Ulverston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ulverston |
|
|---|---|
| Town and parish | |
 Market Street, Ulverston |
|
 Ulverston
|
|
| Population | 11,678 (2011) |
| Demonym | Ulverstonian |
| OS grid reference | SD2878 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority |
|
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ULVERSTON |
| Postcode district | LA12 |
| Dialling code | 01229 |
| Police | Cumbria |
| Fire | Cumbria |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
|
Ulverston is a lively market town and civil parish in Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria, England. It is a historic town that was once part of Lancashire. Ulverston is located near the beautiful Lake District National Park. It sits just north-west of Morecambe Bay, on the Furness Peninsula.
The town is about 39 miles (63 km) east of Lancaster. It is also 10 miles (16 km) south-west of Barrow-in-Furness. Kendal is about 25 miles (40 km) to the north-east. In 2011, the town had a population of 11,678 people.
Contents
History of Ulverston
The name Ulverston first appeared in the Domesday Book in 1086. It was called Ulurestun back then. The name comes from an old Norse name, Úlfarr, or an Old English name, Wulfhere. Both mean "wolf warrior" or "wolf army". This is why you can see a wolf on the town's coat of arms.
The town was given a special permission, called a market charter, in 1280 by King Edward I. This allowed Ulverston to hold a market every Thursday. Today, Ulverston still looks like a market town. Markets are held on Thursdays and Saturdays. The Saturday market often features local crafts and goods.
The parish church is a very old building, founded in the 12th century. It is now a listed building, meaning it is protected for its history.
Ulverston's Past Hospitals
In 1884, the High Carley Hospital was built to help people with infectious diseases. Later, in 1916, another hospital was built to treat patients with tuberculosis. A special children's area was added in 1949. As fewer people had tuberculosis, the hospital became a general hospital. It closed in 1984 when a new hospital, Furness General Hospital, opened.
Famous People and Earthquakes
In 2009, a statue of the famous comedy duo Laurel and Hardy was put up in Ulverston. The comedian Ken Dodd helped unveil it. This statue is outside the Coronation Hall in the town centre.
On April 28, 2009, Ulverston was near where an earthquake happened. It measured 3.7 on the Richter magnitude scale. People felt the shaking across Cumbria and parts of Lancashire. Luckily, there was almost no damage. Earthquakes of this size happen about once a year in Britain.
How Ulverston is Governed
Ulverston is part of the Westmorland and Furness unitary authority area. This is a type of local government in Cumbria. The Ulverston Town Council helps manage local matters for the town.
The town is also part of the larger civil parish of Ulverston. This area stretches from the Leven estuary in the east to hills in the west. It includes hills like Coniston Old Man to the north.
Places to Visit in Ulverston
.jpg)
Ulverston has many interesting places to explore.
The Laurel & Hardy Museum is a popular spot. It celebrates the life of Stan Laurel, who was born in Ulverston.
The Hoad Monument is a tall, white tower on Hoad Hill. It was built in 1850 to honor Sir John Barrow, a famous statesman. From the monument, you can see amazing views of Morecambe Bay and parts of the Lake District.
The Ulverston Town Hall is another historic building. It was finished in 1825.
The Roxy Cinema opened in 1937 and still shows movies today. The Victoria Concert Hall, which opened in 1850, was once an opera and dance hall. It is now a Grade II listed building.
Education in Ulverston
Ulverston has several schools for young people. Ulverston Victoria High School (UVHS) is the town's secondary school. It has about 1,200 students. It also has a sixth form college for older students, with about 400 pupils.
There are four main primary schools in Ulverston: Croftlands Junior, St Mary's (a Catholic school), Church Walk (a Church of England school), and Sir John Barrow. The town also has a special education school.
Getting Around Ulverston
Ulverston has good transport links.
Train Services
Ulverston railway station is close to the town centre. It is on the Furness Line. Trains from Ulverston go to Barrow-in-Furness and Lancaster. Some trains even continue to Manchester Airport. You can also take trains along the Cumbrian Coast line to Carlisle.
Bus Services
The town has several bus services. The X6 bus travels between Kendal and Barrow-in-Furness. The X12 bus goes to Coniston and Spark Bridge. There are also local bus routes, like the 6A and 6, that connect to Barrow-in-Furness.
Local News and Media
Ulverston residents can get their news from various sources.
