Ulverston

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 54.1931
longitude= -3.0906
official_name= Ulverston
static_

static_image_caption=
population = 11,210 (2001 census)
shire_district= South Lakeland
region= North West England
shire_county = Cumbria
constituency_westminster= Barrow and Furness
post_town= ULVERSTON
postcode_district = LA12
postcode_area= LA
dial_code= 01229
os_grid_reference= SD288780

Ulverston is a market town in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria in north-west England. Historically part of Lancashire, the town is located in the Furness area, close to the Lake District, and just north of Morecambe Bay.

Ulverston's most visible landmark is Hoad Monument, a concrete structure built in 1850 to commemorate statesman and local resident Sir John Barrow. [ [http://www.ukattraction.com/cumbria+lake-district/hoad-monument.htm UK Attraction] Hoad Monument] The monument provides scenic views of the surrounding areas, including Morecambe Bay and parts of the Lake District.

Ulverston Canal, which is no longer navigable, is claimed to be the deepest, widest and shortest canal in the United Kingdom at 1¼ miles. [citeweb|url=http://www.visitcumbria.com/sl/ulverst.htm|title=Ulverston|publisher=Visit Cumbria|accessdate=2007-10-19] The canal was once a vital component of the town's economy. [cite book|last=Priestly|first=Joseph|authorlink=Joseph Priestly|title=Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers, Canals, and Railways, Throughout Great Britain|publisher=Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown and Green|year=1831]

The town is home to many shops and pubs, some of which are located on the setted main street, Market Street. At the head of the street is the war memorial to local soldiers who died in World War I.

Geography

Ulverston is a comparatively large civil parish that stretches over a long strip of land. It is bound in the east by the Leven estuary, Crake, Coniston Water, and Yewdale Beck. To the west boundary follows a chain of hills, and beyond that lie the towns of Kirkby-in-Furness and Askam and Ireleth. In the south is relatively low land, but it rises quickly. In the north are hills such as Coniston Old Man. The villages and homesteads of the town are mainly concentrated in the eastern part.citebook|author=Eilert Ekwall|publisher=Manchester University Press|title=The Place-Names of Lancashire|year=1922|accessdate=2008-09-19]

History

The name Ulverston, first recorded in the Domesday Book (1086) as Ulvrestun probably means 'Úlfarr's farm' from the Old Norse personal name "Úlfarr" and "tun", 'farm, homestead' or the equivalent Old English "Wulfhere" + "tūn". [citebook|author=A.D. Mills|year=2003|title=Dictionary of British Place Names|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=475] The names "Úlfarr" and "Wulfhere" both translate roughly as 'wolf warrior' or 'wolf army', [citeweb|url=http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/ONMensNames.shtml#u|title=Viking Answer Lady Webpage - Old Norse Men's Names|author=Viking Answer Lady|accessdate=2007-11-04] which explains the presence of a wolf on the town's coat of arms. The loss of the 'W' is "Wulfhere" can be attributed to the historic Scandinavian influence in the region. Locally, the town has traditionally been known as Oostan. [Rollinson, W. (1997), "The Cumbrian Dictionary of Dialect, Tradition and Folklore", Smith Settle Ltd, p115] Other variations of the name recorded throughout history include Oluestonam (1127), and Uluereston (1189).

The town's Market Charter was granted in 1280 by Edward I. This was for a market every Thursday; modern Ulverston keeps its old market town appearance, and market days are now held on both Thursdays and Saturdays. [citeweb|url=http://www.southlakeland.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=350|title=Ulverston Street Markets|publisher=South Lakeland District Council|accessdate=2008-09-21] The charter also allowed for all public houses to open from 10:30 am until 11:00 pm irrespective of any other statute on the books. During the summer months the market day (on the Saturday) is themed with craft stalls, charity stalls and locally produced wares on "Made in Cumbria" stalls.

Historically, the ancient parish included several other chapelries or townships which later became separate civil parishes: Blawith, Church Coniston, Egton with Newland, Lowick, Mansriggs, Osmotherley, Subberthwaite and Torver. From 1894 to 1974 the town constituted an urban district in the administrative county of Lancashire. It became a successor parish in the Cumbria district of South Lakeland under the Local Government Act 1972. [citebook|author=Frederic A. Youngs|publisher=Boydell & Brewer|title=Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Volume 2]

