Copeland, Cumbria
Encyclopedia
Copeland is a local government district
and borough
in western Cumbria
, England
. Its council is based in Whitehaven
. It was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the borough of Whitehaven
, Ennerdale Rural District
and Millom Rural District
.
The name is derived from an alternate name for the Cumberland ward of Allerdale above Derwent, which covered roughly the same area.
Different explanations exist for the name. According to a document issued at the time of the borough's grant of arms, the name Copeland is derived from kaupland or bought land, the area of the Forest having been bought from the estate of St Bees
Priory.
Angus Winchester (1985) upholds that the name kaupland derives from the Irish-Norse invasion of the area in the tenth century (Wainwright 1975). According to this explanation, the area was purchased from the Kingdom of Strathclyde
, possibly with loot from Ireland. Geoffrey Hodgson (2008) argues that this Viking invasion accounts for the high frequency of the Hodgson
surname in the area.
s being elected at each election. Since the first election in 1973
the council has been under Labour
control, apart from between 1976 and 1979 when it was under no overall control
. As of the 2011 election
the council is composed of the following councillors:-
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
and borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
in western 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...
. Its council is based in Whitehaven
Whitehaven
Whitehaven is a small town and port on the coast of Cumbria, England, which lies equidistant between the county's two largest settlements, Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, and is served by the Cumbrian Coast Line and the A595 road...
. It was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the borough of Whitehaven
Whitehaven
Whitehaven is a small town and port on the coast of Cumbria, England, which lies equidistant between the county's two largest settlements, Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, and is served by the Cumbrian Coast Line and the A595 road...
, Ennerdale Rural District
Ennerdale Rural District
Ennerdale was a rural district in the county of Cumberland in England from 1934 to 1974.It was created in 1934 by a County Review Order, by the merger of the urban districts of Arlecdon and Frizington, Cleator Moor, Egremont, and Harrington along with part of Bootle Rural District and most of...
and Millom Rural District
Millom Rural District
Millom was a rural district in Cumberland in England from 1934 to 1974.It was formed by a County Review Order in 1934 by the merger of the Millom urban district with most of the Bootle Rural District....
.
The name is derived from an alternate name for the Cumberland ward of Allerdale above Derwent, which covered roughly the same area.
Different explanations exist for the name. According to a document issued at the time of the borough's grant of arms, the name Copeland is derived from kaupland or bought land, the area of the Forest having been bought from the estate of St Bees
St Bees
St Bees is a village and civil parish in the Copeland district of Cumbria, in the North of England, about five miles west southwest of Whitehaven. The parish had a population of 1,717 according to the 2001 census. Within the parish is St...
Priory.
Angus Winchester (1985) upholds that the name kaupland derives from the Irish-Norse invasion of the area in the tenth century (Wainwright 1975). According to this explanation, the area was purchased from the Kingdom of Strathclyde
Kingdom of Strathclyde
Strathclyde , originally Brythonic Ystrad Clud, was one of the early medieval kingdoms of the celtic people called the Britons in the Hen Ogledd, the Brythonic-speaking parts of what is now southern Scotland and northern England. The kingdom developed during the post-Roman period...
, possibly with loot from Ireland. Geoffrey Hodgson (2008) argues that this Viking invasion accounts for the high frequency of the Hodgson
Hodgson
Hodgson is a surname. In Britain, the Hodgson surname was the 173rd most common in 1881 and the 206th most common in 1998. In the United States of America, Hodgson was the 3753rd most popular surname in the 1990 census.-Origin and Meaning:The surname authority P. H...
surname in the area.
Governance
Elections to the borough council are held every four years, with currently 51 councillorCouncillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
s being elected at each election. Since the first election in 1973
United Kingdom local elections, 1973
The first elections to the new local authorities established by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales and the new Northern Ireland district councils created by the Local Government Act 1972 took place in 1973...
the council has been under Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
control, apart from between 1976 and 1979 when it was under no overall control
No overall control
Within the context of local councils of the United Kingdom, the term No Overall Control refers to a situation in which no single party achieves a majority of seats and is analogous to a hung parliament...
. As of the 2011 election
Copeland Council election, 2011
The 2011 Copeland Council election took place on 5 May 2011 to elect members of Copeland Borough Council in Cumbria, England. The whole council was up for election and the Labour party stayed in overall control of the council.-Background:...
the council is composed of the following councillors:-
| Party | Councillors |
|
| Labour Party Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... |
34 | |
| Conservative Party Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
15 | |
| Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
2 | |