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We match only quality moving companies in Alston to help you get the very best price and service. It only takes a few seconds to tell us a little about your move and then we do the rest. You will receive up to 5 quotes from Alston removal companies [who will usually want to visit your property to give you the quote].
Alston is a small town in Cumbria, England on the River South Tyne. It is one of the highest elevation towns in the country, at about 1,000 feet (300 m) above sea level. Alston lies on the confluence of the River South Tyne and the River Nent. The landscape of the Alston area is built up from limestone, sandstone and shale. The name of Alston is recorded in 1164-1171 as Aldeneby and in 1209 as Aldeneston, and seems to mean "the settlement or farmstead belonging to [a Viking man named] Halfdan". Alston claims to be the highest market town in England, being about 1000 feet above sea level. It lies within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, more than 15 miles (24 km) from the nearest town, and is surrounded by moorland. The earliest evidence of population in the Alston area comes from pottery fragments, a gold basket-earring and flint tools found in one of two barrows excavated in 1935 (2 miles or 3 kilometres NNW of Alston at Kirkhaugh), these were dated between 2000 BC and 1700 BC. Evidence of Roman activity in the area comes from the earth remains of Whitley Castle, thought to be the Roman fort (Castra) of Epiacum built and rebuilt by the Sixth and Twentieth Legions between the 2nd and 3rd centuries. The fort's main purpose was to extract and protect lead and silver deposits in the upper reaches of the south Tyne valley. 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 Alston 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 I moved to reclaim the Scottish estates and Tynedale which included Alston Moor was taken into direct control of the English crown where it remains. Despite Alston being on the Tyne and being historically part of Tynedale the area has never been part of either Hexhamshire or Northumberland but part of Cumberland and later Cumbria. This was probably because the mines in the Alston area were at one time administered from Carlisle. Historically the Alston area has been mined for lead, silver, zinc, coal and fluorspar. In the 13th century, the Alston area was known as the silver mines of Carlisle—silver was found in a high proportion (up to 40 troy ounces per long ton or 1.2 g/kg of smelted lead) and was used to create coinage in the Royal Mint established in Carlisle for the purpose. Most mining was very small scale until the mid-18th century, The biggest mine owner in the Alston area was the London Lead Company; this Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) organisation with enlightened employment policies established an interest in the area during the early 18th century. In 1745, it began construction of a school, a library, a sanitary house, a surgeon's house, a market hall with clock tower, a laundry and a 'ready-money' shop in Nenthead, four miles away. Tourism is now a key source of income for the Alston area. Alston and the surrounding area is part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and European Geopark. Alston is noted for its cobbled streets and 17th century stone buildings. The Pennine Way, the UK's first National Trail, passes through Alston. Shopping in ALston is remarkably good for such a small place. Shops include a whole foods shop, a Co-op supermarket, a vegetable shop, two butchers, a newsagent's which also sells hardware, a computer shop and cybercafe, an outdoor clothing shop, an organic bakery and a number of craft, gift and antique shops.
