A large and lively market village in SouthCumbria.
Milnthorpe is a large market village on the southern border of Cumbria, 7 miles south of Kendal, once part of the township of Heversham-with-Milnthorpe. Now spared of heavy traffic, it is an ancient village of limestone buildings, arranged in nooks and crannies and along narrow lanes.
Visitors passing through on the A6 heading towards Kendal in the north or Lancaster in the south might overlook this gem, whose narrow lanes and historic, beautiful buildings recall a time when a coach and horse was more common than a four-wheel drive.
The Market Square is bordered on three sides by pretty cottages and inviting shops. The fourth side opens out on to green lawns and trees leading up to an imposing and very attractive 19th century church of St Thomas.
Milnthorpe was a medieval market town and, apart from Kendal, was the most important community in the area.
Milnthorpe Parish Council’s responsibilities/assets include The Green and the Market Square, a number of other small greens in the village centre, the playing field, including the children’s play area, and a pony paddock!
The Parish Council runs the weekly Friday Market and the monthly Farmers Market.
The Parish Council has three part time paid staff: a parish clerk, square & green cleaner and a grass cutting operative.
The Council comprises nine unpaid elected members who serve a four-year term. Council meetings are normally on the first Monday of the month – the agenda and minutes are available on this website
Members of the public are welcome to attend the monthly meetings and have an opportunity at each meeting to address the Council about any subject included on the agenda.
The Parish Council, which is the most local level of government, works closely with the County Council. Some of the maintenance work that the Parish Council does has been delegated from the County Council.
Most of the Parish Council’s expenditure goes on staff costs, maintaining its assets and keeping the Village clean and in good order. Much time is spent in exercising whatever pressure it can on higher authorities for planning, highways and traffic control – to deal with issues affecting the quality of life of residents.
A large part of our Parish Council income comes from market rents which have declined recently because of changes in shopping patterns. This means that the Council is becoming increasingly dependent on the annual parish precept, the parish share of the council tax bill.
Useful Numbers
Stoneleigh Surgery Tel: 01539 563307
Park View Surgery Tel: 015395 63327
Westmorland General Hospital Tel: 01539 732288
Royal Lancaster Infirmary Tel: 01524 65944
Dallam School Tel: 015395 65165
Milnthorpe Family Centre Tel: 015395 64090
Storth C of E Primary School Tel: 015395 62517
Milnthorpe Primary School Tel: 015395 62344
Beetham Primary School Tel: 015395 62515
Queen Elizabeth School (QES) Tel: 015242 71275
Kendal College Tel: 01539 814700
Lancaster & Morecambe College Tel: 01524 66215
Milnthorpe Library Tel: 015395 63040
Milnthorpe Cricket Club Tel: 015395 63072
Cumbria County Council Tel: 01228 606060
South Lakeland District Council Tel: 0845 050 4434
Useful Information and Numbers
Advice
Need legal or other advice
Cumbria Rural CAB Tel: 01539 446464 / 015395 33100
Kendal CAB Tel: 01539 738772
Tim Farron MP Tel: 01539 723403
Care
You need respite care
Age UK South Lakeland Tel: 01539 728180
Adult Social Care Tel: 01539 713377
South Lakeland Carers Tel: 01539 815970
Churches
St Thomas's Church Tel: 015395 61448
Christ the King Church Tel: 015395 62387
Milnthorpe Methodist Church (Secretary) Tel: 015395 62985
Doctor
Out of Hours Doctor - Cumbria Health on Call 6.30pm - 8.00pm Monday to Friday Any time Saturday, Sunday and all Bank Holidays Tel: 03000 247247
Doctor - Feel unwell but don't want to call your GP - NHS Direct - any time Tel: 0845 4647 or speak to the Pharmicist at your local pharmacy
Emergency: ambulance - Health emergency - Health emergency Tel: 999
Doctor - Advice about failing eyesight - Sight Advice South Lakes Visually Impaired Group Tel: 01539 742633
Doctor - Advice about hearing problems - DeafVision Tel: 01539 773131
Doctor - Find a dentist to register with NHS Dental Registration Tel: 01228 602193
Doctor - Worried about dementia Talk to GP - Alzheimers Society Tel: 01539 742631
Doctor - Worried about mental health South Lakeland MIND Tel: 01539 740591
Doctor - Worried about cancer Macmillan Cancer Support (9am to 8pm, Monday to Friday) Tel: 0808 808 0000
Doctor - Worried about stroke Stroke Association (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) Tel: 0303 303 3100