Longtown, Cumbria

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 55.0084
longitude= -2.9687
official_name= Longtown
population = 3,000
shire_district= City of Carlisle
shire_county = Cumbria
region= North West England
constituency_westminster= Penrith and The Border
post_town= Carlisle
postcode_district = CA6
postcode_area= CA
dial_code= 01228
os_grid_reference= NY380686

Longtown is a town in northern Cumbria, England, with a population of around 3,000. It is in the parish of Arthuret and on the River Esk, not far from the Anglo-Scottish border

Longtown is the location of the largest sheep market in England, and is close to the site where the Battle of Solway Moss was fought in 1542. Longtown has one primary school school with around 190 pupils, most secondary school pupils travel to William Howard School, Brampton.

The first animal to be found to be infected with Foot-and-mouth disease in 2001 had been purchased at Longtown market. While at the market it spread the infection to other animals. The size of the Longtown sheep market meant that the disease had spread right across the country in a very short time. Longtown became the centre for control of the disease in south western Scotland and north western England.

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