Eamont Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eamont Bridge |
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 Eamont Bridge |
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 Eamont Bridge
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| OS grid reference | NY523281 |
| Civil parish |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | PENRITH |
| Postcode district | CA10 |
| Dialling code | 01768 |
| Police | Cumbria |
| Fire | Cumbria |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Eamont Bridge is a small village in England, located just south of Penrith, Cumbria. It gets its name from the bridge that crosses the River Eamont. This village is special because it sits right on the old border between two historic areas: Cumberland and Westmorland. One house in the village is even called the "Welcome Inn," which used to be known as the "Welcome into Cumberland Inn."
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Ancient Sites and Village Life
Eamont Bridge is home to some very old and interesting places. These sites tell us about people who lived here thousands of years ago.
King Arthur's Round Table
One famous spot is an ancient earthwork called King Arthur's Round Table. It's a large, circular area made of earth. People believe a cup was once found in its center.
Mayburgh Henge
Another amazing ancient site is Mayburgh Henge. This henge is much better preserved than King Arthur's Round Table. It was built using large stones, possibly from the nearby rivers Lowther and Eamont. Being between these two rivers probably helped protect it from invaders thousands of years ago. Both King Arthur's Round Table and Mayburgh Henge are protected by Historic England.
The entrance to Mayburgh Henge points directly towards King Arthur's Round Table. This suggests that both places might have been important meeting spots for a very long time. There are even more henges in the area, especially towards Brougham.
Village Layout and Government
The southern part of Eamont Bridge, which is in Westmorland, belongs to the civil parish of Yanwath and Eamont Bridge. A civil parish is a small local area with its own council. The northern part of the village, including Skirsgill Lane and Kemplay Bank, is part of the Penrith civil parish.
For other local government matters, Eamont Bridge is divided into different areas called wards within the Eden District. These wards help manage local services.
Local Pubs and Legends
You'll find two pubs (public houses) facing each other at the southern end of the village. These are popular places for people to meet and relax.
Near the village, there's a cave called Giant's Cave. Many old stories and legends are linked to this cave. Some say it was the home of a giant named Isir. Other tales suggest an evil knight named Tarquin lived there and imprisoned 64 men. Another legend connects the cave to Uther Pendragon, a famous figure in British mythology.
The Historic Bridge
The village is named after its bridge, which is a very important part of its history.
A Busy Road
Eamont Bridge sits on the A6 road. Before the M6 motorway was built, this narrow bridge was a well-known traffic jam spot. Even today, traffic lights control the flow of cars across it.
Oldest Bridges
The bridge over the River Eamont is a Grade I listed building. This means it's considered a very important historic structure. It crosses the old county line between Cumberland and Westmorland. It's one of the oldest bridges in the country that is still used every day! The bridge likely dates back to the 1400s, but it was made wider in the 1800s and 1900s to handle more traffic.
A Meeting of Kings
Eamont Bridge played a very important role in English history.
On July 12, 927, something big happened here. Several kings from all over Britain met at Eamont Bridge. This meeting is written about in old records like the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The kings present included Æthelstan, who was King of the Anglo-Saxons, Constantín mac Áeda (King of Scotland), Owain ap Dyfnwal (King of Strathclyde), Hywel Dda (King of Deheubarth), and Ealdred I of Bamburgh (Ruler of Bamburgh). This gathering is often seen as the moment the Kingdom of England was officially founded.
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