We are moving to this lovely village and thought we would place a cache to celebrate our new home :)
In the 9th and 10th centuries, Viking settlers landed on the western shores and moved inland following river courses. They founded settlements such as Allonby, Allerby and Arkleby. In 1790, at Beacon Hill just north of Aspatria, an excavated burial mound revealed a skeleton and various Viking grave goods including an ornamented sword, dagger, shield, helmet and spurs. Once the Normans arrived in the late 11th century, many of the ancient churches in the area were rebuilt, such as those at Aspatria, Bromfield, Torpenhow and Gilcrux.
Throughout the Middle Ages, smuggling was rife along the Solway coast with goods such as spirits, tobacco and fine textiles regularly smuggled in from Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man. The small coastal fishing village of Allonby was not only involved in smuggling but also shipbreaking. Old wooden hulls were brought here by tug to be broken up on the beach - the largest ship took two years to break up.