Ulverston

Ulverston is the major market town of the south western Lake District. The town was first granted its market charter in 1280 by King Edward I and continues to this day to hold a twice weekly street market (Thursday and Saturday). In 1795 the widest, deepest (and shortest!) canal of its time brought prospertity to the town it remains popular with both visitors and locals alike and offers a good array of shops and eating places and some splendid architecture as well as hosting an array of festivals. The Coronation Hall is the town's theatre offering everything from plays, music to opera.

The town retains many traditional local shops such as bakers, butchers, green grocers in addition to the Post Office and pharmacy. On the edge of town is Booths Supermarket (Booths is a family owned chain of 26 supermarkets in the north west of England that pride themselves on first produce and service). Cumbrian Crystal is based in Ulverston and it is noted for its very high quality hand made full lead crstal tableware.

One of Ulverston's most well know claims to fame is that it was the birthplace of Stan Laurel of the Laurel and Hardy fame. Born Arthur Stanley Jefferson in 1890, Stan always retained a great love for Ulverston and returned as often as he could. The Laurel and Hardy Museum can be found close to the town centre and is packed with Laurel and Hardy memrobelia including letters, pictures and many personal effects. There is also a small 1920s style cinema that shows Laurel and Hardy films none-stop all day long but what is really drawing the crowds at the moment is the newly unvieled Laurel and Hardy statue just outside the Coronation Hall.

No visit to Ulverston is complete with out a walk up Hoad Hill to visit the John Barrow monument. It is a copy of the Eddystone Lighthouse that was built in 1850 as a memorial to John Barrow, who having been born in Ulverston in 1764 and from a humble background he became private secretary to Lord Macartney and accompanied him oh his expeditions to South Americal rose to become Second Secretary to the Admiralty where he obsessively encouraged surveys to the Arctic and became one of the founders of the Ryal Geographic Society. From the monument the views across Morecambe Bay and the south Lake District are breathtaking.

There are many places to eat and drink in Ulverston but a visit to the Bay Horse Inn at Canal Foot is highly recommended.

Ulverston Golf Club is the closest golf course to our many cottages and welcomes visitors.

Ulverston Tourist Information Centre: 01229 587120

Laurel & Hardy Museum: www.laurel-and-hardy.co.uk

Cumbria Crystal: www.cumbriacrystal.com

Bay Horse: www.bayhorsehotel.co.uk

Ulverston Golf Club: www.ulverstongolf.co.uk

Booths Supermarket: www.boothssupermarkets.co.uk