Egremont, Cumbria

Egremont
Town and parish
Main Street, Egremont
Egremont is located in the former Borough of Copeland
Egremont
Egremont
Location in the former Copeland Borough
Egremont is located in Cumbria
Egremont
Egremont
Location within Cumbria
Population8,194 (2011)[1]
OS grid referenceNY008109
Civil parish
  • Egremont
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townEGREMONT
Postcode districtCA22
Dialling code01946
PoliceCumbria
FireCumbria
AmbulanceNorth West
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Cumbria
54°29′02″N 3°31′50″W / 54.4840°N 3.5306°W / 54.4840; -3.5306

Egremont /ˈɛɡrəmənt/ 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 (eight kilometres) south of Whitehaven and on the River Ehen.

The town, which lies at the foot of Uldale Valley and Dent Fell, has a long industrial heritage including dyeing, weaving and iron ore mining. It had a population of 7,444 in 2001,[2] increasing to 8,194 at the 2011 Census.[1]

The town's layout today is much the same as at the time of Richard de Lucy around 1200 with its wide Main Street opening out into the market place. The remains of the Norman castle, built in the 12th century, are situated at the southern end of Main Street near the market place.

Egremont was granted a charter for a market and annual fair by King Henry III in 1266.[3] The resulting annual Crab Fair now hosts the World Gurning Championships.[4]

The modern economy is based around the nuclear industry at Sellafield.

  1. ^ a b UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Egremont Parish (E04012138)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  2. ^ UK Census (2001). "Local Area Report – Egremont Parish (16UE006)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Parishes: Edenhall - Grinsdale | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk.
  4. ^ "Egremont gurning at Crab Fayre - World Gurning Competition Choosing the ugliest face part of Whitehaven.org.uk Cumbria". www.whitehaven.org.uk.