Overview of Egremont

Egremont is a market town and civil parish in the Borough of Copeland in Cumbria, England, 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Whitehaven and on the River Ehen. The town, which lies at the foot of Uldale Valley and Dent Fell, was historically within Cumberland and has a long industrial heritage including dyeing, weaving and iron ore mining. It had a population of 7,444 in 2001. The town's layout today is much the same as at the time of Richard de Lucy around 1200 with its wide Main Street opening out into the market place. The remains of the Norman castle, built in the 12th century, are situated at the southern end of Main Street near the market place. Egremont was granted a charter for a market and annual fair by King Henry III in 1266. The resulting annual Crab Fair now hosts the World Gurning Championships. The modern economy is built on services, media and tourism, together with nuclear industry at Sellafield.