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Wigton Tourist Information Cumbria UK
Wigton has a famous son, now Lord, Melvyn Bragg no less. Bragg was born and brought up in Wigton, although he urr escaped to Oxford. One of his books, 'A Time to Dance' was dramatised for TV, and set and filmed in Wigton. To delve into his novels is certainly to learn a little of Cumbrian history and characters. The passion across class in 'A Time to Dance', with retired school teacher and younger woman getting it on, is an intriguing tale. Could do with a rerun that one.
Wigton is rather charming, with a history that stretches way back. It was given it's market charter in 1262. Medieval marks remain in the town, particularly in the layout. However, most of the architecture is Georgian.
Historical Wigton
There are some daft tales about the town's nickname, 'The Throstle's Nest', originating apparently from a worn soldier returning from the trenches after the First World War and looking across to his home town exclaiming 'Away lads, it's the throstle's nest of all England!'. No doubt it looked like heaven after the gore of the trenches! Wigton makes an excellent walking base for walking the Calbeck Fells, or hopping up to Hadrian's Wall and Carlisle or across to the beautiful Solway coast.
Wigton is crammed with interesting historical sites and scenes. Right in the middle where there was once a thriving market, stands The George Memorial Fountain, built in 1872 by the usual local philanthropist, in this case George Moore. In true Victorian show he dedicated it to his wife, bet she was chuffed! There are some interesting bronzes around the fountain which are the work of, urr, famous pre-Raphaelite sculptor Thomas Woolner. There must have been a good party in celebration of the victory at Trafalgar in 1805, as the wooden cross that once stood here was burnt down during the celebrations.
The old St Mary's Church dates from 1788, however this site has been home to a church since the 12th century. A famous row of houses, Proctors Row, is near the church. Move on to The Highmoor Bell Tower which was erected by the Banks family during the Industrial Revolution and finished in 1887. It used to chime it's bells three times a day to remind everyone that the Banks family rules the roost of Wigton! Other legacies of the Banks family litter the town including Highmoor Mansion, now flats and the Wigton Baths and of course obligatory Conservative Club which is now the Kildare Hotel.
All a bit conservative, well not all of Wigton's past. There were Chartist riots here aplenty in the 1830s and 40s, plus a cock fight or two, religious meetings and bear-baiting at Market Hill, site of the original livestock market.
More famous faces past in Wigton
Hay ho, Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins dropped of for the night at the Kings Arms in Wigton in 1857. They weren't 'right complementary' about the place back then, as documented in their The Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices.
Today, however, it's a bit of a mecca with ample specialist shopping, lots of real ale pubs, many hotels and plenty of cafes and restaurants. There's even a little theatre and Wigton is a drop off point on the Cumbria Coastal Railway, making it most making it most accessible to Carlisle. The perfect countryside small town base, with an interesting history.
Wigton Town Trail
For the full trail leaflet check out the local Tourist Information centres including: The Wigton Tourist information Point at Water Street Car Park, Wigton. Silloth tourist Information Centre, Criffel Street, Silloth, Tel: 016973 31944
