Dalton-in-Furness

Not to be confused with Dalton, Cumbria or Dalton, Lancashire.

Coordinates: 54°09′16″N 3°10′53″W / 54.1544°N 3.1814°W / 54.1544; -3.1814

Dalton-in-Furness
Market Street, Dalton-in-Furness
Dalton-in-Furness  Dalton-in-Furness shown within Cumbria
Population	8,394 (2001)
OS grid reference	SD228738
Parish	Dalton Town with Newton
District	Barrow-in-Furness
Shire county	Cumbria
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	DALTON-IN-FURNESS
Postcode district	LA15
Dialling code	01229
Police	Cumbria
Fire	Cumbria
Ambulance	North West
EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Barrow and Furness
List of places: UK • England • Cumbria

Dalton-in-Furness is a small town of 8,394 people, north east of Barrow-in-Furness, in Cumbria, England.

History

Dalton is mentioned in the Domesday Book, written as "Daltune" as one of the townships forming the Manor of Hougun held by Earl Tostig.^[1] Historically, it was the capital of Furness. The ancient parish of Dalton covered the area which is now occupied by the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness. The town is now in the civil parish of Dalton Town with Newton. Historically a part of Lancashire, the town is associated with a number of famous artists.

Geography

The town is situated near the centre of Low Furness, on the eastern crest of a glaciated valley which runs obliquely across the peninsula. Just over a mile to the south lie the ruins of Furness Abbey, and four miles to the south west is the nearest major town, Barrow-in-Furness. The area is generally reached by the A590, the link road from the M6 motorway to the Furness region, which now by-passes the town, reducing the traffic flow, and enabling traffic calming measures which have proved to be rather controversial.

Dalton railway station, which serves the town, is located on the Furness Line, giving connections to Barrow, Ulverston, Grange-over-Sands and Lancaster. Also there are longer distance services to Preston and Manchester.

Dalton Castle, Dalton-in-Furness

Dalton with Newton Town Council was the first corporate member of the Friends of Real Lancashire, an organisation dedicated to recognising the traditional county boundaries of Lancashire.

Sport

The local football team's Dalton United and Crooklands Casuals, play in the West Lancashire Football League. Dalton United is in the Premier Division and Crooklands Casuals is in Division One.

Girls' and women's football in the town is provided by Dalton Girls and Ladies F.C. who have junior and open age teams competing in a various cumbrian leagues.

There is also a junior football club, Dalton Junior F.C. who provide mini league football (under 8s, under 9s and under 10s); Dalton JFC currently plays on Dowdales School fields.

Dalton Rugby League Football Club is located at the entrance to the town on Crooklands Brow. Currently in the second division of the North West Counties League. Their ground was recently renamed Kelland Park, in memory of Dalton rugby league stalwart, Ivor Kelland.

Dalton Cricket Club plays in the North Lancs. & Cumbria Cricket League. Dalton won the first organized cricket match played in Furness, beating Barrow. The Cricket Club also has many junior sides, such as The Under 11's & Under 13's.

Education

Dowdales School is the town's secondary school with approximately 1,017 pupils. The school does not have a sixth form, but pupils transfer either to the Sixth Form College in Barrow, or to Barrow and Kendal Colleges of Further Education.

There are four primary schools in the town, Chapel Street School, George Romney Junior School, Dalton St Mary's Church of England Primary School and Our Lady of The Rosary Catholic School.

Attractions

As well as being quarter of an hour from the famous English Lake District, Dalton has a number of tourist attractions within its borders:

• Dalton Castle (National Trust)
• South Lakes Wild Animal Park ([1])

Twin towns

Dalton is twinned with:

• Dalton, Pennsylvania, USA (near Scranton) Dalton is also twinned with a small town in Iceland.^{[clarification needed]}

Notable residents

Dalton was the birthplace and early home of George Romney in the 1700s, birthplace of award-winning artist Richard T. Slone and the town in which Sky News presenter Steve Dixon and Turner Prize winner Keith Tyson grew up and attended school.

See also

Cumbria portal

• Barrow-in-Furness
• The Furness Peninsula
• St Mary's Church, Dalton-in-Furness

References

1. ^ Cumbria: Hougun (The Domesday Book On-Line)

Further reading

• Battye, Rock (2006), Dalton-in-Furness : mediaeval capital to mining community, Pinner: Cumbrian Railways Association, ISBN 0954023242 

External links

• Dalton-in-Furness Online
• South Lakes Wild Animal Park
• Dalton Junior FC
• Dalton with Newton Town Council
• Dowdales School
• St Mary's Church of England School