Allonby
Encyclopedia
Allonby is a village on the coast of the Allerdale
district in Cumbria
, England
. The village is on the B5300 road five miles (8 km) north of Maryport
and eight miles (13 km) south of Silloth
.
The village overlooks Allonby Bay in the Solway Firth
. The area is within the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
(AONB), and the historic county of Cumberland
. Allonby, and the five-mile coastal strip of the bay, afford spectacular views across the Solway to the Galloway
hills of southern Scotland
. Both the South Saltpans beach and the West Winds beach were awarded the Blue flag
rural beach award in 2005. The village is located on the 150 mile (240 km) Cumbria Coastal Way
long distance footpath.
From the late 18th century until the mid-19th century, Allonby was home to a small fishing fleet. The main catch was Herring. Fish Yards were built where these were salted and packed in barrels made on the premises. There was also a smoke house where Kippers were produced.
In the early part of the 19th century Allonby was a popular sea-bathing resort. Baths were built in 1835. The buildings still survive as private residences in the Market Square.
The village is noted for a 17th century coaching inn
now known as the Ship Hotel. Charles Dickens
and Wilkie Collins
reputedly stayed at the hostelry in 1857 while touring northern Cumberland.
The Reading Room, opened in 1862, was designed by Alfred Waterhouse
the famous Victorian architect when he was only 32-years-old. The building was largely financed by Joseph Pease
who was Britain's first Quaker MP.
Allerdale
Allerdale is a non-metropolitan district of Cumbria, England, with borough status. Its council is based in Workington and the borough has a population of 93,492 according to the 2001 census....
district in Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The village is on the B5300 road five miles (8 km) north of Maryport
Maryport
Maryport is a town and civil parish within the Allerdale borough of Cumbria, England, in the historic county of Cumberland. It is located on the A596 road north of Workington, and is the southernmost town on the Solway Firth. Maryport railway station is on the Cumbrian Coast Line. The town is in...
and eight miles (13 km) south of Silloth
Silloth
Silloth is a port town and civil parish in Cumbria, England. It sits on the shoreline of the Solway Firth, west of Carlisle. It has a population of 2,932....
.
The village overlooks Allonby Bay in the Solway Firth
Solway Firth
The Solway Firth is a firth that forms part of the border between England and Scotland, between Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway. It stretches from St Bees Head, just south of Whitehaven in Cumbria, to the Mull of Galloway, on the western end of Dumfries and Galloway. The Isle of Man is also very...
. The area is within the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an area of countryside considered to have significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by the Countryside Agency on behalf of the United Kingdom government; the Countryside Council for Wales on...
(AONB), and the historic county of Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
. Allonby, and the five-mile coastal strip of the bay, afford spectacular views across the Solway to the Galloway
Galloway
Galloway is an area in southwestern Scotland. It usually refers to the former counties of Wigtownshire and Kirkcudbrightshire...
hills of southern Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Both the South Saltpans beach and the West Winds beach were awarded the Blue flag
Blue Flag beach
The Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education that a beach or marina meets its stringent standards.The Blue Flag is a trademark owned by FEE which is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation consisting of 65 organisations in 60 member countries in Europe,...
rural beach award in 2005. The village is located on the 150 mile (240 km) Cumbria Coastal Way
Cumbria Coastal Way
The Cumbria Coastal Way is a long distance footpath allowing users to travel from Cumbria's southern border to just north of the English - Scottish border. It follows some interesting scenery such as the red sandstone cliffs of St...
long distance footpath.
From the late 18th century until the mid-19th century, Allonby was home to a small fishing fleet. The main catch was Herring. Fish Yards were built where these were salted and packed in barrels made on the premises. There was also a smoke house where Kippers were produced.
In the early part of the 19th century Allonby was a popular sea-bathing resort. Baths were built in 1835. The buildings still survive as private residences in the Market Square.
The village is noted for a 17th century coaching inn
Coaching inn
In Europe, from approximately the mid-17th century for a period of about 200 years, the coaching inn, sometimes called a coaching house or staging inn, was a vital part of the inland transport infrastructure, as an inn serving coach travelers...
now known as the Ship Hotel. Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
and Wilkie Collins
Wilkie Collins
William Wilkie Collins was an English novelist, playwright, and author of short stories. He was very popular during the Victorian era and wrote 30 novels, more than 60 short stories, 14 plays, and over 100 non-fiction pieces...
reputedly stayed at the hostelry in 1857 while touring northern Cumberland.
The Reading Room, opened in 1862, was designed by Alfred Waterhouse
Alfred Waterhouse
Alfred Waterhouse was a British architect, particularly associated with the Victorian Gothic Revival architecture. He is perhaps best known for his design for the Natural History Museum in London, and Manchester Town Hall, although he also built a wide variety of other buildings throughout the...
the famous Victorian architect when he was only 32-years-old. The building was largely financed by Joseph Pease
Joseph Pease
Joseph Pease may refer to:* Joseph Pease , railway owner, first Quaker elected Member of Parliament** Sir Joseph Pease, 1st Baronet , MP 1865–1903, full name Joseph Whitwell Pease, son of Joseph Pease...
who was Britain's first Quaker MP.