Ulverston

Ulverston - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ulverston is a market town and civil parish in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria in North West England. Historically in Lancashire, the town is located in the Furness area around 8 miles (13 kilometres) north-east of Barrow-in-Furness. It is close to the Lake District, and just north of Morecambe Bay, neighboured by Swarthmoor, Pennington and Rosside.

Ulverston's most visible landmark is Hoad Monument, a concrete structure built in 1850 to commemorate statesman and local resident Sir John Barrow.[2] The monument provides scenic views of the surrounding areas, including Morecambe Bay and parts of the Lake District.

Ulverston Canal, which is no longer navigable, is claimed to be the deepest, widest and shortest canal in the United Kingdom at 1.25 mi (2 km).[3] The canal was once a vital component of the town's economy.[4]

The town is home to many shops and pubs, some of which are located on the stone paved main street, Market Street. At the head of the street is a war memorial to local soldiers who died in World War I.

Ulverston - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ulverston calls itself a 'Festival Town' in reference to the many and varied festivals which take place in Ulverston over the course of the year.[24] The most renowned of these is the Lantern Festival, which involves hundreds of local residents creating lanterns out of willow and tissue paper and parading them throughout the town in winding rivers of light. The annual event culminates in a lively display of theatrical performance and fireworks in Ford Park, and was organised entirely by the community themselves for the first time in 2008.

Other popular festivals include:

  • Flag Festival
  • Dickensian Festival
  • Beer Festival
  • Charter Festival (including the Lantern Festival)
  • International Music Festival
  • Furness Tradition
  • Comedy Festival
  • Word Market—including 'Pub Scripts'
  • Walking Festival
  • Spring Buddhist Festival
  • Print Fest
  • Summer Buddhist Festival
  • Ulverston Carnival Parade
  • Furness Festival of Tradition
  • Summer Music Festival
  • Festival of Fashion
  • The Feast of St George
  • Breastfeeding Festival
  • Another Fine Fest is a new festival only launched in 2014. A festival of music, comedy, street theatre and art, celebrating Ulverston and the birth of Stan Laurel.