Kirkby-in-Furness facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kirkby in Furness |
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| Village | |
 St Cuthbert's Church |
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 Kirkby in Furness
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| Area | 0.2025 km2 (0.0782 sq mi) |
| Population | 580 2021 census |
| • Density | 2,864/km2 (7,420/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | SD2282 |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | KIRKBY-IN-FURNESS |
| Postcode district | LA17 |
| Dialling code | 01229 |
| Police | Cumbria |
| Fire | Cumbria |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Kirkby-in-Furness, often called Kirkby, is a village in Cumbria, England. It is a main part of the Kirkby Ireleth area. Historically, it was part of Lancashire. Today, it is very close to the beautiful Lake District National Park.
Kirkby is about 5 km (3 miles) south of Broughton in Furness. It is also 8 km (5 miles) northwest of Ulverston. Barrow-in-Furness is about 14 km (9 miles) north. It is one of the biggest villages on the coast. From Kirkby, you can see the Duddon estuary. To the east is Kirkby Moor, and to the west is the Duddon Estuary. Both are special nature sites. In 2021, Kirkby had 580 people living there.
Contents
A Look at Kirkby's Past
Kirkby is actually made up of six smaller areas. These are Soutergate, Wall End, Beck Side, Sand Side, Marshside, and Chapels. The name Kirkby became popular because of the Furness Railway company. They built the Cumbrian Coast Line and named the local station "Kirkby".
How Kirkby Got Its Name
The name Kirkby is very old. The parish of Kirkby Ireleth has a name that comes from Norse words. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book. This book lists it as part of the Manor of Hougun. This land was owned by Tostig Godwinson, who was an Earl.
Slate Quarries and Village Growth
Many of the houses and buildings in Kirkby were built because of the Burlington Slate Quarries. These quarries are owned by the Cavendish family. They also own Holker Hall and Chatsworth House. Houses in Marshside and Incline Foot were first built for quarry workers. A special narrow railway, called The Long Incline, connected the quarries to the main railway. Today, Kirkby-in-Furness is mostly a village where people live and travel to work elsewhere. However, some people still work in the slate quarries or in farming. Nearby Kirkby Moor is 333 meters (1,093 feet) high. It has a wind farm with 12 wind turbines.
Changes in Population
The village has more older people living there now. This is because house prices have gone up. It is harder for young families to find affordable homes. So, many young families have moved to other towns. This has caused fewer children to attend the local primary school.
Things to Do in Kirkby
Kirkby has a primary school called Burlington Church of England Primary School. Older children usually go to Victoria High School in Ulverston. Some go to Dowdales School in Dalton-in-Furness. A few attend John Ruskin School in Coniston.
Community and Recreation
There is a community centre in Beck Side. It was updated in 2019 and 2020. It has changing rooms for the nearby recreation ground. This ground has many sports facilities:
- A cricket pitch
- A football pitch
- A crown bowling green
- Two hard tennis courts
- A children's playground
There is also an old village hall called the Beck Side Rooms. These rooms are in the old school buildings.
Local Shops and Services
You can find a small shop at Longlands Holiday Park. This is a private caravan park near Chapels. A post office visits the community centre every Thursday morning. There is a service station in the middle of Kirkby at Four Lane Ends. A cafe is open three days a week (Sunday to Tuesday) opposite the railway station. There is also a doctor's surgery on the road between Four Lane Ends and the railway station.
Places of Worship
Kirkby has three places where people can worship:
- St Cuthbert's, the parish church, in Beck Side.
- A Methodist church in Marshside.
- A Church of Christ meeting house at Wall End.
Local Pubs
The village has two pubs. "The Commercial" is at Four Lane Ends. "The Ship Inn" is near the railway station. It is said to have been built in 1691.
Sports and Fun in Kirkby
All the main sports clubs are based at the recreation ground in Beck Side.
Sports Clubs
- The Kirkby in Furness Cricket Club plays league games on Saturdays. They are part of the Cumbria Cricket League Division 1. They also play midweek games in the Furness Cricket League.
- Kirkby United Football Club plays in the Furness Premier League.
- Kirkby-in-Furness Bowls Club plays many competitive matches in the summer.
- Kirkby Tennis Club competes in the Duddon Tennis League.
Walking Paths
Many walking paths start in or go through Kirkby. One of these is the Cumbria Coastal Way. This path goes from Silverdale in Lancashire to Gretna in Scotland. This path is now part of the England Coast Path.
Local Societies
The village has many active groups for different interests. These include:
- The History of Kirkby Group, which has published many books.
- The Kirkby Floral and Horticultural Society.
- The Kirkby Photographic Club.
Getting Around Kirkby
Kirkby is on the A595 road. This road gives direct access to other towns. You can go south to Askam, Dalton-in-Furness, and Barrow-in-Furness. You can also go north along the Cumbria Coast to Whitehaven and beyond.
Bus Services
There is a limited bus service in Kirkby. It is called the Blueworks X7 service. It runs only on Wednesdays and Fridays. The morning bus starts in Coniston. The afternoon bus returns to Coniston. This allows for a short trip to Ireleth, Askam, and Barrow. The return bus leaves Barrow about two and a half hours after it arrives.
Train Services
The Kirkby-in-Furness station is on the Cumbrian Coast Line. Train services are provided by Northern. There are regular trains going south to Barrow-in-Furness. Some trains continue further along the Furness Line to places like Lancaster. Most trains going north go to Carlisle. A few trains do not go all the way, stopping at places like Millom.
Famous People from Kirkby
- Denny Dennis (1913-1993): Born Ronald Dennis Pountain, he was a popular singer from the 1930s to the 1950s.
- Henry 'Harry' Gifford (1884-1952): A professional rugby league player. He played for Barrow, Lancashire, England, and Great Britain.
- Alfred Basil 'Woody' Woodhall OBE, CzWC, LOM (1897-1968): A senior officer in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
