Frizington can be explored through several widely separated points in time: there was an ironworks here in the 1720s; Frizington Common was enclosed in 1820; and from the 1850s, the extraction of high-quality hematite iron ore in the area around the town expanded rapidly. There are also the stories behind the construction of its churches and an annual motor show. When planning your trip, you can distinguish between the town’s history and an occasion tied to an event date.
Frizington Through the Ages
Frizington Common covered 610 acres (247 hectares) and was enclosed in 1820. Frizington also had an ironworks as early as the 1720s. From the 1850s, the extraction of high-quality hematite iron ore in the area around the town expanded rapidly. The ironworks and the later expansion of ore extraction belong to different periods of industrial history; the enclosure of the common provides a separate historical reference point. Here, enclosure means marking off an area of land.
Later manufacturing is also part of the town’s history: in the late 20th century, Frizington had a factory that made Kangol hats. This extends the industrial timeline beyond the ironworks and hematite mining to include an example of headwear manufacturing.
Churches and Building History
St Paul's Church was built next to the school in 1867. In 2000, the building was divided to create a community space called the Lingla Centre. A separate building history concerns the Wesleyan chapel: it was built in 1859, rebuilt in 1884, and later replaced by the present-day brick building, now called St John's Methodist Church. The two histories have different emphases: at St Paul's, the church was later divided to create a community space; at St John's, rebuilding and a replacement building form part of the sequence.
Events and Connections
The annual WHEELS INT LAKES motor show is held at Rowrah Go Kart Track in Frizington. Unlike the historical dates, this event is tied to a specific date. Check the date for the year in question before planning your travel days around it.
Bus routes 31/31A connect Frizington with Cleator Moor, Whitehaven, Workington and Maryport. Check the timetables for your travel days if you plan to use these connections.
Planning Your Stay Around the Event
If you are considering Frizington as an overnight destination, first think about what you want your trip to focus on: the town’s local and industrial history, or the date of the motor show. The date of the event is an important planning factor; if your focus is on the town’s history, you can choose your travel dates to suit your own plans.
Discover more destinations: Chapel Stile, Baycliff, Lupton, Winton, Soulby, Ivegill, Askam-In-Furness, Crosthwaite
For the wider travel overview: Cumbria.
