page_title: Aspatria
section_title: Pre Norman
hierarchical_section_title: Aspatria / History / Pre Norman
caption_attribution_description: English: Viking relics found at Aspatria in 1997
context_page_description: Aspatria is a civil parish in the non-metropolitan district of Allerdale, and is currently embraced in the Parliamentary constituency of Workington, Cumbria, England. Historically within Cumberland the town rests on the north side of the Ellen Valley, overlooking a panoramic view of the countryside, with Skiddaw to the South and the Solway Firth to the North. Its developments are aligned approximately east-west along the A596 Carlisle to Workington road and these extend to approximately 2 miles in length. It lies about 8 miles northeast of Maryport, a similar distance to the Southwest of Wigton, about 9 miles north of Cockermouth and 5 miles from the coast and Allonby. It comprises the townships of Aspatria and Brayton, Hayton and Mealo, and Oughterside and Allerby, the united area being 8,345 acres; while the township takes up an area of 1,600 acres. In earlier days a Roman road leading from "Old Carlisle" to Ellenborough passed through the hamlet.
  The population has greatly increased since the mid nineteenth century. In 1801, the village comprised 98 dwellings with a population of 321.
context_section_description: Aspatria is an ancient settlement and seems to have been home to a group of Norsemen who fled to the area from Ireland around 900. In 1789, a surgeon by the name of Rigg employed a group of labourers to level a mound called Beacon Hill, situated close behind his house at Aspatria. After reaching a depth of about one metre they dug into a cavity walled around with large stones and found the skeleton of a Viking chief almost complete over two metres in length. At the head of the gigantic skeleton lay a sword almost two metres in length, with a remarkably broad blade, ornamented with a gold and silver handle. The scabbard of the sword was made of wood, lined with cloth. The workmen also unearthed several pieces of armour, a dirk with a silver studded handle, a golden buckled belt, and a breast plate. The artefacts remain the property of the British Museum. Further finds were made on the same site in 1997 when a mobile phone mast was being constructed.
caption: 002 Aspatria Viking finds
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