Mawbray
Encyclopedia
Mawbray is a village in northern Cumbria
, United Kingdom
. It is located on the Solway Plain
, approximately halfway between the coastal towns of Maryport
and Silloth
. The B5300, known locally as the "coast road" runs to the west of the village. The name "Mawbray" is believed to be derived from Latin, meaning "a maiden's castle or fort". This would be consistent with Roman mile-forts known to exist nearby on the coast, especially in the Maryport area.
The site of the present village is believed to have been established as early as the 1150s. From the Anglo-Saxon
period right up to the twentieth century, the majority of Mawbray's inhabitants are believed to have been fishermen and farmers. Farming and fishing still continue in the village in the present day, with more of the former than the latter, but the inhabitants today are more diverse, including "a journalist, an artist and a television presenter".
Mawbray used to have many diverse shops and tradesmen operating, but in the present day, these have been lost. Trades such as "bacon and ham curer, shoemaker, blacksmith, joiner and dressmaker" have long since disappeared from the village. The village post office and shop closed in the 1980s, and for several years following the death of the landlady, the village was also without a pub. However, the Lowther Arms re-opened in December 2006, and has become a popular venue for traditional food and Real Ale in the village itself and in the surrounding area.
Cultheram Hall, known locally simply as the Village Hall, is the centre of activity in Mawbray today. The annual Pantomime, written, directed and performed by locals, is very popular in the area. The hall also accommodates many other musical events, especially by performers on the Rural Touring Scheme throughout the year.
Mawbray is served by a local bus service, running hourly in each direction to Silloth and Maryport, and smaller roads besides the B5300 run northeast towards Abbeytown
, and southwest towards Haleforth, Allonby
& Salta, Cumbria
. With the Pub and Village Hall, Mawbray serves as the centre of the community for the outlying hamlets of Hailforth, Salta, Newtown & Holme St. Cuthbert. Interestingly, however, Mawbray itself is not home to the local primary school, which is instead located at Holme St. Cuthberts, as is the local church.
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...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is located on the Solway Plain
Solway Plain
The Solway Plain is a low-lying coastal plain in the northwest of Cumbria, England. It is an area generally lying north and west of Carlisle along the Solway Firth and drained by the rivers Esk and Lynne. This geographic unit is associated with the westernmost part of Hadrian's Wall. In medieval...
, approximately halfway between the coastal towns 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 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 B5300, known locally as the "coast road" runs to the west of the village. The name "Mawbray" is believed to be derived from Latin, meaning "a maiden's castle or fort". This would be consistent with Roman mile-forts known to exist nearby on the coast, especially in the Maryport area.
The site of the present village is believed to have been established as early as the 1150s. From the Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
period right up to the twentieth century, the majority of Mawbray's inhabitants are believed to have been fishermen and farmers. Farming and fishing still continue in the village in the present day, with more of the former than the latter, but the inhabitants today are more diverse, including "a journalist, an artist and a television presenter".
Mawbray used to have many diverse shops and tradesmen operating, but in the present day, these have been lost. Trades such as "bacon and ham curer, shoemaker, blacksmith, joiner and dressmaker" have long since disappeared from the village. The village post office and shop closed in the 1980s, and for several years following the death of the landlady, the village was also without a pub. However, the Lowther Arms re-opened in December 2006, and has become a popular venue for traditional food and Real Ale in the village itself and in the surrounding area.
Cultheram Hall, known locally simply as the Village Hall, is the centre of activity in Mawbray today. The annual Pantomime, written, directed and performed by locals, is very popular in the area. The hall also accommodates many other musical events, especially by performers on the Rural Touring Scheme throughout the year.
Mawbray is served by a local bus service, running hourly in each direction to Silloth and Maryport, and smaller roads besides the B5300 run northeast towards Abbeytown
Abbeytown
Abbeytown, also known as Holme Abbey, is a village in Cumbria, England. It was built around the former Cistercian Holmcultram Abbey, the nave of the church of which now serves the parish as St. Mary's Church...
, and southwest towards Haleforth, Allonby
Allonby
Allonby is a village on the coast of the Allerdale district in Cumbria, England. The village is on the B5300 road five miles north of Maryport and eight miles south of Silloth....
& Salta, Cumbria
Salta, Cumbria
Salta is a hamlet in northern Cumbria, United Kingdom. It is located approximately 1.5km from the village of Mawbray.The majority of the 15 or so houses are modern builds, but at least one property is known to date from the 16th century. Salta is a very small settlement, home to approximately 30...
. With the Pub and Village Hall, Mawbray serves as the centre of the community for the outlying hamlets of Hailforth, Salta, Newtown & Holme St. Cuthbert. Interestingly, however, Mawbray itself is not home to the local primary school, which is instead located at Holme St. Cuthberts, as is the local church.