View source for Milnthorpe

{{Short description|Village and civil parish in Cumbria, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2019}}
{{advert|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| coordinates = {{coord|54.227|-2.773|display=inline,title}}
| official_name = Milnthorpe
| type = Village and parish
| population = 2,199
| population_ref = ([[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 Census]])<ref name=census2011 />
| civil_parish = Milnthorpe<ref name=pc-home>{{cite web |url=http://www.milnthorpeparishcouncil.org/ |title=Milnthorpe Parish Council |website=www.milnthorpeparishcouncil.org}}</ref>
| unitary_england = [[Westmorland and Furness]]
| region = North West England
| lieutenancy_england = [[Cumbria]]
| constituency_westminster = [[Morecambe and Lunesdale (UK Parliament constituency)|Morecambe and Lunesdale]]
| post_town = MILNTHORPE
| postcode_district = LA7
| postcode_area = LA
| dial_code = 015395
| os_grid_reference = SD496815
| static_image_name = File:Market Square - panoramio (2).jpg
| static_image_caption = Market cross and market square with St Thomas's church behind
| pushpin_map = United Kingdom South Lakeland
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the former South Lakeland district
}}
'''Milnthorpe''' is a [[village]],<ref name=pc-milnthorpe>{{cite web |title=Milnthorpe |url=http://www.milnthorpeparishcouncil.org/?Milnthorpe |website=www.milnthorpeparishcouncil.org |publisher=Milnthorpe Parish Council |access-date=5 April 2023 |quote=Milnthorpe is a large market village on the southern border of Cumbria}}</ref> [[civil parish]], and former [[market town]] in [[Westmorland and Furness]], [[Cumbria]], England. It is {{convert|7| miles}} south of [[Kendal]].<ref name=ccht>{{cite web |url=https://www.cumbriacountyhistory.org.uk/township/milnthorpe |title=Milnthorpe &#124; Cumbria County History Trust |website=www.cumbriacountyhistory.org.uk |access-date=2 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.visitlakedistrict.com/explore/areas-of-cumbria/morecambe-bay/towns-and-villages/arnside-and-milnthorpe |title=Arnside |website=www.visitlakedistrict.com |access-date=2 December 2021}}</ref>  [[Historic counties of England|Historically]] in the county of [[Westmorland]] and on the [[A6 road (England)|A6]], the village contains several old hostelries and hosts a [[market (place)|market]] every Friday. The parish, which includes the village of [[Ackenthwaite]], had a population of 2,199 according to the 2011 Census.<ref name=census2011>{{NOMIS2011|id=E04002634|title=Milnthorpe Parish|access-date=9 May 2021}}</ref>

==History==

Milnthorpe was granted a [[market charter]] in 1334, although this lapsed in the 1920s.<ref name=ccht />

Milnthorpe was part of the township of  [[Heversham]]-with Milnthorpe, and was in Heversham parish until 1896.<ref name=ccht /><ref name=pc-milnthorpe />  The 19th-century [[St Thomas' Church, Milnthorpe|Church of St Thomas]], which overlooks The Green and The Square, was designed by Kendal architect [[George Webster (architect)|George Webster]].

Milnthorpe became a centre of business and activity because it was originally a port, using the [[River Bela]] and estuary (now only navigable to [[Arnside]]) and it remains a significant commercial centre for the area.

==Economy==
Tourism is a major contributor to the local economy. Milnthorpe had [[coaching inn]]s on the main road north, the modern [[A6 road (England)|A6]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Cross Keys Hotel |url=https://www.robinsonsbrewery.com/pubs/cross-keys-hotel-milnthorpe/ |website=www.robinsonsbrewery.com |access-date=29 May 2023 |language=en |quote=a traditional coaching Inn}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Stay with Us |url=https://www.thebullshead-milnthorpe.co.uk/stay_with_us/ |publisher=The Bulls Head Milnthorpe |access-date=29 May 2023 |quote=a traditional village coaching inn}}</ref> The village used to be a major [[traffic bottleneck]] before the opening of the [[M6 motorway]] in 1970, and the [[A590 road|A590]]/[[A591 road|A591]] Kendal link road a few years later. The congestion at Milnthorpe' cross roads was notoriously amongst the worst in the North West.<ref name="thomas">{{cite web |title=Milnthorpe Past & Present |url=https://stthomasmilnthorpe.org.uk/about-us/milnthorpe-past-present/ |website=St Thomas' Milnthorpe |access-date=6 December 2023}}</ref> The village is just outside the [[Arnside and Silverdale]] [[National Landscape]] (formerly AONB), with the River Bela forming its northern boundary.<ref>{{cite web |title=AONB Map |url=https://www.arnsidesilverdaleaonb.org.uk/discover/aonb-map/ |website= |publisher=Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape |access-date=6 December 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

