50 years on and Westmorland still matters.
The Local Government Act of 1972 saw the end of many historical county administrations, including the historic county of Westmorland. Passed in 1972 it saw local government reorganisation on the 1st of April 1974.
That means this week marks the 50th Anniversary of the destruction of Westmorland as an administrative county.
The transition didn't occur without a fight from the locals, and even now, many of us proudly identify as 'Westmerians'. The very name of Appleby-in-Westmorland stands as a testament to our historic county town's response to the Act, serving as a poignant reminder of its deep-rooted historic and cultural significance.
The county of Westmorland, as we would know it in recent times, was formed in the early 13th century, with the amalgamation of the Barony of Kendal and the Barony of Westmorland. This meant that it was an administrative body for over 700 years.
The current parliamentary seat, in which I am running, still contains its name. The seat of Westmorland was a parliamentary constituency in its own right from 1295 to 1983.
That is some history, and it is one that cannot be easily forgotten.
The very newspaper I am writing this in contains our historic county name. The local football teams in Kendal, Appleby, Kirby Stephen and elsewhere do not play in the Cumbria FA but in the Westmorland FA. (Quick aside: I recall playing for Ambleside at a young age, and that I was a top goal scorer... However, that is irrelevant to this article.)
Our current Unitary Council created in 2022, brought back the name in Westmorland and Furness. In September this year, 37,000 visitors will come to see the Westmorland County Show, a great chance for Westmerian farmers to show off their produce and talent, delivered by the Westmorland County Agricultural Society.
In Kendal, our local hospital, Westmorland General, and the Westmorland shopping centre are named after our historic county. I talk to many residents from Levens, Kendal, Appleby and more, who would still consider themselves Westmerian.
It is evident to me despite this being the 50th anniversary of the ending of Westmorland as an administrative County, it still is part of the everyday functioning of our community. In many ways, Westmorland still exists, and will continue to do so as long as we let it.
As a proud resident of Westmorland, I'm committed to our community's welfare. While our natural beauty and history are remarkable, it's the people who truly define Westmorland's uniqueness.
I think it is one of the greatest honours to be brought up in our unique area, and I hope to be its champion in Westminster.
Image: Matty Jackman stands atop Base Brown, proudly hoisting the County Flag of Westmorland, having completed all 214 Wainwright's (in 2021).