Sedbergh

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Sedbergh







Statistics
Population:	3,691
Ordnance Survey
OS grid reference:	SD657920
Administration
District:	South Lakeland
Shire county:	Cumbria
Region:	North West England
Constituent country:	England
Sovereign state:	United Kingdom
Other
Ceremonial county:	Cumbria
Historic county:	Yorkshire
Services
Police force:	Cumbria Constabulary
Ambulance service:	North West
Post office and telephone
Post town:	SEDBERGH
Postal district:	LA10
Dialling code:	015396
Politics
UK Parliament:	Westmorland and Lonsdale
European Parliament:	North West England

Sedbergh (pronounced Sedber or even, by the locals, Sebber) is a small town in the county of Cumbria, traditionally part of the West Riding of Yorkshire. It lies about 7½ miles (12 km) east of Kendal and about 10 miles (15 km) north of Kirkby Lonsdale. The town lies just within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It lies at the foot of the Howgill Fells on the north bank of the River Rawthey, which joins the River Lune about 2½ miles (4 km) below Sedbergh.

The town has a narrow main street lined with shops. From all angles you can see the hills rising behind the houses. Until the coming of the railway in 1861, These were remote places that it was possible to reach only by slogging over some fairly steep hills. The railway to Sedbergh was closed in 1965.

George Fox, a founder of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), spoke in St Andrew's church (which he called a "steeple house") and on nearby Firbank Fell during his travels in the north of England in 1652. Nearby Briggflatts Meeting House was built in 1675. It is the namesake of Basil Bunting's lauded long poem, Briggflatts (1966). Sedbergh School is a co-educational boarding school in the town.

1 History
2 Economy
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] History

Sedbergh's church, St Andrew's, dates from the 12th century, though restored periodically since then. There is at least one house dating from the 14th century, and there are the remains of a motte and bailey castle believed to date from Saxon times.

Sedbergh's main industries for many years were Sedbergh School (founded 1525), farming and the production of woollen garments.

Wool sheared from the many sheep was taken to local mills where it was turned into yarn from which people in their homes, would knit clothing, including hats and socks. The garments were then sold by local merchants to, among other places, the coal miners of the North East of England. This trade has long since disappeared. It is remembered at Farfield Mill, just outside he town, where there is an exhibition of weaving equipment, and workshops for a number of artists and crafts workers. There are still plenty of sheep in the surrounding fields. Some of the sheep are now raised primarily to protect the breed, notably the Rough Fell sheep.

[edit] Economy

Income now comes from a range of sources, the schools are still the main employer in the town. It is now possible that the turnover of small to medium manufacturing and wholesaleing companies matches or exceeds that of the schools - a growing feature of the economy. Other major sources of income are farming, retail and tourism. It is hoped that tourism will increase after the efforts of Sedbergh to find a twin town were featured in a BBC documentary, The Town That Wants A Twin during January 2005 ( the winning town was Zreĉe in north-east Slovenia). There is also a growing number of book shops after a local campaign to develop Sedbergh as a Book Town.