Heversham

Not to be confused with Haversham.
Heversham

St Peter's Church, Heversham
Heversham
 Heversham shown within Cumbria
Population 699 (2011)[1]
OS grid referenceSD4983
Civil parishHeversham
DistrictSouth Lakeland
Shire countyCumbria
RegionNorth West
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town MILNTHORPE
Postcode district LA7
Dialling code 01539
Police Cumbria
Fire Cumbria
Ambulance North West
EU Parliament North West England
UK ParliamentWestmorland and Lonsdale
List of places
UK
England
Cumbria

Coordinates: 54°14′35″N 2°46′12″W / 54.243°N 2.770°W / 54.243; -2.770

Heversham is a small village and civil parish in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria, England. It has a variety of recreational facilities, including a fully functioning outdoor activities centre, tennis courts, bowling green and a playground. There are also rugby, football and hockey fields, as well as a cricket ground and pavilion.

The village is also known for its educational prowess, with an award winning primary school and one of the finest 6th form colleges in the region, with attendants from all over the world. It is situated in a scenic area of the country, with such highlights as Heversham Head.

Among buildings of interest in Heversham are St Peter's Church, an ornate place of worship, dating from the 8th Century. There is also one public house, referred to by the locals as the "Bluebell", though it is officially unnamed.

Heversham Grammar School existed for more than 370 years from 1612 until 1984, when it amalgamated with the comprehensive school in Milnthorpe to become the boarding house and 6th form college of Dallam School. The current headteacher of the combined school is William Bancroft.

Transport

Heversham is situated on the A6. It was on the Hincaster Branch railway line from 26 June 1876. Passenger services ended on the branch on 4 May 1942.

School

The boarding and outdoors section of Dallam School are situated in Heversham and the outdoors centre is open to the public. The local primary school, Heversham St Peters, used to be next to the church but was moved to Leasgill due to the fact that the toilets were right above the village water supply. It is a mixed school for pupils aged 4 to 11, and contains about 100 pupils.

Famous occupants

Sir Winston Churchill once visited the village and commented on the glorious view which can be seen from the top of the head which looks out towards the estuary.

William Wordsworth often travelled through the village, and it is known that he gained inspiration from and wrote the poem 'The World is too Much with Us" whilst rambling the marshes nearby.

David Starkey once voiced his critical opinion on the historic credibility of St Peters Church, which he claimed "is far from the picturesque symbol of spirit the locals believe it to be and is in fact a stark reminder of the oppression imposed by King John between 1210 and 1214 on the resident peasants who tarnished the streets with their brutish Scottish roots and threatening appearance." The parish voiced its discontent with Starkey's comments, but later came to terms with the plausibility of his sources.

References

  1. ↑ "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 11 June 2015.
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