Cleator Moor

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cleator Moor
Cleator Moor (Cumbria)
Cleator Moor

Cleator Moor shown within Cumbria
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
Dialling code 01946
Police Cumbria
Fire Cumbria
Ambulance North West
European Parliament North West England
UK Parliament Copeland
List of places: UK • England • Cumbria

Coordinates: 54°31′16″N 3°30′43″W / 54.5211, -3.5119

Cleator Moor is a small town in the English county of Cumbria and within the boundaries of the traditional county of Cumberland.

The town's skyline is dominated by Dent Fell and the town is located on the 190 mile Coast to Coast Walk 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 in the 1840s 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-Popery" campaigner William Murphy pushing him down the stairs of the Oddfellows Hall. The following year Murphy died, possibly as a result of his injuries. On 12 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, cutlasses and pikes. Local Catholics later took revenge on members of the Orange Order living in the town.

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, France.

In 1938 Jakob Spreiregen founded the company Kangol in Cleator, situated 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.

The town's secondary school, Ehenside School, is due to close in August 2008 after being open for 50 years, along with Wyndham School, in order to make way for the West Lakes Academy, which will initially use the Wyndham grounds.

Local ARLFC team the Wath Brow Hornets won 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 FC, Blackpool FC, Ipswich Town FC and Carlisle United FC. England and Liverpool FC goalkeeper Scott Carson, who is presently on loan to Aston Villa, was once a member of the team.

International soprano Joan Rodgers was born and raised in Cleator Moor.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Ceremonial county of Cumbria
North West England Portal
Boroughs or districts
Cities and towns
Languages