Over the years the town has been the birthplace of several famous people. Sir John Barrow, born at Dragley Beck, Ulverston, was the Admiralty's Second Secretary: a much more important position than First Secretary. A monument to him — a replica of the third Eddystone Lighthouse — stands on Hoad Hill overlooking the town. Famous Ulverstonians include Norman Birkett, [citeweb|url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Norman-Birkett-Life-Ulverston-Crime/dp/0140113452|title=Norman Birkett: The Life of Lord Birkett of Ulverston|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|accessdate=2008-09-21] who represented Britain at the Nuremberg Trials; Maude Green, the mother of Rock and Roll music legend, Bill Haley; [citeweb|url=http://www.classicbands.com/haley.html|title=Bill Haley and his Comets|publisher=Classic Bands|accessdate=2006-01-18] Norman Gifford, [citeweb|url=http://content-www.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/13365.html|title=Norman Gifford|publisher=cricinfo.com|accessdate=2008-02-01] an England test cricketer; Francis Arthur Jefferson, a soldier awarded with the Victoria Cross; [citeweb|url=http://www.lancs-fusiliers.co.uk/feature/jefferson/Frankjeffersonvc.htm|title=Feature Page of Francis Arthur Jefferson VC|publisher=Lancashire Fusiliers|accessdate=2008-02-01] and comedian Stan Laurel, [citeweb|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0491048/|title=Stan Laurel|publisher=Internet Movie Database|accessdate=2008-02-01] of Laurel and Hardy fame. The Laurel & Hardy Museum, situated in Ulverston, is the only one of its kind in the world. [citeweb|url=http://www.lakedistrictletsgo.co.uk/attractions/attractions_pages/laurel_hardy.html|title=Laurel and Hardy Museum|publisher=lakedistrictletsgo.co.uk|accessdate=2008-02-01]

Education

Ulverston Victoria High School (UVHS) is the town's secondary school with approximately 1200 pupils. The school has a sixth form which draws students from Ulverston as well as the surrounding areas; the numbers of students attending the sixth form is roughly 200. [citeweb|url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_reports/display/(id)/90110|title=Ofsted inspection report (2007)|publisher=Ofsted|date=2007-11-29|accessdate=2008-09-21] There are also three infant schools, two junior schools, five primary schools, [citeweb|url=http://www.cumbriacc.gov.uk/elibrary/Content/Internet/537/3135/38884101858.pdf|title=FURNESS LPG – ULVERSTON PRIMARY SCHOOLS LIST|publisher=Cumbria County Council|accessdate=2008-02-01] and one disabled school in the vicinity. The nearest access to private education is Chetwynde School in Barrow-in-Furness.

Transport

Ulverston railway station, which serves the town, is located on the Furness Line from Barrow-in-Furness to Lancaster, ultimately leading on to Manchester Airport. The railway station is a short walk from the town centre. The town is also served by several vital bus services. These include the X35, running to Kendal from Barrow in Furness, via Grange over Sands. There is also the X12 that runs from Coniston, it passes through the scenic village of Spark Bridge. Other services include the X31 to Tarn Hows and the 6A and 6 to Barrow in Furness, the largest town in the region.

Festival town

Ulverston calls itself a 'Festival Town' in reference to the many and varied festivals which take place in Ulverston over the course of the year. [citeweb|url=http://www.ulverston.net/ulverston_home.asp|title=Ulverston home|publisher=ulverston.net|accessdate=2008-02-01] The most renowned of these is the Lantern Procession, which involves hundreds of local residents creating lanterns out of willow and tissue paper and parading them through the town in winding rivers of light. The annual event culminates in a lively display of theatrical performance and fireworks in Ford Park, and was organized by the community themselves for the first time in 2007.

Other popular festivals include:
*Flag Festival
*Dickensian Festival
*Beer Festival
*Charter Festival
*International Music Festival
*Folklore Festival
*Comedy Festival
*Word Market — including 'Pub Scripts'
*Walking Festival
*Spring Buddhist Festival
*Print Fest
*Summer Buddhist Festival
*Ulverston Carnival Parade
*Furness Festival of Tradition
*Summer Music Festival
*Festival of Fashion
*The Feast of St George

Details and dates of the festivals can be found on the Ulverston.net website.

Notable people

* Sir John Barrow
* Stan Laurel
* Norman Birkett
* Francis Arthur Jefferson VC

Twin town

Ulverston is twinned with:
*flagicon|FRA Albert, France

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.ulverston.net The official Ulverston website]
* [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LAN/Ulverston/history.html Ulverston history at GENUKI]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~ukuhc/ Heritage First (formerly Ulverston Heritage Centre)]
* [http://www.liv.ac.uk/~mhbarker/ulverston.html Ulverston on the web]
* [http://www.virtualulverston.co.uk/ Virtual tour of the town]
* [http://www.ulverstonvictoria.cumbria.sch.uk/ Ulverston Victoria High School (UVHS)]
* [http://www.ulverstonmusicfestival.co.uk/ Ulverston International Music Festival]
* [http://www.ulverstonrant.zoomshare.com/ Ulverston Mind]