Little Clifton

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Little Clifton
Location map United Kingdom Allerdale.svg
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Little Clifton
Location in Allerdale, Cumbria
Cumbria UK location map.svg
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Little Clifton
Location within Cumbria
Population480 (2011)
OS grid reference NY0553 528651
Civil parish
  • Little Clifton
District
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Workington
Postcode district CA14
Dialling code 01900
Police Cumbria
Fire Cumbria
Ambulance North West
List of places
UK
England
Cumbria
54°38′38″N3°27′50″W / 54.644°N 3.464°W / 54.644; -3.464 Coordinates: 54°38′38″N3°27′50″W / 54.644°N 3.464°W / 54.644; -3.464
Population decline in Little Clifton Population count graph.jpg
Population decline in Little Clifton

Little Clifton is a village and civil parish in the district of Allerdale located on the edge of the Lake District in the county of Cumbria, England. In 2001, it had a population of 391 [2] and contained 170 households; [3] increasing to a population of 480 in the 2011 Census with 207 households. [4]

Contents

The village of Little Clifton is 3.5 miles (6 km) east of Workington. The River Derwent is roughly 1 mile (2 km) north of Little Clifton. In 1887, John Bartholomew, whilst writing for the Gazetteer of the British Isles, described Little Clifton as a township of 489 persons next to Workington. Workington was, at that time, a district within the former county of Cumberland. [5]

Governance

Little Clifton, is part of the Workington constituency of the UK parliament. The current Member of Parliament is Sue Hayman, a member of the Labour Party. [6] The Labour Party has won the seat in every general election since 1979; the Conservative Party has only been elected once in Workington since the Second World War: in the 1976 Workington by-election. [7]

For the European Parliament residents in Little Clifton voted to elect MEP's for the North West England constituency.

For Local Government purposes it is in the Stainburn + Clifton Ward of Allerdale Borough Council and the Cockermouth South Division of Cumbria County Council.

Little Clifton has its own Parish Council; Little Clifton Parish Council. [8]

Early area history and Toponymy

Cumbria is formed of the older counties of Cumberland, Westmorland, parts of North Lancashire and North Yorkshire. There are signs of human inhabitancy as early as 5000 years ago with stone circles discovered under 20 miles east of Little Clifton at Long Meg and Castlerigg amongst other places. The early settlements are in areas suitable for crafting tools such as stone axes and became the source for quarrying in the area. [9]
Celtic immigration began around 500BC and developed in Cumbria as Brigantes. Celtic Brigantians had a major settlement at Carlisle and inhabited the area later known as Rheged around 100CE. [10] The Celts flourished following Roman rule after the transitional period of Roman rule to Celtic rule c350-420AD. Anglo Saxon invasion absorbed Rheged into the (now) powerful Anglo Saxon kingdom of Northumbria c.630AD. It is From the Anglo Saxons that Little Clifton gained its name. [11] The suffix 'ton' in Little Clifton is Anglo Saxon or 'old English' for enclosure, estate or homestead.

Mining

1881 Occupation statistics for Little Clifton 1881 Occupation statistics.png
1881 Occupation statistics for Little Clifton

Mining in Cumbria plays a large role in its history. Lead, copper, zinc, barite, haematite, tungsten, graphite, fluorite, and coal have all been mined at different times since as early as the 12th century. [13] Western parts of Cumbria, and in particular the Whitehaven area, proved to contain haematite in large shallow deposits which were exploited by early miners. The first documented mining in the Cumbrian area was in Bigrigg mine roughly 15 miles south of Little Clifton in the parish of Egremont. It is believed that Romans mined this area and later on by early British and Norse settlers. [14] In 1881 31% of the inhabitants of Little Clifton were involved in mineral extraction, the highest single occupation in the parish at that time. [15] Force Crag mine in Keswick was the closest mine to Little Clifton which was mined for lead, zinc and barytes from 1839 to its closure in 1991. Force Crag mine is now run by the National Trust and open to the public. [16]

St Luke's Church

(OSGB36: NY 054 290 [100m precision] WGS84: 54:38.8700N 3:28.0354W) [17]

View of the altar within St Luke's church Altar screen, St Luke's Church, Clifton - geograph.org.uk - 463855.jpg
View of the altar within St Luke's church

The site of St Luke's Church dates back to Norman times and has various Norman artefacts such as a Norman archway and Norman cross shaft in the graveyard. The current church dates back to 1901 and contains some superb stained glass windows and other furnishings donated by local families. The church regularly holds concerts, events and open days. [18]

Punderland Farm

Punderland farm featured on the BBC, [19] amongst other British news mediums, due to a 'tragic mistake' which caused the unnecessary slaughter of 200 ewes, 300 lambs and a pet pig. The mishap occurred because of a grid reference error of one digit during the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001. The intended farm for destruction was in Durham 100 miles (161 km) away. No more compensation was granted than the standard for loss of livestock at the time and no legal firm would go to court for what would be a costly battle. [20]

The farm and its associated barn are the only listed building in the parish, being designated at Grade II. It is dated 1739, the farmhouse is roughcast with a green slate roof, and has two storeys and three bays, and there is a lower right-angled barn to the right. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cumbria</span> Ceremonial county of England

Cumbria is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in North West England, bordering Scotland. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local government, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's county town is Carlisle, in the north of the county. Other major settlements include Barrow-in-Furness, Kendal, Whitehaven and Workington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Workington</span> Coastal town in Cumbria, England

