Centre points of the United Kingdom

There has long been debate over the exact location of the geographical centre of the United Kingdom, and its constituent countries, due to the complexity and method of the calculation, such as whether to include offshore islands, and the fact that erosion will cause the position to change over time. There are two main methods of calculating this "centre": either as the centroid of the two-dimensional shape made by the country, or as the point farthest from the boundary of the country (either the sea, or, in the case of consituent countries, a land border). These two methods give quite different answers.

For centuries Meriden, West Midlands held the claim to be the geographical centre of England, and there has been a stone cross there commemorating the claim for at least 500 years. The justification is that the point farthest from the sea is in the vicinity of Meriden. A rival claim for the true location of the centre of England is made by the site of a tree, the Midland Oak, situated on the boundary between Lillington and Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

Similarly, the town of Haltwhistle in Northumberland (NY706640) still sports banners stating that it is the 'Centre of Britain', although depending on how it is calculated the centre can also be said to be Dunsop Bridge, traditionally in the West Riding of Yorkshire, but now in the administrative county of Lancashire, 71 miles (114km) to the south.

Schiehallion, a mountain in Perthshire, is sometimes described as the centre of Scotland.

However, 2002 studies by the Ordnance Survey pinpointed the centres more precisely, and it is their results that are quoted here.

History

It was once falsely believed that Weedon Bec in Northamptonshire was the centre of England. An old military installation still exists there built as a stronghold to protect King George III from the invading French. In such an event, the canal system runs from London directly into the barracks.

Locations

Unless stated, positions are the centroids of the two-dimensional shapes made by the countries. Calculations include offshore islands unless stated.

"Great Britain"

* Brennand Farm, near Dunsop Bridge, Lancashire (coord|54|0|13.176|N|2|32|52.278|W|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Centre of Great Britain; gbmapping|SD6418856541) cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2271914.stm|title=Stuck in the middle with ewe|publisher=BBC]

"Great Britain" "(excluding islands)"

* Calderstones Hospital, near Whalley, Lancashire (gbmapping|SD7232136671)

"England"

* Lindley Hall Farm, near Fenny Drayton, Leicestershire (coord|52|33|42.942|N|1|27|53.474|W|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Centre of England; gbmapping|SP3637396143) [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2271925.stm|title=A tale of two centres|publisher=BBC]

"Northern Ireland"

* Annaghone, County Tyrone (coord|54|36|27.277|N|6|41|35.323|W|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Centre of Northern Ireland) [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/2350221.stm|title=Meg in the middle|publisher=BBC]

"Scotland"

* Between Blair Atholl and Dalwhinnie, Perthshire (coord|56|49|0.257|N|4|11|2.267|W|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Centre of Scotland; gbmapping|NN6678471599) [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2271926.stm|title=Brave hearts of Scotland|publisher=BBC]

"Wales"

* Near Cwmystwyth, Devil's Bridge, Ceredigion (coord|52|19|48.791|N|3|45|59.072|W|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Centre of Wales; gbmapping|SN7972871704) [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2271927.stm|title=Saving the centre of Wales|publisher=BBC]

"Point farthest from the sea"

* Church Flatts Farm, Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire

"Point farthest from high tide mark (including tidal rivers)"

* Between Hammerwich and Wall, south-west of Lichfield, Staffordshire

"Centre of a rectangular map covering precisely all of England (and Wales)"Clarifyme|date=March 2008

* Near Woodseaves, south of Market Drayton, Shropshire

See also

* Extreme points of the United Kingdom
* Geography of the United Kingdom
* Watford Gap

References

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2271914.stm BBC news article ] on the centre of Great Britain.