• Alston
• Allonby And Aspatria
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• Appleby In Westmoreland
• Askam In Furness
• Barrow In Furness
• Bassenthwaite
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• Brough
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• Broughton In Furness
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• Staveley
• Tebay
• The Duddon Valley
• Threlkeld
• Ulverston
• Vale Of Lorton
• Wasdale
• Wetheral
• Whitehaven
• Wigton
• Windermere
• Workington
• Spa Hotels In Windermere The Lake District
• Hotels With Hot Tubs In Windermere
• Hot Tub Hotels In Windermere And The Lake District
• Romantic Breaks In Windermere And The Lake District
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• Windermere Attractions And Boat Trips
• Boutique Hotels And Accommodation In Windermere And The Lake District
• Windermere In The Rain
• One Way Ticket To Windermere Por Favor
• Horse Riding In The Lake District
• Walks In The Lake District
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• Holiday Accommodation Wanted In The Lake District

Wigton

Wigton is a small market town between Caldbeck Fells and the Solway Coast. Served by Wigton Railway Station, the town is the thriving centre of the Solway Plain, Cumbria. Wigton can be reached by rail on the Cumbrian Coast Line and via the A596 road to Workington and the A595 to Carlisle.

This bustling market town is an ancient settlement, which evolved from a pre-medieval street plan,that can still be traced today.

Tall Georgian houses line the streets of the town and the old market place boasts a beautiful memorial fountain and an impressive Georgian church. Wigton was once an important market town, and still shows signs of its rich history, with a maze of narrow lanes and alleyways, leading to elegant buildings and superb examples of Georgian architecture.

Charles Dickens passed through the town in 1857, while writer and broadcaster, Melvin Bragg was born in the town. There are plenty of things to see and do in Wigton, and it is the ideal base for exploring the Lake District.

Watchtree Nature Reserve

The former World War Two airfield has been transformed into a haven for a wide range of wildlife.  Restoration and landscaping has created some diverse habitats, including woods, meadows and wetlands, which attract many species of wildlife, insects and birds. Well-surfaced footpaths and an all-ability cycle track provide access to all parts of the reserve, and public open days and guided tours and walks take place on selected days.

 Knoxwood Wildlife Rescue

Knoxwood rehabilitates sick and injured animals and birds, and then releases them back into the wild. A range of British wildlife can be seen close up, from birds of prey to badgers and deer. Some exotic species have become permanent residents, and visitors can learn more about how the rescue centre works. Open at weekends and school holidays, subject to time availability.

 The Cavalry Fort

The Cavalry Fort was built on the Roman road from Carlisle to Papcastle, near Cockermouth, which is now the A595. A civilian settlement was established just outside the fort to service the needs and requirements of the Roman garrison. When the Romans withdrew, the fort continued to be occupied but gradually fell into disrepair. During the 18th Century the stones from the fort were stolen to build elsewhere, and only the grassy imprint of the fort still remains.
Wigton History

Early industries in Wigton included the manufacture of cotton and linen, dyeing and printing. Hundreds of hand-loom weavers were employed to carry out their trade in small weavers´ cottages, which were situated east of the town centre. The area of Tenters was named after the tenterhooks which were used to stretch the finished cloth in the sun. The two becks at Wigton supplied enough water and power to operate three corn mills, two breweries and a tannery and saw mill.

Anglian settlers were spreading across the Solway Plain by the 7th Century, and the name Wigton is said to be derived from the settlement name of Wicga, who was probably an Anglo-Saxon chieftain.  During the 9th and 10th Centuries, Vikings moved inland from the western shores of Cumbria, and founded settlements such as Wiggonby and Thursby.

The Normans later established a Barony of Wigton, and subsequently created Inglewood Forest - one of the largest hunting reserves in England. During the rule of Henry II, the forest boundaries were extended to include the whole of Wigton, and the inhabitants then had to adhere to Forest Law. It was forbidden, for example to cut down mature trees, burn charcoal or kill the King´s deer.

Wigton enjoyed an enviable location in the centre of Solway Plain, and along with the commercial influence of Holm Cultram Abbey, the town soon developed a thriving trade in commerce. The town was granted the right to hold a weekly market in 1262, and meat, vegetables, fish, butter and grain were sold in different areas of Wigton. Visitors to the town can still see O, B and W market out in white cobblestones, which denotes where oats, barley and wheat could be sold. Keeping up with old traditions, Wigton still hosts weekly indoor and outdoor markets.

St Mary´s Church Wigton

St Mary´s was the first church to be built in Wigton in 1125. Stones were used from the disused old Roman Fort nearby.  The church was almost totally rebuilt in the 18th Century in Georgian style. Gold leaf and intricate details are still evident today, and the only feature left to remind visitors of the old church is the east window, which can be seen in the grounds next to a Roman column.

St Andrew´s Church at Aikton is well worth a visit if you want to know more about the history and culture of the area. This ancient church is located just outside the village.

 The manor of Aikton was once owned by the Morville family, and just inside the porch is a medieval grave slab, engraved with a sword. The sword represents the one used by Hugh de Morville to kill Thomas á Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1170. The stone may have once covered Hugh´s grave.

Several grand houses were built in Wigton when industry was booming in the area. Highmoor House was built in 1810 by Joseph Hodge, a cotton and linen manufacturer. On his death, his business partner who inherited the house, William Banks, enlarged the property and landscaped the gardens. A huge tower was added in the 1870s in the style of an Italian belfry, which was fitted with a large bell called ´Big Joe´.  The bell could be heard for 12 miles, and as far away as Carlisle. The bell is now silent.

Visitors to Wigton will find a host of good accommodation in and around the town, including Lake District cottages, hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfast accommodation. A little further afield, if you are planning to explore the lakes, check out the stylish themed hotels near Windermere and Bowness.  Whether you are in the Lake District for a romantic weekend, a family holiday or a few day´s break, you will find a wide range of attractions and events to keep you entertained.

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