Cleator Moor

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cleator Moor

Coordinates: 54.5211° N 3.5119° W
Population	6,963
OS grid reference	NY021150
District	Copeland
Shire county	Cumbria
Region	North West
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CLEATOR MOOR
Postcode district	CA25
Dial code	01946
Police	Cumbria
Fire	Cumbria
Ambulance	North West
UK Parliament	Copeland
European Parliament	North West England
List of places: UK • England • Cumbria

Cleator Moor is a small town in the county of Cumbria, England.

The town's skyline is dominated by the beautiful Dent (fell) and the town is located on the 190 mile Coast to Coast route that spans the North of England.

On the outskirts of the Town of Cleator Moor lies the village of Cleator with which the Town is closely associated; though Cleator has a separate post code (CA23).

Historically located within Cumberland, the town was based around the iron works industry and was served in this capacity by the Cleator & Workington junction railway. The influx of Irish workers gave the town the nickname Little Ireland. World War I and World War II saw a fresh influx of immigrants from Mainland Europe join the settled Irish community.

With the decline of traditional industries the town's economy is now dependent on the nearby Sellafield complex, which provides employment to half the town's people.

Following the Irish Potato Famine and the rise of the Orange Order Cleator Moor found itself for a short period at the centre of sectarian troubles in the UK. In April 1871 several hundred Cleator Moor miners entered neighbouring Whitehaven and attacked "Anti-Poppery" campaigner William Murphy pushing him down the stairs of the Oddfellow's Hall. The following year Murphy died, possibly as a result of his injuries. On 12th July 1884 the combined Orange Lodges of Cumberland, marched through the town of Cleator Moor to in commemoration of the Battle of the Boyne leading to riots and the death of local postal messenger, Henry Tumelty, a 17 year old Catholic, with others listed as having received injuries from bullets, cutlass and pike. With local Catholics later taking revenge on members of the Orange Order living in the town at that time.

The E. W. Pugin designed Catholic church St Mary's was consecrated in 1872; replacing the earlier mission church built in 1853. The grounds are home to a meditative walk on the Stations of the Cross and Our Lady's Grotto, a replica of the Grotto at Lourdes.

In 1938 Jakob Spreiregen founded the company Kangol in Cleator, across the road from St Mary's church. The original factory building still stands though manufacturing has since transferred to the Kangol factory in Panyu, Guangzhou, Guandong, China. Although manufacturing on the site has ended the factory shop remains open for business and there are talks of redeveloping the site as a tourist attraction.

During the 1950s, Cleator Moor and Cleator were regularly visited by the artist L. S. Lowry, who painted local scenes.

Local ARLFC team the Wath Brow Hornets were winners of the GMB Union National cup in 2004 and 2005.

Local AFC team Cleator Moor Celtic won the County Cup in 1999. The team has supplied players to Sheffield Wednesday, Blackpool, Ipswich and Carlisle United as well as England and Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson, who is presently on loan to Charlton Athletic.

International Soprano Joan Rodgers was born and raised in Cleator Moor

International Artist Conrad Atkinson was born in Cleator Moor. 1940. His work can be seen at Cleator Moor Market Place.