Caton, Lancashire

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 54.0744
longitude= -2.7161
official_name= Caton-with-Littledale
map_type= Lancashire
population= 2,720 (2001 Census)
shire_district= City of Lancaster
shire_county = Lancashire
region= North West England
constituency_westminster= Lancaster and Wyre
post_town= Lancaster
postcode_district = LA2
postcode_area= LA
dial_code= 01524
os_grid_reference= SD532645

The civil parish of "Caton-with-Littledale" is situated near the River Lune less than 10 minutes from the M6 motorway on the A683 Kirkby Lonsdale road.

The parish contains the villages of "Caton", "Brookhouse", "Caton Green", "Littledale" and "Townend". "Brookhouse" is the original village of "Caton" but it was renamed after "Brookhouse Hall" and is separated from "Caton" by Artle Beck. [ [http://www.catonvillage.org.uk/history The History of Caton-with-Littledale | Caton Village ] ] The parish church of "St Paul" situated in "Brookhouse" is generally of 17th century construction but retains some Norman features. [ [http://www.lancashirechurches.co.uk/caton.htm Lancashire churches | St Paul, Brookhouse ] ]

The beauty of the area was captured by the artist J M W Turner, and described by the poet William Wordsworth

The poet Thomas Gray wrote “every feature which constitutes a perfect landscape of the extensive sort is here not only boldly marked, but in its best position". When John Ruskin first saw the Lune Valley, he declared; "I do not know in all my country, still less France or Italy, a place more naturally divine or a more priceless possession of the true Holy Land..."

The River Lune passes by Caton to the north, where the Crook O' Lune picnic area is situated.

Caton railway station was on the Midland Railway Line between Wennington and Lancaster which was closed in 1966, and the section between Caton and Lancaster is now a cycleway.

The village is also home to a large haulage firm named SJ Bargh, which is also a Scania garage and repair plant.

Twinning

On 12 April 2008, a formal twinning agreement was signed with the village of Socx in France.

References

External links

* [http://www.catonvillage.org.uk Caton-with-Littledale village website]
* [http://www.lancashirechurches.co.uk/caton.htm lancashirechurches.co.uk | caton]
* [http://www.mairie-socx.com Socx website]
* [http://www.catonbaptist.org Caton Baptist Church]