Alston - Cumbria, A Delightful Place To Visit

By:


The exquisite small town of Alston - Cumbria, stands about 1000 feet above the point where River South Tyne meets River Nent. The town built from limestone, shale and sandstone, sits in an area which is known to be rich in minerals, and has been heavily mined over the years.

Over the years the population relied on mining and metal working as well as farming for its employment, however as these industries have died out, the economy now relies on tourism and shopping. Despite being quite small, it has many shops from a supermarket to craft and antique shops. As a result of the drop in employment in industry, the population has fallen from around 7000 to 2000.

For information about the local area and the activities available you will find the tourist information centre, in the town hall, a focal point in the town. This is also a meeting point for the local residents for social gatherings. The town hall also houses several offices and the public library.

The main street is cobble stoned and many of the buildings are stone built dating back to the 17th century. The building that is home to the local pub was built in 1611. At the centre is the market cross which had to be reconstructed in 1983 after a truck ran into the original one that had stood since 1863.

The South Tyneside Railway, which is charity operated, is an attraction which is very popular with many visitors to the area. The narrow gauged railway is the highest in England, runs from Alston to Kirkhaugh. Trains run during the peak tourist season April to October, there are also special trains running during December for Christmas.

The beautiful surroundings have attracted film crews, for productions such as Oliver Twist and Jane Eyre. The town has also appeared in newspapers as being short of women residents, at one time the ration was ten men to every woman. At the Millennium, most of the residents gathered at the market cross for photographs.

The Alston museum, The Hub Exhibition, lets you learn about the social history of the area, through photographs, memorabilia and a collection of vintage vehicles, you can learn about the farming in the area and see the old farming implements that were once used. Learn about the first transport that came to the town and when the first bus service came into operation.

About the Author:
To find a hotel in Alston just click here.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


Tags: ,

|

Loading...
Related....
Videos...

Recent Travel-and-Leisure Articles

Comments

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!

Loading

Site Navigation:

Copyright 2005-2011 ArticleSnatch, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service.