What makes Appleby famous?

Appleby is a small town teeming with history and traditions. The towns close proximity to the Lake District, Eden Valley and the Pennines has made the area popular with walkers and tourists over the years alongside the introduction of the railway and the famous gypsy horse fair…

• Appleby Horse Show

Appleby is most famous for the Appleby Horse Show; a gypsy horse fair which has been an annual tradition since 1685. The fair is a major gathering place for the British traveller community. Huge crowds come to attend horse sales and bathe their horses in the River Eden.

• Lady Anne Clifford

Lady Anne Clifford, a 17th century Noblewoman and restorer of castles, played a major part in shaping Appleby during her lifetime, restoring Appleby Castle, St Lawrence’s Church and building St Anne’s Hospital.  The daughter of the Earl of Cumberland, she inherited her father’s estates and began an extensive programme of restoration work, which included a series of castles across Cumbria. Lady Anne lived in Appleby Castle for a lot of her life and was her favourite home. She died in Brougham Castle at the age of 86, living a particularly long life for a woman in the 17th century.  A memorial dedicated to Lady Anne stands in St Lawrence’s Church, which also the place of her burial. Lady Anne’s Way is a long distance footpath dedicated to the peeress and runs for 100 miles, starting at Skipton and passing through the Yorkshire Dales, Upper Eden Valley, Kirkby Stephen and Appleby, before finishing in Brougham, Penrith.

• Historical Buildings

Appleby is steeped in history from across the ages, with many historical buildings still standing today. Parts of Appleby Castle date from the 12th-century; the castle keep has been standing over the Eden valley since Norman times. St Lawrence’s Church also originates from the 12th century has houses the tomb of Lady Anne Clifford. The towns Moot Hall, which is now the Tourist Information Centre has a plaque above the doorway dated 1596! The historic St Anne’s Hospital, built by Lady Anne, is still in use today and was founded in 1651.

• Settle-Carlise Railway Line

Appleby is a stopping point on the famous Settle-Carlisle railway line, which is considered of England’s most scenic railway journeys. The 72-mile route passes viaducts, tunnels and the wild scenery of the North Pennines, Eden Valley and the Yorkshire Dales. The line was the last great mainline railway to be built in the country and was originally completed for passenger travel in 1876 after six years of construction work. For the 19th century engineers, the landscape presented a challenge of their skills and abilities, with the railway being built by men who lived harsh lives in shanty towns, with little to supplement their manpower except dynamite. The route was advertised as the most picturesque route to Scotland and became popular amongst the Victorian and Edwardian travelling public, and is still a beloved route today.