Television and Radio
Regional TV news comes from BBC North West and ITV Granada. These are based in Salford. Local radio stations include BBC Radio Cumbria and Heart North West. There are also local community radio stations like Cando FM and Bay Trust Radio.
Newspapers
The town's local newspapers are The Westmorland Gazette and North West Evening Mail.
Twin Towns
Ulverston has special connections with towns in other countries.
Ulverston is twinned with Albert in France. Teams from both towns meet each Easter to play football.
In 2016, Ulverston also became twinned with Harlem, Georgia, United States. This is because Ulverston is the birthplace of Stan Laurel. Harlem, Georgia, is the birthplace of his comedy partner, Oliver Hardy.
Festivals and Events
Ulverston is famous for its many festivals throughout the year. Some popular festivals include:
- Another Fine Fest: This festival celebrates Ulverston and the birth of Stan Laurel.
- Dickensian Festival: A popular Christmas festival where people often dress in Victorian clothes.
- Furness Tradition: A festival celebrating local heritage and culture.
- Retro Rendezvous: An event focused on vintage and retro themes.
Sports in Ulverston
Ulverston offers various sports for people to enjoy.
Football
The Ulverston Rangers association football team has been around since 1945. They play in the West Lancashire Football League. The club also has two teams in the Furness Football League.
Rugby League
The Ulverston Amateur Rugby League Football Club plays its home games at Dragley Beck. They are part of the North West Counties Rugby League. Several professional rugby players have come from this club.
Other Sports
Ulverston has two field hockey clubs, South Lakes and Ulverston. They play at the Ulverston Leisure Centre. The Lakeland Orienteering Club often holds events in the town. A parkrun event, a free weekly 5k run, has been held at Ford Park every Saturday since 2018.
International Connections
Ulverston has some interesting international links.
The Royal Norwegian Honorary Consulate in Barrow-in-Furness is actually located just outside Ulverston. This is one of Norway's many consulates around the world.
The town of Ulverstone in Tasmania, Australia, was named after Ulverston. It is also located at the mouth of a river, the River Leven.
Religion in Ulverston
Ulverston has a rich religious history and diverse communities.
Christianity
Ulverston is a very important place for the Quaker movement. In 1652, George Fox and Margaret Fell helped start the Quaker movement at Swarthmoor Hall. This historic manor house is just outside Ulverston. Margaret Fell lived at Swarthmoor Hall from 1641. The hall became a place for Quakers to rest and is now a protected historic building.
Buddhism
The New Kadampa Tradition, a Buddhist organization, has its main headquarters in Ulverston. They bought Conishead Priory in 1976. Buddhism is the second largest religion in Ulverston, after Christianity.
Freedom of the Town
The "Freedom of the Town" is a special honor given to individuals or military groups. It means they have a special connection to Ulverston.
Individuals Honored
- Peter Winston: Honored on May 15, 2019.
- Les Tallon: Honored on November 21, 2022.
Military Units Honored
- The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment: Honored on May 7, 2011.
- 2223 (Ulverston) Squadron Air Training Corps: Honored on April 18, 2015.
Notable People from Ulverston
Many interesting people have connections to Ulverston. Here are a few:
- Ella Blaylock Atherton (1860–1933): A physician.
- Cuthbert Bardsley (1907–1991): An Anglican bishop.
- Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr (1831–1919): A novelist.
- Sir John Barrow (1764–1848): A statesman born near Ulverston. He was a high-ranking official in the British Admiralty. The Hoad Monument overlooks the town in his honor.
- Norman Birkett, 1st Baron Birkett (1883–1962): A judge and politician. He was a judge at the Nuremberg Trials.
- Norman Gifford (born 1940): An international cricketer.
- Jess Gillam (born 1998): A talented saxophonist.
- Maude Green: The mother of Rock and Roll music legend, Bill Haley.
- Francis Arthur Jefferson (1921–1982): A soldier who won the Victoria Cross.
- Stan Laurel (1890–1965): The famous actor and comedian, born in Ulverston.
- Kate Lister (born 1981): A historian and blogger.
- Selina Martin (1882–1972): A suffragette, someone who fought for women's right to vote.
- Christine McVie (1943–2022): A singer and songwriter from the band Fleetwood Mac, born nearby.
- Bob Shaw (1931–1996): A science fiction writer who lived in Ulverston.
- William Basil Weston (1924–1945): An officer who also won the Victoria Cross.
