Alston is a small town in Cumbria, England on the River South Tyne. It is said to be the highest elevation market town in the country, at about 1000 feet (300 m) above sea level. The town lies on the confluence of the South Tyne and the River Nent. The landscape of the area is built up from limestone, sandstone and shale.
The area is rich in minerals, in particular lead deposits. The landscape has been heavily influenced by the effects of varying methods of mining over the centuries. Nearby villages include Garrigill and Nenthead. In the 10th century, Alston Moor was part of The Liberty of Tynedale which was an estate of the Scottish Kings within England, a situation that resulted in many years of confusion over the sovereignty of the area.
In 1085, the Barons de Vertiponte became the first recorded Lords of the Manor, they held the moor on behalf of the kings of Scotland while the kings of England retained the mineral rights. This was confirmed in a hearing during 1279 which concluded that the miners of the area were distinct from the local population thus paying their dues to the English crown instead of Scotland. As a result the miners lived in their own self regulated communities under English protection.
In 1269, John de Balliol, the king of Scotland invaded the north of England, as a result of this Edward 1st moved to reclaim the Scottish estates and Tynedale which included Alston Moor was taken into direct control of the English crown where it remains. Source: www.wikipedia.org.uk
Local Attractions :
Nenthead Mines Heritage Centre
South Tynedale Railway
Other Popular Attractions in Cumbria