 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Gosforth, Cumbria" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(June 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Gosforth | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Gosforth Location in the former Copeland Borough Show map of the former Borough of Copeland | |
| Population | 1,396 (2011 including Ponsonby and Wasdale)[1] |
| OS grid reference | NY0603 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SEASCALE |
| Postcode district | CA20 |
| Dialling code | 019467 |
| Police | Cumbria |
| Fire | Cumbria |
| Ambulance | North West |
| UK Parliament | |
| 54°25′08″N3°26′03″W / 54.41886°N 3.43408°W /54.41886; -3.43408 | |
Gosforth is a village,civil parish andelectoral ward in theLake District, inCumberland, England. It is situated on theA595 road betweenWhitehaven andBarrow-in-Furness. It had a population of 1,230 at the 2001 Census.[2] At the2011 census Gosforth was grouped withPonsonby andWasdale giving a total population of 1,396.[1]
Adjacent settlements include Whitehaven,Egremont,Ravenglass andWasdale. It is close toWast Water, the deepest lake in England, and just a 7-minute drive fromSeascale village and beach.[3] TheCumbrian Coast railway can be accessed at Seascale.
Gosforth contains a unique collection ofNorseartefacts in and aroundSt. Mary's Church. This includes theGosforth cross, which is the tallest and oldestViking cross in England. Another high cross was cut down in 1789 to make asundial base, though the "fishing stone" panel from this survives in the church. There are also two large "hogback" tombs in the church.
Work began on Gosforth Hall, now a hotel and restaurant near St. Mary's Church, in 1658, by a local gentleman called Robert Copley. The date of completion is not clear, although the date on thecoat of arms situated in the bar is 1673. Copley had previously refused to pay the royal herald for his own coat of arms and instead, made one up himself. In his history ofThe Gosforth District, Dr. C.A. Parker states that Robert Copley in 1658 built "a large handsome house with orchards and gardens suitable", and Parker states that henceforth the house was named Gosforth Hall.[4][5] With the hall being within the precinct of the church, it was likely that evidence of earlier occupation might be discovered. In 2005, the present owners of Gosforth Hall commissioned a small archaeological excavation within the grounds. This turned up some interesting finds indicating previous occupation on the site. This preliminary work was followed up in 2008 with an archaeological desk-based assessment and field evaluation.[4]
Gosforth is the base for two major athletic events each year, a 10-mile (16 km) run and associated fun run in June, and a 10-kilometre (6.2 mi) race on the first Tuesday in September.
There is a thriving art scene in the village, and the Gosforth and District Arts Society (GADAS) holds weekly meetings as well as a very popular art exhibition every year, over the August bank holiday in the village hall.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