The popular children's drink ''[[Um Bongo]]'' was made in Milnthorpe by [[Libby's]] in the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web |title=1980s Libbys Um Bongo |url=https://retrotvads.com/1980s-libbys-um-bongo/ |website=retrotvads.com |publisher=Retro TV Ads |access-date=5 April 2023 |date=6 March 2013}}</ref>  Milnthorpe is the home of Duralon Combs, a comb manufacturing business over 300 years old.<ref>{{cite web |title=About: Brief history of John Dobson |url=https://duralon.co.uk/pages/about-us |website=Duralon |access-date=4 April 2023}}</ref> Big Fish Internet Ltd (formerly BF Internet, now trading as BFI) was founded in Milnthorpe in 1996 and is now located {{convert|2|miles}} away in [[Sandside, Beetham|Sandside]];<ref name="bfi">{{cite web |title=Home page |url=https://www.wearebfi.co.uk/ |website=BFI |access-date=4 April 2023 |language=en-uk}}</ref> it is the longest-established web design company in the UK.<ref>{{ cite news | title=Why Milnthorpe has something for everyone|work= Great British Life|url= https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/homes-and-gardens/places-to-live/22617650.milnthorpe-something-everyone/ | date=9 March 2016| access-date= 6 April 2023 |quote=operations director [says] "We're reasonably sure that, of all the other pioneering website companies in the UK from the early days, we're the only digital specialists still in existence"}}</ref> The village has a branch of the family-owned supermarket [[Booths]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.visitlakedistrict.com/things-to-do/booths-milnthorpe-p1215811 |website=Visit Cumbria| title=Booths, Milnthorpe| access-date=16 December 2024}} </ref>

Milnthorpe market was revived in the 1980s and for some years contributed substantially to the parish council's income through stall rentals. In the 21st century the market has reduced in size, reducing the council's income, but it is still held weekly, with a monthly [[farmers' market]].<ref name="gould">{{cite news |last1=Gould |first1=Nicola |title=A Lakeland Market yearning for the good old days |url=https://www.nmtf.co.uk/mt/MarketTimesOctober2014/files/basic-html/page22.html |access-date=6 December 2023 |work=Market Times |publisher=NMTF |date=October 2014 |pages=22–23}}</ref>

==Governance==
Milnthorpe is in the [[unitary authority]] area of [[Westmorland and Furness]], in the [[ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial county]] of [[Cumbria]]. It is in the parliamentary constituency of [[Westmorland and Lonsdale (UK Parliament constituency)|Westmorland and Lonsdale]], held since 2005 by [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] [[Tim Farron]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Tim Farron |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/1591/career |website=MPs and Lords |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=6 December 2023}}</ref>

Milnthorpe has a [[parish council (England)|parish council]].<ref name=pc-home />

From 1 April 1974 to 1 April 2023, Milnthorpe was in [[South Lakeland]] [[non-metropolitan district]].

==Community==
Milnthorpe has one [[secondary school]], [[Dallam School]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Dallam School - Learning for all, learning for life |url=https://dallamschool.co.uk/ |website=Dallam School |access-date=6 December 2023 |date=9 November 2023}}</ref> which was graded "Needs improvement" by [[Ofsted]] in 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=Dallam School |url=https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/137205 |publisher=Ofsted |access-date=6 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Pye |first1=Daniel |title=School told it 'requires improvement' after Ofsted inspection |url=https://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/23647969.dallam-school-receives-requires-improvement-ofsted/ |access-date=6 December 2023 |work=The Westmorland Gazette |date=13 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref> and one [[primary school]], Milnthorpe Primary School,<ref>{{cite web |title=Milnthorpe Primary School |url=https://www.milnthorpe.cumbria.sch.uk/cumbria/primary/milnthorpe |website=www.milnthorpe.cumbria.sch.uk |access-date=6 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Milnthorpe Primary School |url=https://fid.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/kb5/westmorlandandfurness/directory/service.page?id=HqGq1DSr9EM |website=Families Information |publisher=Westmorland and Furness |access-date=6 December 2023 |language=en |date=13 April 2023}}</ref> rated by Ofsted as "Good" in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Milnthorpe Primary School |url=https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/21/112184 |website=reports.ofsted.gov.uk |publisher=Ofsted |access-date=6 December 2023 |date=25 July 2022}}</ref> 
		
