Kirkby Stephen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kirkby Stephen |
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| Town and parish | |
 A view over North Road and the Old Forge, with the parish church in the background |
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 Kirkby Stephen
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| Population | 1,822 (2011 census) |
| OS grid reference | NY7708 |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | KIRKBY STEPHEN |
| Postcode district | CA17 |
| Dialling code | 017683 |
| Police | Cumbria |
| Fire | Cumbria |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Kirkby Stephen (/ˈkɜːrbi/) is a lively market town and civil parish in Cumbria, England. It sits on the A685 road. The town is surrounded by beautiful hills and countryside. It's about 25 miles (40 km) from bigger towns like Kendal and Penrith.
The River Eden starts its journey about 6 miles (10 km) away. It flows from the peat bogs below Hugh Seat and passes by the eastern side of Kirkby Stephen. In 2011, the town had a population of 1,522 people.
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A Historic Market Town
Kirkby Stephen has a long history as a market town. In 1352, a special permission was given by King Edward III. This allowed Roger de Clifford to hold a market and two fairs each year.
Later, in 1605, King James I confirmed this right. He granted a new charter for "one market on Monday and two fairs yearly." One fair was held after Whitsuntide, and the other before the feast of St Luke.
The Monday Market Today
The Monday market is still a very important event. Farmers bring their livestock to sell at the Mart on Faraday Road. You can also find many stalls with different goods on Market Square. This market is a big deal for the town and the farms around it.
Celebrating Charter Day
Every year, the town celebrates St Luke's Fair, also known as Charter Day. This happens at the end of October. During this celebration, the original charter is read aloud. This reading takes place at the Charter Stone in Market Street. Special sales for Tup (male sheep) are also held around this time. These sales are very important for the local sheep farming community.
Things to Do in Kirkby Stephen
Kirkby Stephen offers many things for visitors and locals. You can find several antique shops, restaurants, and cafés. There are also many pubs where you can relax. The Upper Eden Visitor Centre is a great place to get information about the area. Kirkby Stephen has even won awards for its beautiful flowers from Cumbria/Britain in Bloom.
Exploring the Upper Eden Valley
The town is a perfect starting point for exploring the Upper Eden Valley. It's also popular for walking tours. Kirkby Stephen is located on the famous Coast to Coast Walk. This long-distance walking path was created by Alfred Wainwright in 1973.
Challenging Walks and Mountain Rescue
Each June, a tough walking event takes place called the "Mallerstang Horseshoe and Nine Standards Yomp." This walk follows a challenging route along the high ground of Mallerstang dale. It includes climbing Wild Boar Fell and Nine Standards Rigg.
The beautiful countryside around Kirkby Stephen attracts many walkers. Because the conditions on the fell tops can be harsh, there is a Kirkby Stephen Mountain Rescue Team. They are always ready to help anyone who gets into trouble.
Kirkby Stephen Parish Church
A church has stood on this spot since the Anglo-Saxon period. You can still see an old cross shaft from that time. It shows a carving of Loki, a Norse god.
The oldest parts of the current church building are from the Norman period. However, most of the church was built around 1230. It was also rebuilt or repaired in the 1800s. The church tower was built in the 1500s.
Learning and Schools
Kirkby Stephen has primary schools for younger children. There are also primary schools in nearby Brough and Ravenstonedale.
Kirkby Stephen Grammar School
Older students in the town and surrounding areas attend Kirkby Stephen Grammar School. This school was started in 1566 by Thomas Wharton, 1st Baron Wharton. He received special permission from Queen Elizabeth I.
Even though it's still called a "grammar school," it's now a comprehensive school. This means it teaches students of all abilities. It's also a Sports College and has about 410 students. The old school buildings have been replaced with new ones.
Local Government and Representation
For local government, Kirkby Stephen is part of the unitary authority area of Westmorland and Furness. Historically, it was part of the county of Westmorland. The town also has its own town council.
The town is part of the parliamentary constituency of Westmorland and Lonsdale. This is the area that elects a representative to the UK Parliament.
Local Media
People in Kirkby Stephen can get their local news and TV programmes from BBC North East and Cumbria and ITV Border. Television signals come from the Caldbeck transmitter and local relay stations.
Local radio stations include BBC Radio Cumbria, Greatest Hits Radio Cumbria & South West Scotland, and Dales Radio. The town is also served by local newspapers like the Cumberland and Westmorland Herald and The Westmorland Gazette.
Beautiful Scenery and History
Kirkby Stephen is surrounded by stunning natural beauty and has interesting historical sites.
Stenkrith Park
Stenkrith Park is located south of the town, on the B6259 road towards Nateby. Here, the River Eden flows through different types of rock. The main rock in Kirkby Stephen is called brockram. It's made of limestone pieces held together by red sandstone. The river has carved this rock into amazing shapes. These shapes are sometimes called the Devil's Grinding Mill or Devil's Hole.
Art and Nature
- The Poetry Path: This path has 12 stones carved by artist Pip Hall. Each stone has a poem by Meg Peacock. The poems describe a year in the life of a hill farmer.
- Eden Benchmark: Near the river, you'll find a sculpture called "Passage" by Laura White. It's one of ten "Eden Benchmarks." These sculptures are placed along the River Eden from where it starts to where it meets the sea.
- The Millennium Bridge: Opened in 2002, this bridge allows people to walk from the park onto an old railway track.
Other beautiful places nearby include Nine Standards Rigg to the north-east. You can also visit Pendragon Castle and Wild Boar Fell to the south.
Ancient History
Unlike nearby Brough, Kirkby Stephen doesn't show signs of Roman settlements. However, there are many traces of much older times in the area. For example, you can find the remains of a large Iron Age earthwork or hill fort called Croglam Castle. It's on the south-eastern edge of the town.
Railways and Train Stations
Kirkby Stephen has two train stations, each with its own history.
Kirkby Stephen West Station
Kirkby Stephen West station is on the Settle–Carlisle line. This station is located over 1 mile (2 km) south-west of the town. The railway line stays on high ground, avoiding valleys when possible.
Kirkby Stephen East Station
A second, older railway station is Kirkby Stephen East station. It's located at the southern edge of the town. This station was once a large junction for two railway lines.
In August 2011, the Stainmore Railway Company reopened Kirkby Stephen East station. It now serves as a heritage centre and a working railway. It shows what railways were like in the 1950s. Visitors can explore the station every weekend.
Gallery
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Frank's Bridge
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Kirkby Stephen from the path to Hartley
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River Eden through Kirkby Stephen.
See also
In Spanish: Kirkby Stephen para niños
