Ulverston
{{infobox England place with map|
Place= Ulverston | Map = Ulverston - Cumbria dot.png | Population = 11,210 (2001 census) | District= South Lakeland | Region= North West England | County= Cumbria | Ceremonial= Cumbria | Traditional= Lancashire | Constituency= Barrow and Furness | PostalTown= ULVERSTON | PostCode= LA12 | DiallingCode= 01229 | GridReference= SD288780 | Euro= North West England | Police= Cumbria ConstabularyUlverston is a market town in the (administrative) county of Cumbria in north-west England. It is in the traditional county of Lancashire. | Arms of Ulverston Town Council |
It is thought that the name of the town originates from the old norse meaning Ulfers stone. It has been suggested that it was one of the first West of England Viking settlements settled directly from the viking homelands rather than from their spread East to West.
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 Comedian Stan Laurel of Laurel and Hardy fame; Norman Birkett, who represented Britain at the Nuremberg Trials; Maude Green, the mother of Rock and Roll music legend, Bill Haley [1] and Norman Gifford, the England Test cricketer.
In the Domesday Book, the town was referred to as 'Ulvreston' and was of sufficient note to receive a Market Charter in 1280. This was for a market every Thursday; modern Ulverston keeps its old market town appearance, and market days are now held on Thursdays and Saturdays. The charter also allowed for all public ale houses to open from 10:30 am until 11:00pm irrespective of any other statute on the books.
The town is set on the Furness peninsula, close to the Lake District, and just north of Morecambe Bay. Ulverston railway station, which serves the town, is located on the Furness Line from Barrow-in-Furness to Lancaster.
Ulverston Victoria High School (UVHS) is the town's secondary school with approximately 1300 students.
Image:Market Street, Ulverston.jpg|Market Street, UlverstonImage:View over to Hoad Hill.jpg|View over to Hoad HillImage:Ulverston Church Side Door.jpg|Side door of Ulverston ChurchImage:Town Clock 1845.jpg|Town Clock of Ulverston, 1845Image:Welfare State International Home.jpg|Lanternhouse, headquarters of Welfare State International, a "company of artists" | Panoramic View from Hoad Hill |
*Ulverston history at GENUKI
* The official Ulverston website
* Heritage First (formerly Ulverston Heritage Centre)
*Ulverston on the web
* A virtual tour of the town
*Furness Forum, with Ulverston section
*Ulverston Victoria High School
|
