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Coordinates: 54°45′48″N 3°19′41″W / 54.7633°N 3.3281°W
| Aspatria | |
 St Kentigern's Church, Aspatria |
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  Aspatria
 Aspatria shown within Cumbria |
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| Population | 3,266 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | Allerdale |
| Shire county | Cumbria |
| Region | North West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CARLISLE |
| Postcode district | CA7 |
| Dialling code | 016973 |
| Police | Cumbria |
| Fire | Cumbria |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament | Workington |
| List of places: UK • England • Cumbria | |
Aspatria is a town in Cumbria, England, and lies half way between Maryport and Wigton, on the A596. It is about 5 miles (8 km) away from the coast. The church of St Kentigern's is the site of some pre-Norman stone crosses. The name "Aspatria" is Roman in origin and derives from the Latin Asp meaning a serpent and atrium meaning a clearing, so a literal translation could be "the clearing of the serpent" When the first Christians arrived in the town, they were quick to adopt the Roman legend, incorporating it to suit their own beliefs. St George was adopted as the patron saint of the town and a statue depicting the Christian Saint slaying a vile serpent (seen as the symbol of Roman pagan gods) can still be seen in the centre of the town.
Geography
The town has a population of about 3,000 people and is part of the Allerdale district of Cumbria. It is approximately twenty minutes from the Lake District, and located to the south east of the Solway Firth. As a result, views from the town stretch from Skiddaw in the Lakes to Scottish fells such as Criffel. It is served by the Aspatria Railway Station. Aspatria is located on the fringe of the English Lake District.
Next to the railway station is an industrial area where mattress manufacturer Sealy have maintained their UK head office since 1974, where they produce around 3500 beds per week.
There is also a creamery that is operated by First Milk that produces up to 80 tonnes of cheese per day from 'farm assured' milk the dairy crest.
Types of cheese produced here include mild, medium and mature cheddar, as well as Double Gloucester for Asda supermarkets. It is also the world's largest manufacturer of "Dairylea Dunkers".
The creamery in Aspatria was acquired by the Milk Marketing Board in 1934.
Aspatria is located at 54°46′00″N 03°20′00″W / 54.7666667°N 3.3333333°W (54.7667, −3.3333)1.
Sport
Aspatria is home to rugby union club Aspatria RUFC, currently playing in the RFU's North West division two. The 'Aspatria Eagles' are the club's second team, and the 'Aspatria Sinners' are the women's team. Aspatria FC are the town's football team who compete in the Tesco Cumberland County Premier League.
Notable people
- Artist Sheila Fell was born in Aspatria.
- Sir Wildrid Lawson Bart. 1829-1906, Liberal MP and President of the United Kingdom Alliance (British Temperance Movement).
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