~ About Silloth ~

Silloth gets its name from the time when Cistercian monks from Holme Cultram Abbey, at nearby Abbeytown, stored their grain in silos known as lathes, because these were beside the sea they were known as sea-lathes and over the years this was changed to Silloth.  In those times Silloth was only a hamlet and it was not until a decision was made to build a dock and a railway that the town was developed.  The directors of the Carlisle and Silloth bay Railway instigated the development and a plan for the town was drawn up by a firm of Liverpool architects. They designed streets wide and in a grid pattern, built a hotel, gasworks, baths and lodging houses.  As a result and because of its noted clean air Silloth became a Victorian seaside resort.

During World War II Silloth was considered a ‘safe’ harbour and the docks were kept busy 24 hours a day and the airfield was opened in 1939 as No 22 Maintenance Command Station.  Now part of the airfield is a holiday centre and the hangers are used as factories and warehouses.

Take note of the street names - Criffel Street, Skiddaw Street named after mountains, Solway Street named after the Solway Firth and running from the mountains to the sea are streets named after local rivers, Eden, Wampool, Esk, Caldew, Waver and Petteril.

For people living in the town there are numerous clubs and activities, for example football, rugby, tennis, bowling, golf and evening classes.  For children there are youth clubs, tennis and football, and a good playing field.  There are also walks, cycling, sea fishing, kite flying and birdwatching close by.

The town has its own medical practice and clinic, fire station (unmanned), dentists and schools.

As for employment, many residents are employed in tourism.  There are some larger industries such as Carrs Mill which produces flour and animal feeds which are transported to all parts of England, Scotland and Wales.  There are also other smaller industries in and around the town.

With a population of almost 3000 people, the town was inspired by Carlisle businessmen as a railhead and port in the 1850’s. The imaginative planning is to be seen in its wide elegant tree lined streets, spacious sea front green and magnificent promenade stretching towards Skinburness.  Thousands of servicemen came to know it in World War II through the building nearby of a major aerodrome which now holds industrial firms.  It retains a busy and interesting little dock.

There are good facilities for visitors including a number of hotels, guest houses and holiday parks providing varied accommodation as well as cafes, clubs and other entertainment catering for different tastes.  Christ Church overlooking the Green is a feature of the townscape and one of several different denominational places of worship.