Overview of Dalston

Dalston is a large village and civil parish within the City of Carlisle district of Cumbria, England. It is situated on the B5299 road about four miles (6 km) south-south-west of Carlisle city centre, and approximately five miles (8 km) from Junction 42 of the M6 motorway. The village has a population of around 2500, and serves as a key service centre for a much wider rural area. At the centre is The Square, which is, in fact, not square. It is dominated by St Michael's and All Angels Church. Most of the shops are located in and around The Square. To the northwest of the centre of the village is the Barras Lane business estate which is home to numerous businesses. The village is on the River Caldew and is served by the Dalston railway station on the Cumbrian Coast Line. There are two popular schools in Dalston, St. Michaels Primary School and Caldew Secondary School which has over a thousand pupils. There is also a Nestlé factory producing powdered milk, a BP fuel depot and a factory producing specialist materials called Cowens. Dalston was the birthplace of sculptor Musgrave Watson (born in 1804) and the translator Georgiana Harcourt who was born three years later. Rose Castle, home to the Bishop of Carlisle for many centuries is within the Parish of Dalston 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from Dalston itself. The Architects Anthony Salvin and Thomas Rickman were responsible for the alterations which took place in the 19th Century Dalston Hall is a very ancient House dating from the 15th Century. It is now a Country House Hotel.