Appleby-in-Westmorland is a town in Cumbria in North West England. It is situated within a loop of the River Eden and has a population of approximately 2,500. It is in the historic county of Westmorland, of which it was the county town. The town's name was simply Appleby until the local government changes of 1974. When a successor parish was formed for the former borough of Appleby, the council effected a change in the town's name to preserve the historic county's name.

Economy

Appleby's main industry is tourism due to its history, remote location, scenery and closeness to the Lake District, the North Pennines, Swaledale and the Howgill Fells.

Gypsy horses in the River Eden

Appleby is overlooked by the (privately owned) Appleby Castle, a predominantly Norman structure which provided the home for Lady Anne Clifford in the seventeenth century. The closure of Appleby Castle during the summer months means that this peaceful backwater remains somewhat quiet almost all year round. Its main status ? with very little industry in Cumbria ? is to sell goods to the farming communities round about. Many residents commute to jobs elsewhere. The bypass around the town does not help as potential passing trade does not often enter the town. However, the annual Appleby Horse Fair, held regularly in early June since at least the 18th century, brings Gypsies from all over Britain to the town.

Appleby railway station

Appleby railway station is on the Settle-Carlisle Railway. An additional station, Appleby East, is closed but retains the potential for connection to the Eden Valley Railway.

Local government

Appleby was a parliamentary borough, electing two members of Parliament, from medieval times; by the 18th century it had become a pocket borough, the nomination of its MPs effectively being in the gift of the Lowther family. Its representatives included William Pitt the younger, who was MP for Appleby when he became Prime Minister in 1783 (although he stood down at the following general election when he was instead elected for Cambridge University). A later member for Appleby was Viscount Howick, subsequently (as Earl Grey) the Prime Minister whose administration passed the Great Reform Act of 1832; but Grey's history as a former MP for the town did not save it from losing both its members under the Act. As the only county town to be disfranchised, Appleby was one of the more controversial cases in the debates on the reform bill, the opposition making unsuccessful attempts to amend the bill so as to save at least one of its MPs.

The town remained a municipal borough until this status was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 and replaced by Eden District Council based in Penrith. Although having the status of a municipal borough it was never-the-less a lot smaller in size and population than most urban districts in the country whose councils had slightly less power. It was however larger in population than some early Westmorland UDCs including Grasmere and Shap.

Although Appleby was the county town of Westmorland the former county council sat in Kendal even though the assize courts were in Appleby.

Appleby Dialect

The Appleby dialect is a variant of the Cumbrian dialect spoken around the Penrith and Eden district area.

External links

• Town Council and Tourist Information Centre
• Appleby Horse Fair Appleby is the site of the celebrated horse fair.
• Information Guide to Appleby

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