Allonby

Toponymy

The name 'Allonby' is derived from " 'Alein's bȳ'...'Alein' is a French personal name of Breton origin." ('Bȳ' is a late Old English word from Old Norse 'bȳr' and Swedish or Danish 'by' meaning 'village' or 'hamlet').

Geographical aspect

The village overlooks Allonby Bay in the Solway Firth. The area is within the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the historic county of Cumberland. Allonby, and the five-mile coastal strip of the bay, has views across the Solway to the Galloway hills of southern Scotland. Both the South Saltpans beach and the West Winds beach were awarded the Blue Flag rural beach award in 2005. The village is located on the 150 mi Cumbria Coastal Way long-distance footpath.

History

From the late 18th century until the mid-19th century, Allonby was home to a small fishing fleet. The main catch was herring. Fish yards were built where these were salted and packed in barrels made on the premises. There was also a smokehouse where kippers were produced. In the early part of the 19th century, Allonby was a popular sea-bathing resort. Baths were built in 1835.

At the time of the 1841 census the population was 811.

The village has a 17th-century coaching inn now known as the Ship Hotel. Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins stayed overnight at the hostelry in 1857 (due to Collins' illness) while they were touring northern Cumberland; Dickens subsequently described Allonby as a 'dreary little place'.

The Reading Room, opened in 1862, was designed by Alfred Waterhouse, the Victorian architect, when he was only 32 years old. The building was largely financed by Joseph Pease, who was Britain's first Quaker MP.

Governance

Allonby is part of the parliamentary constituency of Penrith and Solway, and has been represented by Markus Campbell-Savours of the Labour Party since the 2024 general election. Previously the village was represented by Mark Jenkinson, a member of the Conservative Party, who unseated Sue Hayman, a member of the Labour Party, at the 2019 General Election. The Labour Party had previously won the seat in every general election since 1979; the Conservative Party had only been elected once in Workington since the Second World War: in the 1976 Workington by-election.

For local government purposes, since 1 April 2023, it is in the unitary authority of Cumberland.

The village also has a parish council, Allonby Parish Council.

Notable residents

• Joseph Huddart was born here in 1741.

References

References

1. "Parish population 2011".
2. [http://www.thecumbriadirectory.com/Town_or_Village/Allonby/Allonby.php Cumbria Directory - Allonby] {{webarchive. link. (26 January 2005)
3. Armstrong, A. M.. (1950). "The place-names of Cumberland". Cambridge University Press.
4. ‘Mary Beeby's Memorandum' published by Cumbria Family History Society, Aug. 1998
5. (1848). "The National Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge". Charles Knight.
6. Holme St Cuthbert History Group: More Plain People, 2007
7. "Allerdale Borough Council website".
8. "A vision of Britain website – general elections section".
9. "Allonby Parish Council".
10. {{DNB Cite