Workington is a coastal town and civil parish at the mouth of the River Derwent on the west coast in the Allerdale borough of Cumbria, England. The town was historically in Cumberland. At the 2011 census it had a population of 25,207.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allerdale</span> Borough in England

Allerdale is a non-metropolitan district of Cumbria, England, with borough status. Its council is based in Workington and the borough has a population of 93,492 according to the 2001 census, increasing to 96,422 at the 2011 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seaton, Cumbria</span> Human settlement in England

Seaton is a large village and civil parish in the Allerdale borough of Cumbria, England. Historically part of Cumberland, near the Lake District National Park in England. It is home to around 5,000 people and is one of the largest villages in England. The population of the parish was measured in the 2011 Census as 5,022. Historically a part of Cumberland, it is situated on the north side of the River Derwent, across from the town of Workington, and close to the smaller village of Camerton. Seaton forms part of the Borough of Allerdale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egremont, Cumbria</span> Human settlement in England

Egremont is a market town, civil parish and two electoral wards in Cumbria, England, and historically part of Cumberland. It is situated just outside the Lake District National Park, five miles south of Whitehaven and on the River Ehen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Above Derwent</span> Human settlement in England

Above Derwent is a civil parish in the Borough of Allerdale in Cumbria, England. It lies entirely within the Lake District National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broughton Moor</span> Village in Cumbria, England

Broughton Moor is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Allerdale in Cumbria, England. It is situated on an extensive moor about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Broughton, 5 miles (8.0 km) north west of Cockermouth, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south of Maryport and 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north of Workington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greysouthen</span> Human settlement in England

Greysouthen is a village and civil parish between the towns of Workington and Cockermouth, in Cumbria, North West England, historically part of Cumberland, near the Lake District National Park. The village has an historic association with coal mining.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridekirk</span> Human settlement in England

Bridekirk is a village and civil parish in the Allerdale district in the county of Cumbria, England. It is around 3.2 kilometres (2 mi) north of the Derwent river and about the same distance from the nearest large town of Cockermouth just south of the river. Bridekirk is just outside the Lake District National Park and is not far from the Maryport and Carlisle Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ireby, Cumbria</span> Human settlement in England

Ireby is a village in the Allerdale borough of Cumbria, England. with a population of around 180. Historically, it was in the county of Cumberland, since 1974 it has been in Cumbria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridgefoot</span> Human settlement in England

Bridgefoot is a village in Cumbria, historically part of Cumberland, near the Lake District National Park in England. It is situated at the confluence of the River Marron and Lostrigg Beck, approximately 1 mile south of the River Derwent. To the south it is seamlessly joined with the village of Little Clifton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dearham</span> Village in Cumbria, England

Dearham is a village and civil parish in the Allerdale district of Cumbria, historically part of Cumberland, near the Lake District National Park in England. It lies about 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Maryport and 5 miles (8.0 km) west of Cockermouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camerton, Cumbria</span> Human settlement in England

Camerton is a small village and civil parish in Cumbria, historically part of Cumberland, near the Lake District National Park in England. According to older maps, it was originally called "Camberton".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Broughton</span> Village in Cumbria, England

Little Broughton is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Broughton, in the Allerdale district, in the county of Cumbria, England, located 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Cockermouth. In 1891 the parish had a population of 820.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilcrux</span> Human settlement in England

Gilcrux is a small village and civil parish in the ceremonial county of Cumbria, England, and historically part of Cumberland. It is situated just outside the Lake District National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Clifton</span> Human settlement in England

Great Clifton is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Allerdale in the English county of Cumbria. In the 2001 census, it has a population of 1,101, increasing slightly to 1,114 at the 2011 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellenborough, Cumbria</span> Human settlement in England

Ellenborough is a suburb of the town of Maryport, Cumbria, England, historically within Cumberland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dean, Cumbria</span> Human settlement in England

Dean is a village and civil parish in the Allerdale district, in the county of Cumbria, England. Dean has a Church of England school, a church called St Oswald's. Nearby settlements include the towns of Workington and Cockermouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winscales</span>

Winscales is a hamlet and civil parish in Allerdale, Cumbria, England, south west of Workington. In the 2011 census it had a population of 237.

References

  1. ↑ "Population Decline". www.visionofbritain.org.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  2. ↑ "Population Statistics". www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  3. ↑ "Household Statistics". www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  4. ↑ "Parish population 2011" . Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  5. ↑ "Historic Description of Little Clifton". www.visionofbritain.org.uk. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  6. ↑ "Allerdale Borough Council website". Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  7. ↑ "A vision of Britain website – general elections section" . Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  8. ↑ "Little Clifton Parish Council". 15 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "Ancient Settlements". www.visitcumbria.com. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  10. ↑ "Celtic History". www.celtnet.org.uk. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  11. ↑ "Saxon History". www.inheritage.org. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  12. ↑ "Occupational Statistics". www.visionofbritain.org.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  13. ↑ "Mining in Cumbria". www.visitcumbria.com. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  14. ↑ "Early Mining". www.cumbria-industries.org.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  15. ↑ "Occupational Statistics". www.visionofbritain.org.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  16. ↑ "Force Crag Mine". www.visitcumbria.com. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  17. ↑ "Coordinates of St Luke's". www.geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  18. ↑ "St Luke's CofE". www.ctfc.org.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  19. ↑ "Accidental Mass Slaughter BBC". news.bbc.co.uk. 21 April 2001. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  20. ↑ "Accidental Mass Slaughter NWEM". www.nwemail.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  21. ↑ Historic England, "Plunderland Farmhouse and adjoining barn (1327184)", National Heritage List for England , retrieved 3 February 2016
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