Milnthorpe is a village, civil parish, and former market town in Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria, England. It is south of Kendal. Historically in the county of Westmorland and on the A6, the village contains several old hostelries and hosts a market every Friday. The parish, which includes the village of Ackenthwaite, had a population of 2,199 according to the 2011 Census.

History

Milnthorpe was granted a market charter in 1334, although this lapsed in the 1920s. The village used to be a major traffic bottleneck before the opening of the M6 motorway in 1970, and the A590/A591 Kendal link road a few years later. The congestion at Milnthorpe' cross roads was notoriously amongst the worst in the North West. The village is just outside the Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape (formerly AONB), with the River Bela forming its northern boundary.

The popular children's drink Um Bongo was made in Milnthorpe by Libby's in the 1980s. Milnthorpe is the home of Duralon Combs, a comb manufacturing business over 300 years old. Big Fish Internet Ltd (formerly BF Internet, now trading as BFI) was founded in Milnthorpe in 1996 and is now located away in Sandside; it is the longest-established web design company in the UK. The village has a branch of the family-owned supermarket Booths.

Milnthorpe market was revived in the 1980s and for some years contributed substantially to the parish council's income through stall rentals. In the 21st century the market has reduced in size, reducing the council's income, but it is still held weekly, with a monthly farmers' market.

Governance

Milnthorpe is in the unitary authority area of Westmorland and Furness, in the ceremonial county of Cumbria. It is in the parliamentary constituency of Westmorland and Lonsdale, held since 2005 by Liberal Democrat Tim Farron.

Milnthorpe has a parish council. which was graded "Needs improvement" by Ofsted in 2023 and one primary school, Milnthorpe Primary School, rated by Ofsted as "Good" in 2019.

There are three public houses in the village.

Landmarks

The Grade I listed house Dallam Tower, with an estate known for its deer, stands near to the River Bela just south-west of Milnthorpe, although in the parish of Beetham. The grade II listed St Anthony's Tower may be seen on the top of St Anthony's Hill to the north-east of the village centre. There are a total of nine grade II listed buildings or structures in the parish, including a footbridge over the River Bela, built in 1730 as a road bridge.

Just to the north is Levens Hall, famed for its topiary.

People

The former Leader of the Liberal Democrats (2015–2017), Tim Farron (MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale) lives in Milnthorpe.

John Taylor, third president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1880 to 1887, was born in Milnthorpe and lived there until he emigrated to Canada.

Transport

As of March 2026, 2 routes serve the town, both are run by Stagecoach. The first is the 555 to Lancaster via Carnforth or to Keswick via Central Lakes. The second is the 755 to Heysham via Carnforth & Morecambe or to Bowness-on-Windermere via Kendal and Windermere.

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File:Milnthorpe_church.jpg|Milnthorpe Parish Church

File:Cross_Keys_Hotel,_Milnthorpe_-_geograph.org.uk_-_502049.jpg|Cross Keys Hotel

File:Bend_in_the_Bela_-_geograph.org.uk_-_354093.jpg|Bend in the River Bela

File:Dallam Tower Deer Park - geograph.org.uk - 354074.jpg|Deer shelter in Dallam Tower park

</gallery>

See also

  • Listed buildings in Milnthorpe

References

  • Cumbria County History Trust: Milnthorpe (nb: provisional research only - see Talk page)
  • Cumbria County History Trust: Heversham (nb: provisional research only - see Talk page)
  • Milnthorpe in Cumbria Directory
  • Milnthorpe & Heversham
  • Levens Hall