist, born in Aspatria
- Jenny Cowern, artist, lived at Langrigg, Aspatria
- Thomas Holliday, 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 MRCVS, veterinary surgeon, pioneer agriculturalist and author
- Greg Ridley, Rock musician
- William Thompson Casson, coach designer and manufacturer
- Rev. William Slater Calverley, antiquarian
- Thomas Farrall, author, teacher and agriculturalist
- Henry J. Webb, principal of Aspatria Agricultural College
[edit] References
- ^ P Abramson: A re-examination of a Viking Age burial at Beacon Hill, Aspatria, Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Transactions 2000, p79-88;
- ^ Holme St Cuthbert History Group: Plain People, 2004
- ^ Durham Mining Museum Index of Mines
- ^ a b J Rose & M Dunglinson: Aspatria, a Cumbrian Town (Phillimore, 1987)
- ^ Wigton Advertiser, Sept. 28 1918
- ^ Cumberland News, August 12 2011
[edit] Links
- Durham Mining Museum Index of Mines
- Brayton Domain - pictures of Aspatria mines
- Vikings on the Solway Plain - pictures of local 'finds'
|
||||||||||||||
