Silloth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Silloth
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| Town and parish | |
 Criffel Street, Silloth |
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 Silloth
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| Population | 2,906 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | NY113536 |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WIGTON |
| Postcode district | CA7 |
| Dialling code | 016973 |
| Police | Cumbria |
| Fire | Cumbria |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Silloth, also known as Silloth-on-Solway, is a port town in Cumberland, England. It is located in the county of Cumbria. This town is a great example of a Victorian seaside resort in the North of England.
In 2011, about 2,906 people lived in Silloth.
Contents
Where is Silloth Located?
Silloth sits right on the coast of the Solway Firth. It is about 30 kilometers (18.75 miles) north of Workington and 35 kilometers (22 miles) west of Carlisle. The town of Maryport is about 19 kilometers (12 miles) south. You can reach Maryport by taking the B5300 road along the coast. This road also goes through small villages like Blitterlees, Beckfoot, Mawbray, and Allonby. Wigton is about 19 kilometers (12 miles) east, along the B5302 road. This road passes through the village of Abbeytown, which is about 9 kilometers (5.5 miles) southeast.
A Brief History of Silloth
Silloth started to grow in the 1860s. It developed around the end of the railway line from Carlisle. Docks were built here from 1855. These docks replaced Port Carlisle as the main deep-water port for Carlisle.
The town also became a popular place for factory workers from Carlisle to visit the seaside. Silloth became a very popular spot for day trips. Its popularity was highest in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
What Does the Name Silloth Mean?
The name 'Silloth' comes from old words. It means "sea barn(s)." The first part of the name comes from Old English, and the second part comes from Old Norse.
How Silloth is Governed
Silloth is part of the parliamentary area called Penrith and Solway. The person who represents this area in Parliament is Markus Campbell-Savours from the Labour Party. He was elected in the 2024 General Election.
For local decisions, Silloth is part of the Cumberland unitary authority. This is a type of local government.
Silloth also has its own local council, called the Silloth-on-Solway Town Council.
Churches in Silloth
The biggest church in Silloth is Christ Church. It is located in a perfect rectangular area that was part of the town's first design. The church stands tall on Criffel Street. The main part of the church was finished in 1870. The front porch tower and a large, pointed spire were added later in 1878. This tower holds 8 bells that chime.
The church was designed by an architect from Carlisle named Charles John Ferguson. He used the Gothic style. It is built with a mix of local sandstone and granite. The granite was brought from Newry, which is now in Northern Ireland. Inside, much of the church is made with yellow bricks and red trim.
Silloth also has several other churches and chapels for different religious groups.
Industries in Silloth
The Port of Silloth
The Port of Silloth is managed by Associated British Ports. The main things moved through this port are wheat, fertilizer, molasses, wood products, and other general goods.
Carr's Flour Mill
This is a historic flour mill built next to the New Dock in 1887. Carr's flour mill is still working today. It provides flour to many food companies, like United Biscuits and Warburtons. It also supplies flour to other bakeries and sweet makers. Carr's Flour Mill is now owned by Whitworths.
Cheri Foam Factory
In the 1960s, two companies moved to Silloth airfield because their factory in Whitehaven was too small. These companies were Cumberland Curled Hair and Cheri Foam. They were among the biggest employers in the area until the late 1970s.
Cheri Foam was owned by Kurt Oppenheim. He started his business in Whitehaven in 1946. He bought two large airplane hangars at the airfield and joined them together. This created a huge factory and storage space for making polyurethane foam blocks. This was a chemical process. The factory also had a "conversion unit" where the foam blocks were cut into shapes. These shapes, like cushions and sheets, were sent to companies that made furniture, bedding, and car parts.
In 1973, another factory building was added. This new part made foam molded car parts using special machines. Many of the machines in the factory were built by a team of metal fitters and electricians from Silloth. The factory also had a lab and a unit for making fiberglass molds. There was even a garage for the fourteen container vans the company used to ship its products across the UK.
The factory worked 24 hours a day, with products leaving at all times. The Cheri Foam logo on the side of the vans was well-known in the area. About 150 people worked at this factory. Some were from Silloth, and many were brought in by bus each day from Maryport and nearby areas. The business was bought by the Beaver Group in 1976, and Oppenheim retired. When their main customer, Times Furnishing, closed, the business slowly shut down.
Other Local Businesses
A local construction company called D.A. Harrison is based in Silloth. It employs 200 people.
Famous People from Silloth
- Jim Brough, a rugby player who played both rugby league and rugby union, was born in Silloth in 1903.
- Cecil Leitch, a famous golfer, was born in Silloth in 1891.
- Kathleen Ferrier, a well-known contralto singer.
Tourism in Silloth
Tourism is very important to Silloth's economy. There are many large and small caravan parks for static caravans and touring vehicles within 16 kilometers (10 miles) of the town center. This means that the number of people in Silloth greatly increases during the summer.
Silloth also hosts several small events each year on the town green. These include a beer festival in September, a steam rally, and festivals for kites and food.
The town also has a golf course.
Media in Silloth
A free local newspaper called The Solway Buzz is published every month. Volunteers deliver it to homes in Silloth and the surrounding area. It covers local news and events. The town is also served by the regional newspaper, the News & Star.
Local TV news is provided by BBC North East and Cumbria and ITV Border. Television signals come from the Caldbeck transmitting station.
Local radio stations include BBC Radio Cumbria on 95.6 FM, Greatest Hits Radio Cumbria & South West Scotland on 96.4 FM, and Solway Radio, which is a community-based radio station.
Silloth Airfield
The airfield in Silloth opened in June 1939, just before World War II began. It closed on December 31, 1960. It was first meant for RAF Maintenance Command, which repaired planes. However, in November 1939, it was given to Coastal Command. No 1 Operational Training Unit (OTU) then used it to train pilots and crews from the UK and Allied Countries. So, the airfield had two jobs: repairing planes for the war and training crews to fly them.
Transportation in Silloth
Railway History
The railway line to Silloth opened in 1856. The line went through the villages of Kirkbride and Abbeytown to Carlisle. The railway carried both people and goods from the port. It also brought tourists who wanted to visit the town. The railway line was closed in 1964 as part of the Beeching axe, which cut many railway lines in the UK.
Road Connections
Silloth is located on the B5302 road. This road connects to the A596 road and the town of Wigton. The B5300 road also connects Silloth to Maryport.
Images for kids
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Criffel Street, Silloth