There are three public houses in the village.{{cn|date=April 2023}}

==Landmarks==
The [[listed building|Grade I listed]] house [[Dallam Tower]],<ref>{{NHLE| num=1086542 |desc=Dallam Tower|access-date=6 December 2023}}</ref> with an estate known for its deer, stands near to the [[River Bela]] just south-west of Milnthorpe, although in the parish of [[Beetham]]. The grade II [[listed building|listed]]  [[Anthony the Great|St Anthony]]'s Tower<ref>{{NHLE |num=1350009  |desc=St Anthony's Tower|access-date=6 December 2023}}</ref> may be seen on the top of St Anthony's Hill to the north-east of the village centre. There are [[Listed buildings in Milnthorpe|a total of nine]] grade II listed buildings or structures in the parish, including a footbridge over the River Bela, built in 1730 as a road bridge.<ref>{{NHLE | num=1081522 | desc=Footbridge over River Bela approximately 400 metres east-north-east of Milnthorpe Bridge |access-date=6 December 2023}}</ref>

Just to the north is [[Levens Hall]], famed for its [[topiary]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Levens Hall |url=https://www.historichouses.org/house/levens-hall/visit/ |website=Historic Houses |access-date=6 December 2023}}</ref>

==People==
The former [[Leader of the Liberal Democrats]] (2015–2017), [[Tim Farron]] (MP for [[Westmorland and Lonsdale (UK Parliament constituency)|Westmorland and Lonsdale]]) lives in Milnthorpe.<ref>{{cite news|title=About Tim Farron|url=http://timfarron.co.uk/en/page/about-tim-farron|newspaper=Tim Farron|accessdate=24 September 2015}}</ref>

[[John Taylor (Mormon)|John Taylor]], third [[President of the Church (LDS Church)|president]] of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] from 1880 to 1887, was born in Milnthorpe and lived there until he [[emigration|emigrated]] to [[Canada]].

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Milnthorpe_church.jpg|Milnthorpe Parish Church
File:Cross_Keys_Hotel,_Milnthorpe_-_geograph.org.uk_-_502049.jpg|Cross Keys Hotel
File:Bend_in_the_Bela_-_geograph.org.uk_-_354093.jpg|Bend in the River Bela
File:Dallam Tower Deer Park - geograph.org.uk - 354074.jpg|Deer shelter in Dallam Tower park
</gallery>

==See also==
{{portal|Cumbria}}
*[[Listed buildings in Milnthorpe]]

== References ==

{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Milnthorpe}}
*[http://www.cumbriacountyhistory.org.uk/township/milnthorpe  Cumbria County History Trust: Milnthorpe] (nb: provisional research only - see Talk page)
*[http://www.cumbriacountyhistory.org.uk/township/heversham   Cumbria County History Trust: Heversham] (nb: provisional research only - see Talk page)
* [http://www.thecumbriadirectory.com/Town_or_Village/location.php?url=milnthorpe  Milnthorpe in Cumbria Directory]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050212090809/http://www.thisisthelakedistrict.co.uk/lakesguide/towns/kendaltownsmilnthorpe/display.var.516910.0.milnthorpe_heversham_and_leasgill.php Milnthorpe & Heversham]
* [http://www.britainexpress.com/counties/cumbria/gardens/levens.htm Levens Hall]

{{NSEW|[[Heversham]]|[[Beetham]]|[[Crooklands]]|[[Arnside]]|||||}}
{{Cumbria}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Milnthorpe]]
[[Category:Villages in Cumbria]]
[[Category:Westmorland]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Cumbria]]
[[Category:Westmorland and Furness]]